This is Why I Never Take it Personally

/

I’d like to share another card from The 68 Secrets Of An Illuminated Artist, my illustrated card deck of positive and encouraging words to bolster your creativity. Go to earlier posts to see and read about the first and second cards that I’ve chosen to write about so far.

Like water off a duck’s back

As with many of my cards, this can apply to many aspects of life in general. But this one is vitally important as an artist, for it’s a basic truism that creatives need a thick skin.

Art is subjective, so everyone who views any artwork is going to have an opinion about it. And those opinions are going to vary greatly.

People like different things. And not everyone likes or appreciates—or understands—abstract art. So if somebody comments negatively about my artwork, I’m not going to let it hinder my progress as an artist. It has no bearing on what I value and what I’m trying to achieve creatively and professionally.

Selecting a card from the deck of "The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist" by Deb Chaney

I never take it personally.

Comments about my artistic work reflect the speaker… not me. I stay true to my goals and aspirations.

The painting behind this card

The backdrop of this card is a section of my original painting Clearing Fear. The painting is part of my Pure Abstraction series, which is inspired by the divine experience and feeling I get when surrounded by nature. The original artwork is an acrylic mixed media painting on canvas measuring 36” x 48”.

This painting also appears in the Netflix series The Imperfects, which you can read more about in a previous post.

Testimonials for ‘The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist’

“Absolutely love these cards! I have it placed on my coffee table and it has been a great conversation starter. I find the words very inspiring and apt for the moment. As an admirer of Deb’s work, I am proud that I own a small pieces of her spiritually inspired healing work of art, that bring me joy and help me stay in the present.”

– Suman Sengar

How to get your own pack of inspirational cards

You can purchase your pack of cards online at The Game Crafter or in the following retail stores:

  • Surrey Art Gallery Gift Shop

  • Free Spirit Gallery, Gabriola Island, BC

  • Iron Oxide Art Supplies Nanaimo

  • Blackberry Gifts in Ucluelet, BC

  • Page's Inn & Marina Bookstore, Gabriola Island

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

This card features a section of Clearing Fear. While the original has being purchased, you can see the full painting and buy custom reproductions on Saatchi Art here: https://fwf0.short.gy/clearing-fear-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.

You'll Feel Better Just By Looking At It

/

All Of Your Life Can Feel Good by Deb Chaney (12” x 9”)

I’m excited to let you know that my new abstract artwork is now available on Saatchi Art. The original acrylic-on-paper painting of All Of Your Life Can Feel Good is still available to add to your personal art collection. High-quality reproductions can also be ordered in a range of sizes and formats.

About this painting

This abstract expressionist painting features a vibrant interplay of colors and textures, evoking a sense of energy and depth. Its bold palette of blues and greens are applied in broad, gestural strokes and lines across the canvas.

Three rows of dark blue rounded rectangles on a light blue background conjure stones on a rippling riverbed. These abstract forms may evoke the fluidity and ever-changing nature of life's journey.

Bright orange patel loops across the painting in scribbled strokes echoed in less prominent loops of light blue and white pastels. These layers of overlapping colours interact to create a sense of movement and dynamic composition. And the vibrant colors and energetic brushwork reflect the joy and excitement of life's experiences. 

This painting is part of my Little Gems Series and measures 12” x 9”

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 painting of All Of Your Life Can Feel Good online at Saatchi Art here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/feel-good-o 

You can buy reproductions of All Of Your Life Can Feel Good here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/feel-good-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.

Look Closer And Tell Me What You You See

/

Go Be In Nature by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

I’m thrilled to announce the sale of my original abstract painting Go Be In Nature, and I would like to extend my appreciation and a heartfelt thank-you to Ms. L. Reino of Vancouver, BC.

Thank you for your generosity in becoming a collector of my original work and supporting my vision. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to your own personal art collection. I hope that my artwork brings you as much joy as it brought me while creating it.

About this painting

From a distance this abstract mixed media painting may appear to be simply 3 shaded bands of blue. So, like most abstract art, it begs closer examination. Against a palette of bright whites, light, mossy greens, and deep blues, subtle hints of warm hues create a scene reminiscent of a tranquil, seaside landscape. 

