A Look At The Special Books Behind My Drishti Paintings

I would like to take this opportunity to mention the books that I read in support of my own healing journey and for guidance and inspiration in creating the Drishti Paintings.

Something truly special about this exhibit–that I've never experienced before–is the opportunity to show some of what goes on behind the scenes in these amazing glass cases that Emilia Douglas Gallery provided. 

I think that this is a really cool add-on to the exhibit because you can look at the paintings, then you get to see these behind the scenes details, such as tools, books and notes that went into creating the show.

I am surrounded by people who love and support me (12” x 16” x 2”), Mixed media on wood panel, framed by Deb Chaney. Please Email the artist info@debchaney.com to purchase original. Prints available

If you’ve been following my posts, you may recall that I went to an artist talk last year that made a strong impact on me. The artist said that when you see a painting, it's really just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many decisions and moments and ideas and layers that go into the final artwork. It's the same with research and there is so much that went into this series. It’s such a wonderful feeling and opportunity that I get to share this with you and viewers at the exhibit. 

In one of the glass cases at the exhibit, I have added a selection of books that I feel were foundational and instrumental in my understanding of well-being. These featured books, and many more I did not exhibit at the gallery, guided me on my quest to understand how to consciously create my own well-being.

Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom

The first book is one that was given to me by my first mentor when I was 18. It’s called Women's Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup, and when I first received it I was surprised by how big it was. But I just started reading it and it was revolutionary for me at the time.

This was in the early 2000s and, looking back, I think the key thing I got out of that book was realizing the connection between the connection between the mind and the body. What I thought or felt could be the root cause of something occuring in my body and if I were to change that thought–it would support my body’s healing.

Books by Caroline Myss

I then moved on to reading quite a lot of work by Dr. Caroline Myss, such as Anatomy of the Spirit, which is included in the glass case. A book that’s not on display, which I highly recommend, is her book Why People Don’t Heal and How They Can. It is essential reading for anyone in search of their own well-being.

The book explained how everything is energy and that it’s all stored in the body–in your etheric system and chakras. When you have experiences, if you don't heal or clear them, they're either supporting or hindering you in some way. And your body keeps a record, like it’s this big energetic bank account. However, you have sovereignty over this account, which means the more conscious you become of this energy system, the more you can develop and consciously become well.

Dr. Carolyn Myss is such an important contributor to the world of energy medicine. She's really an incredible author and guide for people, so I highly recommend her work.

The Code to Joy

The next book is from a course I was taking, and it's The Code to Joy by Dr. George Pratt. The book planted the seed for my decision to paint 7 paintings.

This book is about learning how to reprogram yourself for well-being. The author says that through his studies and observations, he recognizes that people who are unwell typically possess certain belief patterns or thinking patterns. They share an outlook pertaining to wellness, which he followed with a list of common proclamations. Things like “I don't feel safe in the world” or “I'm not worthy” or “I can't do this”. These were the exact opposite of the powerful positive affirmations that you see in my exhibit.

I was reading his lists of thought patterns and thought–Oh, my God!–if you flip them around, they’re directly related to the energy centres. If you embrace and create a belief system that’s the opposite of this negative outlook, it’s a path to well-being.

With this in mind, I went online and quickly learned that this is nothing new and a commonly held belief among healers. But to me it was revolutionary! This is why and how the decision for 7 paintings, 7 affirmations, and 7 colours focused on 7 chakras came about.

Books by Anodea Judith

There are 2 books by Anodea Judith, Eastern Body, Western Mind and Wheels of Life, that offer everything you could possibly want to know about your chakras. They served as a guideline for each chakra as I planned each painting. (They were also a bit of a rabbit hole that I had to force myself to put aside and do some painting!)

The Flower of Life

The last books included in the display at my exhibit are the 2 volumes of The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life by Drunvalo Melchizedek. If you’ve been following my blog posts or getting my newsletter, you know that these books have been a great influence on this series. 

These volumes not only prompted me to choose the Fibonacci sequence as the composition for these paintings, but helped me understand the power and the meaning of this sacred geometry symbol, the flower of life.

Once you go through your own healing journey, you get to a place where you feel okay. You’ve embodied these affirmations, you have good health, and you feel good in the world. When you reach this place, you’re open to the next thing. You’re asking “What’s next?” And I feel like these books are answering this question of what else is out there. And while that’s beyond the scope of this series, these books were instrumental in my getting to know and appreciate sacred geometry.

