Donating Art to Raise Awareness for Vulnerable Youth

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SinguLar Focus by Deb Chaney (9" x 12")

Earlier in the summer I met with the coordinator of the Foundation for Artistic Expression (FAE) and agreed to donate a painting for its fundraising event. The auction is in support of something very dear to me—mental health and well-being—and helping at-risk youth in the area.

Among the events at IGNITE2024 is a silent auction in which my painting will be available. The auction will be held at the gala event on September 14 at the Vancouver Island Convention Centre.

About the painting

The painting I’ve chosen to donate is called Singular Focus, an abstract artwork created with acrylic, pencil, and pastel on paper.

Cool tones of blue and gray create a serene and meditative atmosphere, while a vibrant circle of orange and red acts as a focal point, drawing the eye towards its warm, energetic glow. This contrast between the cool background and the fiery center creates a dynamic tension within the piece.

A variety of brushstrokes, splatters, and drips add texture and depth to the composition. The lines and shapes are loose and gestural, suggesting a spontaneous and intuitive approach to the work. Despite its apparent simplicity, the painting invites fresh interpretations with each viewing.

This small series of paintings is part of my larger Little Gems Series and each artwork measures 9” x 12”.

About the FAE

The Foundation for Artistic Expression is a non-profit organization committed to “shattering stigmas” and raising awareness for mental health and vulnerable youth in Canada.

Founded by Mariel Nichole Anderson, visit the website to read more about the organization and their mission, current actions, and future plans.

About the event

The title of the IGNITE2024 event says it all–Nature Nurture: A Mental Health Gala for Vulnerable & At-Risk Youth.

The event showcases local talent from in and around Nanaimo with the goal of helping vulnerable youth in the Nanaimo area. It aims to raise awareness for 2 programs in Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District 68, Learning Alternatives and the Take A Hike Foundation.

With the help of local makeup artists and hairstylists, volunteer musicians, dancers, and others will unite together in the spirit of giving back and igniting the spotlight on mental health. Activities include a 50/50 draw, a live mural painting, and the silent auction, then wrap things up with a dance.

  • When: September 14, 2024

  • Where: Vancouver Island Conference Centre

  • Tickets: Online or at local Save-On-Foods 

  • Website: FAE Upcoming Events

About my Little Gems Series

My ongoing Little Gems Series is a collection of paintings that begin as practice pieces. I use them to hone my skills as well as explore and try out new techniques and ideas. 

Each painting in the series is bursting with the joy, love, and passion I feel in the studio. And all that energy and positivity is infused in every piece of artwork – which becomes my gift to you!

You can see more abstract paintings in the series here at Saatchi Art.

What Does This Painting Make You Want To Say?

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I invite my heart to guide my speech i of ii by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

I’m happy to announce that a few of my newly created abstract paintings are now available for purchase through Saatchi Art. 

The trio of paintings constitute a small series titled I invite my heart to guide my speech i, ii, and iii. All 3 original paintings are still available and they go wonderfully together, but each brightens any room as a stand alone piece. 

As usual, high-quality reproductions can also be ordered in a range of sizes and formats.

About these paintings

Bold gestural strokes of red span across the series, evoking a sense of passion and intensity. But this dominant palette of reds and pinks is accompanied by an equally powerful use of whitespace.

Together with translucent, watery layers and spots, these hues create a sense of the biological. In some places, it’s even like looking at cells on a microscope slide. But the soft, peachy tones keep the overall feeling warm and inviting rather than clinical.

Thin squiggles of metallic gold, grey, and black traverse each of the canvases, adding a touch of elegance and contrast to the otherwise raw and spontaneous expression. What do these lines mean to you? 

You are invited into a world of raw emotion and intuitive expression. There is a chaotic yet controlled energy, suggesting profound introspection–or perhaps a deep internal struggle. But the title invites us to say what we feel, to communicate from a place of authenticity and vulnerability.

This small series of paintings is part of my larger Little Gems Series and each acrylic-on-paper measures 9” x 12”.

About my Little Gems Series

My ongoing Little Gems Series is a collection of paintings that begin as practice pieces. I use them to hone my skills as well as explore and try out new techniques and ideas. 

Each painting in the series is bursting with the joy, love, and passion I feel in the studio. And all that energy and positivity is infused in every piece of artwork – which becomes my gift to you!

You can see more abstract paintings in the series here at Saatchi Art.

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy the original paintings (and prints) of I invite my heart to guide my speech i, ii, and iii online at Saatchi Art here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/invite-my-heart-i 

https://fwf0.short.gy/invite-my-heart-ii 

https://fwf0.short.gy/invite-my-heart-iii 

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?

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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.

Can You Feel the Love and Joy in These Paintings?

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Love by Deb chaney (9’ x 12”)

This post is to celebrate the sale of 2 of my original abstract paintings. I am absolutely honoured to be mailing these contemporary artworks to San Diego, California. 

Their new owner is writer, speaker, and creativity workshop facilitator Jill Badonsky. Her book, The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard), is a wonderfully useful guide for creatives. 