The painting invites viewers to immerse themselves in the serene and rejuvenating qualities of the natural world. Organic shapes and abstract forms intertwine with prominent markings in thick layers of sand and gesso across the canvas. Together these gestures, shapes, and textures may suggest the fluidity and ever-changing aspects of the natural environment.

This original abstract painting is acrylic, sand, and gesso on canvas and it measures 9” x 12”.

Little Gems Series

This original abstract painting is part of my Little Gems Series. I use these paintings as small studies to both explore new ideas and practice old ones. Similar to the way musicians do vocal exercises or practice their scales, this is a painter’s practice so-to-speak. 

Every Little Gem is infused with the joy, love and passion that I feel in the studio and that energy is imbued into the painting–my gift to you!

You can see most of my Little Gems Series on Saatchi Art.

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

While the original painting has been sold, you can buy high-quality prints of Go Be In Nature online at Saatchi Art here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/go-be-in-nature-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.

Embrace The Power Of The Great Outdoors

/

This week I’m continuing the new type of post I started last month in which I choose one of the cards from my deck of illustrated affirmations. This one is really important to me and my process—but it’s even applicable far beyond art. For any creative process, or simply your emotional and physical well-being, this card’s message is an important one.

The power of getting outside

I’m fortunate to live on beautiful Gabriola Island, so I’m literally surrounded by nature—and the ocean—and all I need to do is step outside.

And looking at my artwork, you can see that nature is an important part of it. So much of it is not only inspired by nature itself, but by memorable moments I’ve experienced in the outdoors as well, such as Where (Forest and Beach) Become One.

I spend time in nature.

I am refreshed artistically when I am in the outdoors and connect with mother earth. I hike a trail… walk next to a river… sit in a park and watch the clouds… snowshoe in a forest.

While exploring the great outdoors is easier for some than others, even a stroll to a park down the street—just stepping outside for some air—can free your mind and reinvigorate your spirit.

The backdrop of this card feature part of a painting called Ignore Reality which is from my Pure Abstraction Series. The abstract acrylic painting has torn book pages collaged into it and further texture added with layers of sand.

It is the divine experience and feeling I get from being in nature that inspires Pure Abstraction. From glaciers to mountain peaks to quiet streams, watching the river flow over rocks. This series of abstract paintings is my interpretation of my relationship with nature.

Ignore Reality by Deb Chaney (48”x 48”)

Testimonials for ‘The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist’

“Wow. I love these cards...when I get 'stuck' I spread out the cards on the table and randomly pick one...it's always the ‘right’ one...and once again I am re-connected to myself and the Flow of Creativity.”

– Tim Sullivan, Artist

How to get your own pack of inspirational cards

You can purchase your pack of cards online at The Game Crafter or in the following retail stores:

  • Surrey Art Gallery Gift Shop

  • Free Spirit Gallery, Gabriola Island, BC

  • Iron Oxide Art Supplies Nanaimo

  • Blackberry Gifts in Ucluelet, BC

  • Page's Inn & Marina Bookstore, Gabriola Island

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

This card features a section of Ignore Reality. You can see the full painting and buy custom reproductions on Saatchi Art here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/ignore-reality-o

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.

What Makes My Private Art Lessons Unique

/

Downtown Forest Painting by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

I’ve had a lot of inquiries recently about my art classes, so this seems like a good time to put out some information for everyone who’s interested. Therefore, the painting I’m including for this week’s post is related to my classes and my unique approach to teaching art.

About this painting

This week’s featured image, Downtown Forest Painting, is a small original abstract artwork made with acrylics, pastels, and sand on paper. It is part of my Little Gems Series. 

I was living in the suburbs on a very busy street when I created this painting. It was essentially my version of hell and I would often put on noise-cancellation headphones and imagine being in a forest. The painting was created from this contrasting situation of finding silence surrounded by noise.

How my art lessons work

This painting was selected by one of my students. They chose this particular painting for their one-on-one Zoom lesson with me. Then during the private 1-hour art lesson, we basically go through the steps and they learn how to recreate this painting.

Therefore, the way I structure my art lessons is that you first go to my Little Gems Series on Saatchi Art. There are around 400 paintings in the collection for you to look through, so please take your time.