I hope that you find some inspiration and joy and value in the books I’ve read to support me in creating this series about my well-being.

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The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness.

Location

Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

A Drishti Painting Focus: I Am Powerful

I Am Powerful by Deb Chaney (4’ x 5’ x 1.5” mixed media on canvas)

The second large painting in my Drishti Paintings series I’d like to discuss in-depth is titled I Am Powerful. This original abstract artwork measures 5’ x 4’ x 1.5” and is part of this series of 7 paintings that each represent a chakra or energy centre.

It is currently on display at Amelia Douglas Gallery at Douglas College in New Westminster until January 2025.

Kim Klein and Friend standing with I Am Powerful (2024) at the exhibit’s opening event.

The colour of personal power

This painting represents the solar plexus chakra, or energy centre, which is the third primary chakra. This chakra is represented by the colour yellow, whose frequency embodies the principles of intellectual power, mental acuity, and awakening. It relates to our digestive system, adrenal glands, and left brain activity.

Yellow stimulates our mental faculties and brings us clarity and an enthusiasm for life. Spiritually it is synergistic with confidence, optimism, and joy.

It is a colour of miracles and magic.

Some affirmations for this energy centre include: “I can achieve anything I set my mind to”, I’m motivated, persistent, and successful”, and “I'm fearless in the pursuit of what sets my soul on fire”. Others are “I hold the key to my own happiness”, “My soul is radiant”, and “I have the confidence to take big leaps”. 

And, of course, “I am powerful.”

The commonality with all of these affirmations and the energy of this area in your body is that it’s really about claiming your personal power. And this is something that (hopefully) we all go through in our lives–a point when we realize our own divinity within.

When you visit the gallery, you’ll notice that the painting’s title I Am Powerful is very large, unlike most artworks on display in other galleries, which typically have a tiny title card beside the bottom corner of the painting. What I’m communicating visually with these big titles below the final paintings on display is that the words are as important as the artwork.

Finding form in the formless

Generally when I make abstract art I focus on getting involved in colours and textures and feeling and integrating layers. It’s never with the aim of the painting actually looking like something. I’m an abstract painter and I’m creating abstract art that is formless.

However, when I look at this painting I see a globe and an earth, and I see light going through it and shooting up to the heavens and down below.

To me this feels like an incredible gesture and message from this painting because these paintings come through me. I didn’t plan this. I don’t have an image or sketch drawn up somewhere with an idea of what I’m going to do. That’s never part of my process.

I simply trust myself when I begin and I add one layer at a time. I have a set of principles (that I’ve been sharing in these posts), but the final image is always a surprise to me. So to end up with this illuminated globe, to me it signifies the power of the collective.

If all of us, as a collective on this planet, decided that we are powerful and that we are divine, and that we choose to focus on the positive in ourselves and others, and we saw our radiance and ourselves in each other, I truly believe that this would transform the planet. That is what I see in this painting.

I Am Powerful supports claiming your divinity, which is something we are all capable of. And it’s possible if you continue to focus on what is good and what is true within yourself; the divinity within you.

Applying the first layer of ‘I am Safe’

Shining through the black

In the image gallery above are some behind-the-scenes photos from the creation of this painting. You may notice in some of the pictures that I started with black. But in the back of my mind, I knew I was painting “I am powerful”, so the dominant colour of yellow would need to be revealed at the end as the focal point.

The challenge creatively with creating a multi-dimensional layered painting like this is that you want to have a dominant colour–such as the yellow shining through as it does in this piece.

But if you mix anything other than white with yellow, it turns into really weird colours. For example, mixing black with yellow gives you green. But if you start mixing other colours, you get muck. So I had to be very careful when adding a new layer and setting the tone and then letting it dry.

As such this painting was truly a test of my own personal power. I was forced to exercise this because after I’d put on a new layer, I had to let it dry completely before I could add something else. I could only do a little bit at a time, so it took many weeks to build up to that final place where we see this beautiful image.

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The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness.

Location

Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

A Drishti Painting Focus: I Am Safe

Deb Chaney and James Teshima standing with I Am Safe (2024)

The first large painting in my series of Drishti Paintings is called I Am Safe. The original abstract artwork measures 5’ x 4’ x 1.5” and is part of this series of 7 paintings that each represent a chakra or energy centre.