Jill was my first mentor in the creative process and is the creator of the Kaizen-Muse creativity coaching program with Dr. Robert Maurer. I am beyond thrilled and excited that my paintings will be added to to art collection.

Joy by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

About these paintings

Both of these abstract paintings are acrylic on canvas. As you can tell by their titles, they share a common emotional tone and theme. 

Love is the more colourful of the 2 paintings, with striking squares of deep yellow and bold lines of bright red. Purple and white round out the colour palette with a flower and “love” playfully handwritten on the painting.

Joy has a lighter, more carefree colour palette of white, light yellow-orange, and peach layered over bits of dark red. The canvas is mostly white, with strokes through the paint creating an X's and O's board. A string of O’s loops along the bottom, while a larger one breaks the rules and sits upon the line between 2 empty squares. The word “JOY” is is stenciled in black in the bottom corner of the painting.

These paintings are part of my Litte Gems Series, pieces I create during my painting practice, when I’m teaching art lessons, and for my own fun and creative exploration.

About my Little Gems Series

My ongoing Little Gems Series is a collection of paintings that begin as practice pieces. I use them to hone my skills as well as explore and try out new techniques and ideas. 

Each painting in the series is bursting with the joy, love, and passion I feel in the studio. And all that energy and positivity is infused in every piece of artwork – which becomes my gift to you!

You can see more abstract paintings in the series here at Saatchi Art.

Prints and Other Original Artwork for Sale Online

While the originals have been purchased, you can buy high-quality prints of Love and Joy online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-Love/499285/4144078/view 

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Joy/499285/4140909/view 

You can browse through my Little Gems Series here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art-collection/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 or agents.

My Thanks to the Collector of These 2 Paintings

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Crossing Over i of ii by Deb Chaney (23” x 30”)

This post is to announce that 2 of my abstract paintings have been sold. I would like to extend a warm thank-you to Ms. Knowler of Burnaby, BC, Canada. I am deeply grateful for your becoming a collector of my original artwork and thank you for this.

About These Paintings

The complementary paintings are primarily composed of multiple layers of whites and greys.  On top of these are dark, rusty reds in thick, gestural strokes creating a sense of aggressive motion. Layers of faint black handwriting can be seen in the background.

The heavily layered and textured paintings both measure 23” x 30”.

These paintings are part of my Fragments of Life Series. I began the series in 2013 and continue to work on it and evolve it to this day.  Each painting is an echo of my own personal evolution and life journey.

Crossing Over iI of ii by Deb Chaney (23” x 30”)

About My Fragments of Life Series

I begin with a blank white sheet of roughly textured 23” x 30”  300-pound water colour paper, a palette knife, and some heavy body acrylic paint mixed with gel medium. And, most importantly, the compelling need to create. 

When I begin I often don’t know what the painting is about. As the process evolves, I learn about the painting and myself. Each painting can be a culmination of up to 20-30 layers added and taken away, taking anywhere from a week to several months for a painting to reach completion.

During this time I am in a relationship with the art piece and I learn its meaning and significance, understanding what the painting has to teach me and show me. There is often contradiction and tension – fuel for the creative fire. 

The blending and glazing of colours, the scratching and removing of paint to reveal under colours, the embedding of collage ephemera, the use of pencil and conte markings and scribblings all expressions of feelings of the beauty and the pain, the freedom and the frustration, the evolution and feelings of being stuck all encompassed in this journey of life.

These are the fragments of my life.

Other Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy high-quality prints of Crossing Over i of ii online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Crossing-Over-i-of-ii/499285/4195824/view 

You can buy high-quality prints of Crossing Over ii of ii online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Crossing-Over-ii-of-ii/499285/4195827/view 

More paintings in this series can be found here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art-collection/painting/Fragments-of-Life-Medium-Size-23-x-30-Paintings/499285/62385/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 or agents.

The Background Behind My New Painting "The Wild Ride Of Life"

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The Wild Ride of Life by Deb Chaney (36” x 48”)

This post is to announce that my new original abstract artwork, The Wild Ride of Life, is available for sale. You can also purchase high-quality prints of the painting in a variety of sizes on Saatchi Art.

About This Painting

This painting was created during those long days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During that time I was painting in a large warehouse complex of art studios. Unsurprisingly, the place was mostly vacated a lot of the time. And it was during that time that I basically went on my own personal rampage of creativity. 

The Wild Ride of Life is one of the paintings that I produced during those days in my warehouse studio. 

The painting’s colour palette consists of dark reds and blues contrasted with bright white and yellows and earth tones. The composition is an edgy and rough landscape that, although abstract, lends itself to a cityscape. At the same time, drips of paint travel up and down across the canvas, evoking the rollercoaster of the human experience.

The Wild Ride of Life is a mixed media on canvas painting measuring 36” x 48” x 1.5”.

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

The original painting of The Wild Ride of Life is available for sale on Saatchi Art. You can also purchase high-quality prints of the abstract painting online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-The-Wild-Ride-of-Life/499285/10135413/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.