Once you find the painting that speaks to you, we’ll use that painting for our one-on-one session. In the hour-long lesson, I go through and I show you step-by-step how to create the painting that you've selected. I not only show you the techniques behind it, but the materials that I'm using and also the painting principles that are applied.

Before starting the lesson, please consult my small guide on how to set up your creative workspace and check out my list of the basic art materials you need to start painting. 

Private art lessons

If you are interested in private art lessons, you can contact me via email at indo@debchaney.com and I can send you a price list for either an individual lesson or package for a multi-lesson plan.

For immediate information about the availability and price of private classes please check out my Private Lessons page. It has some details on price packages and how to get started.

Prints and original artwork for sale online

You can buy the original painting of Downtown Forest Painting online at Saatchi Art here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/downtown-forest-o 

You can buy reproductions of Downtown Forest Painting here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/downtown-forest-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.

What Do You See In Snow White Sleeping?

/

Snow White Sleeping by Deb Chaney (48” x 36”)

I’d like to announce that one of my larger format paintings is now on Saatchi Art. The original acrylic on canvas painting of Snow White Sleeping is still available for purchase and you can also now buy high-quality reproductions.

About this painting

This painting is part of my Pure Abstraction series. And pure abstraction in terms of art is undoubtedly inspired by the divine experience and feeling of being in nature. 

“Great art picks up where nature ends.”

– Marc Chagall

Whether hiking along a river and looking up at the surrounding mountain peaks or peacefully sitting oceanside watching the tide change, the bliss and inspiration from these experiences follow me to the studio. And the resulting pure abstraction in my artwork is my interpretation of those experiences. 

I also often incorporate natural materials such as sand in these Pure Abstraction paintings.

The composition of Snow White Sleeping presents a unique and abstract interpretation named after the famous fairy tale character. The palette consists primarily of just 2 colours–an azure blue and white.

The soft shades of white, pale blues, and delicate greys dominating the abstract artwork create a soothing dream-like atmosphere. These subtle hues evoke a sense of calmness and serenity, inviting you to immerse yourself in the peacefulness of the scene.

The absence of detailed features allows your imagination to fill in the gaps, encouraging a personal connection with the subject. Capturing the essence of rest and introspection, it invites you to contemplate the tranquility and vulnerability depicted in the painting.

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy the original painting of Snow White Sleeping online at Saatchi Art here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/snow-white-o

You can buy reproductions of Snow White Sleeping here:

https://fwf0.short.gy/snow-white-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.

Which Of The 7 C's Does This Make You Feel?

/

Self Authenticity by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

I’m delighted to say that my original abstract painting Self Authenticity has been sold.

While I don’t have the buyer’s details, I would like to offer my thanks and gratitude to them for choosing my artwork. I hope it makes a wonderful addition to your art collection. 

And to all the other art lovers out there, even though the original painting of Self Authenticity has been purchased, you can order prints of it online through Saatchi Art. (See the bottom of the page for more details about reproductions.)

About this painting

This painting is very much about the practice of not only being our authentic selves, but completely loving ourselves the way we are. It’s an ongoing practice, to be experienced moment by moment.

The gold mica flakes in this painting represent the gold deep within–that is your authentic self.

The circle in the top left hand corner represents how we repeat patterns, continuing to learn over and over again. This is described in detail in Buddhism quite often.

The transparent watery turquoise rivers embody the flow of energy from your authentic self towards you speaking your truth.

According to Richard Swartz, in his book No Bad Parts, when we’re in our authentic self, we embody these core elements:

  • Curiosity

  • Compassion

  • Confidence

  • Creativity

  • Connectedness

  • Courage

  • Calmness

While sharing this information with a friend, I thought to myself:

When I am feeling these emotions listed that tell me I’m in my authentic self, this would be a good time to make important decisions.

Little Gems Series

This original abstract painting is part of my Little Gems Series. I use these paintings as small studies to both explore new ideas and practice old ones. Similar to the way musicians do vocal exercises or practice their scales, this is a painter’s practice so-to-speak.

Every Little Gem is infused with the joy, love and passion that I feel in the studio and that energy is imbued into the painting–my gift to you!

Go here to see more paintings in my Little Gems Series:

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

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy high-quality prints of Self Authenticity online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-Self-Authenticity/499285/10117097/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.