It is currently on display at Amelia Douglas Gallery at Douglas College in New Westminster until January 2025. 

The root of it all

With this first painting we are looking at the root chakra–the base energy that each one of us has at the bottom of our body. When we are healthy in this chakra, we’re rooted in the earth and grounded, making us feel safe and secure. 

We have a sense of peace about being here in the physical world and the title of this painting–I Am Safe–is a powerful affirmation that encapsulates the frequency of well-being in that energy centre.

Conversely, when we are not holding a frequency of well-being in the first chakra, we can have ailments and things in our life can indicate that we’re out of balance in this area.

I Am Safe by Deb Chaney (4’ x 5’ x 1.5”)

The elements of focus

The whole point of each large Drishti painting is having a focus–which is represented by a colour. In this particular painting red is the focal point and the affirmation in the title, I Am Safe, is the focus. That dominant colour and the title affirmation is your drishti (focus).

Focusing on these 3 words may seem incredibly simple, but it’s a truly powerful practice. If you can keep your mind focused on a frequency of “I Am Safe” for 17 seconds, you create an energetic frequency and trajectory, and you’re going to perpetuate more feelings of well-being and safety in your life. You can literally change your vibration and therefore your physical well-being by focusing your thoughts.

Choosing a positive perspective ties into the series as a whole as your mind and your focus are so incredibly powerful. And this applies to each of the paintings in the series. 

Looking at this painting specifically, it has all the elements of a Drishti Painting in that there are 3 main elements that I always aim to incorporate. One is space, which you can see in the use of positive and negative space here. The second is the minty, light blue-green background used to contrast the main colour red so it really stands out. The whole idea is that you’re focused on that red energy.

And third, there’s the sacred geometry of the Flower of Life, which represents connections. 

Finding divine focus in the Fibonacci sequence

If you’ve read my earlier posts, you’ll know that I’ve based the composition of the Drishti Paintings on the Fibonacci sequence. And when I would show up to the canvas with these parameters ready to go, the focal point is like a big surprise.

In all my years of painting I’ve never approached the canvas thinking, “I’m going to paint a heart.” But when I stepped back from this painting, I realized I was looking at a physical heart. A real human heart. And when you map it out according to the Fibonacci sequence, if it were overlaid on a human body, the focal point is the heart. 

There is a bounty of spiritual knowledge and research about the heart being the centre of everything. Researchers in organizations such as HeartMath have been looking at how the heart has its own intelligence and how it perceives things more quickly than the brain.

According to Drunvalo Melchizedek in Journeys into the Heart, when meditating, you go inside your heart and everything you’ve been looking for is there. Your purpose and meaning in life is encoded in your heart, and meditation opens a doorway to a world within your heart. And I find this fascinating because to me this painting looks like a heart.

Applying the first layer of ‘I am Safe’

My personal journey

This all ties in with my personal journey as these Drishti Paintings are capturing the frequency of my well-being. I’ve done all of this healing and I want to share with the world that it is possible to heal. And the main takeaway is finding a connection with yourself and that meditating is the most potent, powerful thing that you do.

While working on each of these large paintings, I was surrounded by affirmations about what it means to feel safe in the world. What it means to feel good and grounded and be in a state of well-being. And all of these relate to the first chakra.

Many spiritual guides encourage you to put your hand on your heart, for it synergizes your mind with your heart and creates a powerful resonance. So during my walks outdoors I would put my hand on my heart and say to myself, “I'm safe in this universe and all life loves and supports me.”

When I finished this painting, I was looking at it and there was a moment when it hit me–the focal point of this painting, this big red blob, actually looks like a human heart. (And also a bit like brains.)

And since embarking on the creation of this series, and learning so much about well-being, I try to live each day and approach every challenge with my heart, as best as I can. I often ask myself: How can I see this person or situation with love? But this painting is really about I Am Safe, so I put my hand on my heart and I remind myself that I'm safe in this world and all beings and all life supports and loves me. And this is what I wish for everyone who views this painting.

Show Information

The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness.

Location

Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

Welcome to The Drishti Experience (Part 3 of 5)

Large Drishti Paintings in process with the Flower of Life sacred geometry background.

This is the third in a series of 5 posts focused on my current solo painting exhibit: The Drishti Experience - Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being. If you missed the first two posts, you can read Part 1 and Part 2 before continuing.

The exhibit is now up and available for viewing. The gallery location and hours are listed at the bottom of the page.

With composition covered, it's time to look at the Flower of Life.

What is the Flower of Life?

The Flower Of Life is an ancient sacred geometric symbol that's found in many different cultures and traditions around the world. Egyptian, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, and Christian cultures all have numerous representations of this ancient symbol in their art and architecture.

The oldest known example can be found in the Temple Of Osiris on a wall relief which is thought to be about 6,000 years old.

The Flower Of Life is believed to contain ancient sacred knowledge about the origins of the universe and our place in it. It's said that it contains a sacred geometry that can explain the underpinning of the cosmos.

Some believe that it holds the secrets of the universe and the key to unlocking its hidden knowledge. In fact, sacred geometry states that this ancient symbol contains the patterns of creation, and that it's capable of explaining the fundamental structure of space and time.

Why I chose it for this series

I am creative, passionate and inspired, Little Drishti (12" x 16" x 2").

Some believe that the Flower of Life represents the unity of all life and the interconnectedness of all beings.

My healing journey taught me the importance of our interconnection, and I felt that this symbol was the best symbol among many sacred geometries to represent this. And the more I dove into and learned about the Flower of Life, the more it made sense why I chose it.

Brené Brown, a research professor and author known for her work on vulnerability, courage, empathy, and shame, emphasizes the importance of healthy connections in her studies on human behavior and emotional well-being.

She often discusses how connection is at the core of healing and overall well-being. A key insight from her work in this regard is Connection as a Fundamental Human Need.

Brown asserts that human beings are wired for connection. Meaningful connections with others are essential for emotional and mental health. Without these connections, people experience loneliness, which is linked to increased stress, anxiety, and even physical health problems.

Above painting: I am creative, passionate and inspired, Little Drishti (12" x 16" x 2"). Mixed media on wood panel, framed. Price $600 please contact the artist info@debchaney.com for purchase. Work available Jan 9th, 2025 after exhibit takedown. Thank you.

How I incorporated the flower of life into my Drishti Paintings

As you may recall in a previous post, I shared about my small study paintings and how they helped me figure out my approach in layering the big paintings. I used these small pieces to experiment with different ways to include the flower of life symbol into these paintings.

In the final large Drishti Paintings, now on display at Amelia Douglas Gallery, I used 3 techniques to incorporate this sacred geometry. Using beautiful multi-sized flower of life stencils, I applied acrylic spray paint, thick clear layers with gel medium, and pencil.

The spray paint was a wonderful tool to create straight and marked edges in the work.

Gel medium allowed me to create clear and translucent layers that I could intermingle with paint glazes to create ethereal effects.

If you look closely at the large finished Drishti Paintings on display, you'll see echoes of pencil incorporated in them as I would draw in the flower of life shapes and then erase parts to integrate them into the other layers of the paintings.

It's been done before

My intention and purpose of creating these Drishti Paintings is in support of our meditation practice, to encourage us to go inward and tap into our divinity. Turns out, paintings created specifically in support of meditation have been done before!

Yantras are ancient paintings dating back to 11,000–10,000 BCE that were created by Tibetan Buddhists, also used sacred geometry, and were made specifically as an aid to meditation.

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The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness.

Location

Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

Here is Your Invitation to the Opening Reception

Sitting with The Drishti Paintings

I am thrilled to invite you to the opening reception of my latest exhibition, The Drishti Experience: Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being, happening on Thursday, November 7th, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the beautiful Amelia Douglas Gallery at Douglas College.

This collection is especially meaningful to me, as it visually reflects my journey of healing, well-being, and spiritual growth. Through vibrant colors, layered textures, and sacred geometry, I’ve captured what I discovered along the way. 

Each large-scale painting represents one of the body’s energy centers, offering a glimpse into the emotional and spiritual connections that have guided my creative process.

The reception will include live music, delicious hors d'oeuvres, and a chance to connect. I’d love to meet you, share more about this journey, and hear your thoughts as you experience the artwork.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024

• Time: 4:30 – 6:30 pm

• Location: Amelia Douglas Gallery, Douglas College
  (700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC)
  Fourth Floor North

I hope you can join me for this celebration of art, community, and well-being! Feel free to bring friends and family, as this evening will be an open and welcoming event for all.