Do You Know How to Make it Fun?

/

To change things up (and add some fun!) I want to add this new kind of post to my blog. 

Back in January of this year I gave an Update on The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist, which is the set of illustrated affirmation cards I created. 

Each card features one of 68 positive messages I use for motivation, inspiration, and general well-being. But rather than talk about the deck as a whole, I’d like to hone in and get a bit more focused. So each of these “illuminated posts” will highlight a single card and reflect on its meaning or message.

Make it fun!

What better way to kick of this series than with one of the most important messages of all?

Make it fun!

When I’m stuck I add some sparkle. Making it fun gets my creativity flowing.

The backdrop of this card is very fitting as it features a painting from my Little Gems Series. Not only do I use these paintings to hone my artistic skills and practice new techniques, I paint them first and foremost for joy and fun!

With many things, but art in particular, it can be easy to discern whether the artist was having fun or not during the creative process.

If you’re not enjoying the creative process, there’s a good chance that’s going to come across on the canvas–or whichever medium you’re using.

I might add sparkles–literally–or sand or collaged books pages or wrapping paper. Look around and you’ll be surprised by all of the things that can add some pizzazz.

Testimonials for ‘The 68 Secrets of an Illuminated Artist’

This set of artist inspirational cards are a hit with my customers. They appeal to artists and beyond. I have a sample set out and rarely does someone pass by without reading out a card that resonates with them. I've even had grandparents buy them for their grandchildren as they offer such profound life wisdom. I'd definitely recommend these to any retailer out there!

Free Spirit Gallery & Shop

How to get your own pack of inspirational cards

You can purchase your pack of cards online at The Game Crafter or in the following retail stores:

  • Surrey Art Gallery Gift Shop

  • Free Spirit Gallery, Gabriola Island, BC

  • Iron Oxide Art Supplies Nanaimo

  • Blackberry Gifts in Ucluelet, BC

  • Page's Inn & Marina Bookstore, Gabriola Island

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

This card features a section of Christmas on Gabriola Island. You can see the full painting and buy custom reproductions on Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-Christmas-on-Gabriola-Island/499285/8480800/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.

Where In The World Does This Painting Take You?

/

Just Start Fresh In This Moment by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

I would like to share that I have a new original abstract painting available for purchase on Saatchi Art. 

The original painting of Just Start Fresh In This Moment is still available, or you can custom order your own high-quality reproduction. You can have reproductions made in a variety of sizes as well as different formats, such as canvas, acrylic and metal. 

About this painting

This contemporary abstract expressionist artwork was painted in 2024 and is acrylic on paper, measuring 9” x 12”.

The colour palette is primarily a range of blues, ranging from light blue to cobalt and aquamarine blues to turquoise. However, earthy shades of yellows and oranges can be seen peeking out from deep beneath the many textured layers of blues.

Sandy textures and repeated stencils of geometric flower shapes create a sense of tropical nature in this painting.

This painting is part of my Little Gems SeLittle Gems Seriesies of small paintings that help me hone my skills. I paint them for joy and fun. Not only do I get to make art in the moment–exploring ideas new and old–but I get to enjoy this creative practice to help me heal and figure myself out in this journey called life.

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy the original painting of Just Start Fresh In This Moment online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Just-Start-Fresh-In-This-Moment/499285/11763623/view

You can buy reproductions of Just Start Fresh In This Moment here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-Just-Start-Fresh-In-This-Moment/499285/11763623/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.

Is This The Greatest Gift An Artist Can Receive?

/

Birthday Surprise by Deb Chaney

I’m thrilled to announce that my original abstract painting Birthday Surprise has been sold.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the buyer. I’m honoured that you have made it part of your personal art collection. Knowing that someone appreciates and values my original artwork is truly the greatest gift.

While the original painting has been sold, high-quality reproductions are still available online through Saatchi Art. You can have them custom made in a range of sizes and formats.

About this painting

I painted Birthday Surprise in celebration of my birthday a few years ago. It’s actually part of a limited series of 6 paintings within my larger collection of Little Gems. 

I created the fun, lighthearted paintings with leftover fragments of wrapping paper from my daughter's birthday presents from a few weeks earlier. 