Thank you for this community

I would like to thank a number of key people in our Gabriola Island community who helped me with the various aspects of this exhibit. 

The Gabriola Arts Council for awarding me the grant earlier this year in support of this exhibit. Thank you. 

Our local artist, Tyrrell Clarke, for taking all the promotional photographs. Thank you. 

Carol Ferguson for helping me write the BC and Canada Arts Council grants. Thank you. 

Jonathan Hoskins for making the beautiful small frames for the Little Drishti paintings. Thank you. 

Stephanie Artuso for taking the final photographs of the large Drishti Paintings for the exhibit catalog. Thank you. 

Catherine Hallum of Free Spirit Gallery for cheering me on every step of the way. Thank you. 

Willow Friday of Iron Oxide Art Supplies for getting me all the materials I needed to create these paintings. Thank you.

Show Information

The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness.

Location

Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

Welcome to The Drishti Experience (Part 2 of 5)

Look closely for the lightly placed pencil marks creating the compositional ground for this first large Drishti Painting.

This is the second in a series of 5 posts focused on my upcoming solo painting exhibit: The Drishti Experience - Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being. If you missed Part 1, you can read it here.

With my choices in symbols and colours covered in the last post, it’s now time to discuss the third component: composition.

The Importance of Composition

Composition is the groundwork of an abstract painting. And during the past few years of researching and formulating this series, I still felt unclear on the composition for this series.

This became truly evident with an exhibit of mine in West Vancouver where I was showing some medium format Drishti Paintings at the Silk Gallery. I realized that the composition was all over the place, but I showed them anyway–which certainly took some courage!

But rather than lose focus, I viewed these artworks as beautiful learning failures.

I knew that I wanted to capture a feeling of flow that I feel is an integral part of experiencing well-being, I just didn’t quite know how to best do that. I went to Lynn Valley and sat by the river, pondering this compositional conundrum. I felt that rivers had something to teach me. I also had yet to come upon the Fibonacci sequence.

What is the Fibonacci sequence?

The Fibonacci is a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the two preceding it.

It is named after Leonardo Fibonacci, the 12th-century Italian mathematician who observed these number patterns in Nature.

Walking through the woods, he noticed that growth patterns in petals and leaves appeared universally consistent. When a certain plant sprouted from the ground, it would grow by 1 leaf, then 2 leaves, then 3, then 5, then 8, and so on.

This pattern of numbers eventually became known as the Fibonacci Sequence and, if you’re given any 3 consecutive numbers in the sequence, you can easily recognize the pattern. It’s a very special sequence that is truly crucial to Life.

Discovering Fibonacci

After returning home to Gabriola Island, a book I’d ordered from the library arrived. And as soon as I started reading The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life by Drunvalo Melchizedek, I couldn’t put it down.

He writes about how the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and other great monuments in Egypt, are positioned along the Nile River according to the Fibonacci sequence. With each structure representing a chakra, they served as guideposts along a path of transformation for students learning to access higher dimensions.

I realized that my own journey to well-being was linked with spiritual consciousness–and both involve a journey up the energy centres. So I was excited to discover that the Fibonacci sequence embodies this principle and has connections to a river as well!

A pattern for spiritual growth

The Fibonacci sequence is regarded as a fundamental blueprint to the universe in many spiritual traditions–for it appears in natural forms, from the spirals of galaxies to the arrangement of leaves on a plant.

This is seen as evidence of an underlying order or intelligence in the cosmos, suggesting that the universe is a reflection of a divine or spiritual consciousness.

The Fibonacci sequence can be interpreted as a metaphor for spiritual growth. Just as each number in the sequence builds on its predecessors, spiritual evolution is a process of continual growth, where each stage of consciousness builds on the experiences and lessons of the past. As well, the sequence heads inward to a focal point - a drishti - within itself. Just as on our healing journey we must learn to go within ourselves.

I learned that as I pursued a healing journey, it became synonymous with a spiritual one and that the more conscious I became, the better I felt in my life.

Show Information

The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness.

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 7, 4:30 PM–6:30 PM

Featuring live music and hors d'oeuvres

Artist Talk: TBA

Location
Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

Look Who's In The New Issue Of What Women Create!

I’m proud to announce that I’m featured in the 2024 Fall Issue of WHAT Women Create magazine. The 14-page article is truly an honour and I hope you will take the time to check out this wonderful magazine.

About the article

In the article–which I wrote in the first-person–I share my journey as an artist and how I’ve arrived at this point: which is my upcoming solo exhibit of 7 large-scale paintings. The art exhibit, featuring my Drishti Paintings, runs from this November until January 2025.

The article is very personal to me as I open up about loss, grief, and depression, and how art was my saving grace. It brought me back from the edge and was essential to my healing and mental well-being.

Follow me from Vancouver, British Colulmbia to Hermosa Beach, California–where I got my first art commission–and back to Canada, where I eventually settled on Gabriola Island. My art continued to flourish, from licensing agreements with Hilton Hotels to deals with Hulu and Netflix.

I discuss my creative process, from meditation to nature walks to painting test pieces before setting to work on a large canvas. The Drishti Paintings are a decade in the making and this article really helps you understand the what and why of this series in particular and my art in general.

About WHAT Women Create magazine

WHAT Women Create is a beautiful and inspirational quarterly magazine focused on women artists and artisans. Each issue is an anthology of the processes and the passions of what our artisans and makers create.

The articles are written in first-person so you can envision being inspired in the same way as the artists and artisans. Each story celebrates courage and tenacity, and teaches us all that we, too, can create that which comes from our soul, that which is seen through our eyes, and that which is made by our own hands.

The magazine is available in print and online.

Order print and digital copies here: https://magdogs.com/product/what-women-create-fall-2024/

The Drishti Experience – Show Information

The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness. 

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 7, 4:30 PM–6:30 PM

Featuring live music & hors d'oeuvres

Location
Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

Upcoming Solo Exhibit—The Drishti Experience (Part 1)

The Dristhi Paintings (in process) by Deb Chaney

This is the first in a series of 5 posts focused on my upcoming solo painting exhibit: The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being.

What is a Drishti?

Imagine you are in a yoga class. You’re doing a pose that requires you to balance and the instructor encourages you to find a spot on the wall to focus on.

That spot is “a drishti”. And by focusing on this, you begin to lose your wobble and hold steady.

The same applies in life, when we choose a positive focus, it helps us to find our well-being.

9 Years in the making

While giving an artist’s talk in 2015 Vancouver Arts Colloquium Society, an audience member asked me if I could identify the key factor in my healing from mental illness. My answer was the definition of a Drishti. I realized that when I chose a positive focus, this in turn helped me to create my well-being and support my healing.

And it was then that the seed for this Drishti Paintings series was planted. I wanted to find a way to visually share how I found my well-being.

The beginning of this series started with many small studies on paper that typically measure 11” x 15”. Before I could even think about starting the large paintings, I needed to figure out all of the components–the sacred geometry flower of life elements, colours, and composition–and how they would work and layer them together to visually capture the essence of well-being.

This is why, up until last month, I still had all of these large blank canvases. Dozens of smaller works, as well as hundreds of hours, can often be found leading up to a single finished large painting.

If you're curious, you can see some of these small studies in my “Little Drishti’s” series on Saatchi Art.

Starting small

While working on these small studies, my process evolved into clarity that would serve me when I finally tackled the big paintings. The clarity for how I would execute all the components I wanted to include in the final large scale Drishti Paintings didn’t come at all at once. It felt like I had to figure out one component at a time.

I was confident in my choice of colours–each colour representing the energy frequency of each energy centre (chakra) in the body.

I was also clear about incorporating the flower of life’s sacred geometry, representing the interconnectedness amongst all living things and what I feel is one of the essential ingredients of our well-being: connection.

The third component of these paintings–the composition–still escaped me. I’ll get into the story about how I finally figured out what it would be in the next email (Part 2) in this series.

To our well-being,

Deb Chaney

P.S. You can also read my full feature article in the September 2024 issue of What Women Create Magazine or online here.

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The Drishti Experience – Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being

Deb Chaney, Solo Exhibit, Amelia Douglas Gallery

November 7, 2025 – January 9, 2025

Seven large scale mixed media abstract paintings by Deb Chaney. Her latest work is inspired by her desire to experience and visually express the frequency of her well-being. This series sheds light on the link between healing mental illness and developing spiritual consciousness.

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 7, 4:30 PM–6:30 PM

Featuring live music, hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar

Artist Talk: TBA

Location
Amelia Douglas Gallery
Fourth Floor North, Douglas College
700 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Z5

Gallery Hours
Monday–Friday: 10:00 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Gallery Website

What Can You See Beneath the Chaos?