The painting process involved layering the collage with gesso, scraping back using a rubber shaper, then adding in some new darker collage materials for contrast. The fun and challenge was balancing the shapes and integrating them all together with the paint gestures.

These small paintings help me hone my skills and are made for pure fun and joy. I make them for myself and create them with love in creative bliss.

The other artworks in this 6-painting “Birthday Series” (seen in the gallery above) are:

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy high-quality prints of Birthday Surprise online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-Birthday-Surprise/499285/6332949/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.

Are You Relaxed When You See a Scene Like This?

/

Let it go by Deb Chaney (36” x 48”)

I would like to share that my contemporary abstract painting Let it go is available for purchase. The original canvas painting is still available as well as high-quality reproductions. 

The latter can be custom made according to your personal preferences in a variety of sizes and formats.

About this painting

Let it go is an abstract landscape painting inspired by the earth and sky with multiple layers of textures and acrylics.

The painting is reminiscent of some of my favourite camping spots in the forest near the ocean, on our beautiful islands of the Pacific Northwest.

Tranquil and subdued, subtle and relaxing, its earthy hues are further textured with layers of sand. You can see bits of the turquoise sky just peeking through at the top of the canvas, above mossy greens and echoes of sacred geometry patterns in the beach below.

This original abstract artwork was created in 2017, but only recently photographed and made available for purchase and prints.

This large one-of-a-kind mixed-media artwork is acrylic on canvas and measures 36” x 48” x 1.5”.

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy the original painting and high-quality prints of Let it go online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Let-it-go/499285/10135447/view

You can see more of my original large-sized paintings here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/account/artworks/499285?size=large 

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.

This Painting Won an Award in the H20 Exhibition

/

Underwater art ii by Deb Chaney (12” x 9”)

I’m thrilled to announce that my artwork won the Bronze Award in a juried exhibition by J. Mane Gallery. This was such a wonderful message to see when opening my email:

Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that your entry, Underwater Art ii has won a Bronze award in our 2024 H2O Online Art Exhibition at J. Mane Gallery. 

J. Mane Gallery

About the H2O Online Art Exhibition

“Water is one of the most important elements for sustaining human life.  We live on a water planet. It surrounds us, and we cannot live without it.”

These are the words from the gallery’s exhibition page, following a quote from Van Gogh.

"The heart of a man is much like the sea.  It has it's storms, it has it's tides and in it's depths it has it's pearls too."

Vincent van Gogh

The J. Mane Gallery’s water-themed 2024 H2O online art exhibition encouraged artists “to share their artistic vision and interpretation of abstract art.”

All 5 of my abstract paintings featured in the exhibit are in the gallery below.

In recognition of the other artists

I love that J. Mane Gallery is all about artists helping artists and I would like to share the other talented people who participated in this exhibition. 

Congratulations to all of these other incredible artists!

A bit more about J. Mane Gallery

Award-winning fine art photographer Jessica Kimmel Manelis launched the J. Mane Gallery after continued dissatisfaction with how gallery websites displayed her artwork.

The online gallery promotes the artwork of both emerging and experienced artists with a visually stunning website. The goal is to connect them with art buyers, enthusiasts, and fellow artists.

The gallery hosts monthly themed competitions and exhibitions to help artists gain exposure worldwide. You can read more about J. Mane Gallery here.

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

I had 5 abstract paintings exhibited in this online show. You can buy my award-winning artwork and the other 4 pieces online at Saatchi Art here:

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.

Reaching for my Well-Being: Making angry art was my first step

/

I Think It Was Me Who Needed To Listen, 23” x 30” acrylics and collage on 300 pound watercoloUr paper © Deb Chaney 2007 Raw Expression Series

If you are joining me now for the first time, or have been reading my previous posts, you’ll know that I’m on a journey creating a series of paintings that visually embody my path to well-being. I’m calling them my Drishti Paintings and I shared why I chose this title last week. 

This is my third journal entry whereby I’m sharing behind the scenes of creating this body of work, about their meaning, and my personal stories behind them. Why I’m creating this work, and why it matters so much to me, and how making art helped me along this path to finding my well-being.


So that we’re both on the same page, I will begin today by defining well-being. (Definition from ChatGPT). 