Underneath all the chaos is pure love by Deb Chaney (16” x 16”)

I’m excited to say that my original abstract painting Underneath all the chaos is pure love has been sold.

Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. McNicoll for your enthusiasm and support by being collectors of my original artwork. I hope it brings as much joy to your space as it brought to me while creating the artwork.

About this painting

This abstract expressionist painting features a vibrant interplay of colors and textures, evoking a sense of energy and depth. Bold blues, greens, and oranges applied in broad, gestural strokes create a dynamic composition, with layers of color overlapping and interacting to create a sense of movement.

Stencils of sacred geometry of various sizes repeat through different layers across the canvas.

The painting's vibrant colour palette and energetic brushwork may reflect the joy and excitement of life's experiences. The abstract forms could represent the fluidity and ever-changing nature of life's journey. 

This captivating and thought-provoking painting invites viewers to explore their own interpretations of its meaning. Of course, the title, Underneath all the chaos is pure love, suggests a positive and optimistic outlook.

The original mixed media on canvas painting measures 16" x 16" x 1.5".

Little Drishti Series

This original abstract painting is part of my Little Drishti Series. These paintings are smaller pieces I use to practice and test techniques for a large-format series I am working on called the Drishti Paintings. The series will be presented in a solo exhibit called The Drishti Experience, which runs from November 2024 to January 2025. 

The small study pieces help me figure out the paintings’ colours, layers, and the interplay with sacred geometry flower of life symbol, so that when I get to the large paintings I have confidence and clarity for my creative approach.

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

Even though the original painting of Underneath all the chaos is pure love has been sold, you can buy high-quality prints of the painting online at Saatchi Art here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/underneath-chaos-p 

Reproduction prints on Saatchi Art are available in 3 formats:

Fine Art Paper

310 GSM, 100% cotton linters, archival quality, natural white finish with a slightly structured, soft-textured surface.

Metal

Specialized inks infused into specially coated, thin, high gloss aluminum sheets. Exhibit mounted on 2mm black Styrene and finished with a black Metal Inset Frame.

Canvas

Museum grade, matte textured (20.5 mil), bright white, poly-cotton blend with no additives and no agents.

Can You See The 3 Concepts Applied in this Painting?

Worlds Within Worlds by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

I’m excited to announce that my original abstract painting Worlds Within Worlds is finished and now available for purchase.

The original painting is still available and you can also get high-quality reproductions in a variety of sizes and formats.

How I named this painting

The word drishti comes from Sanskrit. It is often used in yoga practice to refer to a single spot for the yoga practitioner to focus on in order to maintain their balance. 

I have called my series of abstract artworks The Drishti Paintings and I created them to invite the viewer on a visual journey inwards. They draw us into our own alignment, re-connecting to the love we have inside and thereby re-connecting to the drishti within ourselves.

About this painting

This painting is a practice piece for a large-format series of paintings that I have been working on since 2021 and will be showing later this year. 

There are several inspirational factors that are based on the key elements I found to be most helpful in my personal healing journey. These are Space, Focus, and Connection. Each of these concepts has been applied visually to this painting and each of them is in this new series.

The series and the paintings are evolving as I go, which you can see in the evolution of these small practice pieces. I am learning a lot in my journey of exploring, painting, and being in the frequency of my well-being.

The colour palette of this dark painting consists of black, blues, and purple and orange and red. Stencils of sacred geometry repeat throughout the painting, which is a common element in the series.

This one-of-a-kind mixed-media artwork is acrylic and sand on paper and measures 9” x 12”. 

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy the original painting and high-quality prints of Worlds Within Worlds online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Worlds-Within-Worlds/499285/11237841/view 

You can see more paintings in the Little Gems series here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art-collection/painting/Litte-Gems-Small-works-on-paper-and-loose-canvas/499285/160111/view

Reproduction prints on Saatchi Art are available in 3 formats:

Fine Art Paper

310 GSM, 100% cotton linters, archival quality, natural white finish with a slightly structured, soft-textured surface.

Metal

Specialized inks infused into specially coated, thin, high gloss aluminum sheets. Exhibit mounted on 2mm black Styrene and finished with a black Metal Inset Frame.

Canvas

Museum grade, matte textured (20.5 mil), bright white, poly-cotton blend with no additives and no agents.