Well-Being

Well-being encompasses a holistic state of health and happiness, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual aspects of a person's life. It goes beyond the absence of illness or distress and includes factors such as life satisfaction, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose. Well-being is influenced by various factors including personal relationships, work-life balance, financial stability, physical health, mental health, and the environment. It's often considered a subjective experience, as what contributes to one person's well-being may differ from another's.

The beginning of my story, whereby I started creating art as a way to process my feelings, starts in the red zone, so-to-speak, whereby my first step towards finding my well-being was allowing myself to feel my anger.

Back in  2007,  I was angry at being stuck in a marriage that didn’t work for me. I was angry about the expectations I felt were placed on me as a mother and a parent. But mostly, I was angry at myself for feeling angry. 

Anger was my powerful default mechanism to handle the challenges life was bringing me. It was a habit and a default reaction. Back then, it was a place where I existed a lot, which was not in support of my well-being. Quite honestly, it's exhausting to be angry all the time.

Anger is such a taboo emotion in our culture. To me, it also feels so linked to shame. It feels to me as if you are angry, you “should“ feel ashamed of yourself for being angry, especially if you are a woman. I see the collective wagging their pointer fingers and saying; “You bad angry woman, you.”

The thing that we all need to realize is that, in terms of frequency, anger is a step up above depression and shame, closer to higher vibrational states. So when someone is experiencing anger, they are actually moving into their well-being and taking that next step. From a healing perspective, it is better to be angry than depressed. 

The shift started for me with choosing to make art instead of harming myself or those around me. I took the massively intense emotions I felt, and I went and created my first series of paintings, all dominantly red, of course.

“Anger is a catalyst, an emotion we need to transform into something life-giving.” Atlas of the Heart, Brenee Brown

A few weeks ago, I was at the beach, talking with a friend who was feeling distraught, sad, and frustrated. She shared that she just wanted to feel good. There was such a feeling of frustration emanating from her because she was in a place of struggle and wanted to be way over it, immediately, to the other side, and into a good feeling place. 

I listened to her share her challenges and struggles and then, before responding, I asked her to help me place a series of rocks in a row, going from smallest to biggest.  

Once the rocks were placed in a neat row, I pointed to the big rock at the far end of the line and said, “This is you feeling sooo good and being super happy.” (aka, in her well-being)

Then I pointed to the small rock at the bottom of the line and shared, “This is where you’re at now, when you feel like shit and it seems like life sucks.”

If you want to get over to the ‘good feeling ‘ big rock, you need to take the step to the next slightly bigger rock, and then the next one, and one step at a time, you’ll get there. But it’s important to understand, you just need to take the next step. 

“You only have to know your next step” - David Allen

Creating the Raw Expression Series was a way for me to handle and process my own deep and intense emotions so that I wasn’t hurting myself or anyone else. I was ‘seeing red’ so I just painted it... I needed to feel and then express that I was angry. Yes, it may have been angry art, but it was the beginning of my healing journey and I’m glad I made the choice to create something instead of choosing other destructive options. Making this art was my next step.

P.S. The new red frequency paintings in the Drishti Experience Exhibit will not be angry  art (aka shadow side), but exploring the ‘light’ side of the colour and hues of red, the positive aspect of this frequency when we are feeling supported, safe, and secure. Stay tuned…

Click here to receive an email invitation to The Drishti Experience Exhibit - Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being, a series of large scale abstract mixed media paintings for exhibit from November 2024 to Jan 2025 at Amelia Douglas Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 

#TheDrishtiExperience

What happens when we focus on what is right?

/

Consciously Growing My Well Being by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

I would like to share that my original abstract painting, Consciously Growing My Well Being, is now available for sale on Saatchi Art. You can also choose to make high-quality reproductions in various sizes and formats.

About this painting

The colour palette of this textured contemporary abstract artwork is a sea of greens and blues. Lighter tones of mossy greens, cobalt blues, and turquoise are surrounded by near-black blues.

Splotches of burgundy red appear sparingly beneath the darker layers.

Part of something bigger

This painting is a small practice piece for the large format series I’m working on called The Drishti Paintings. This is in preparation for a solo exhibit I am calling The Drishti Experience. The exhibit runs Nov 2024–Jan 2025.

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

The underlying question that inspires this series is: How can I Iive in a frequency of well-being?

I am fascinated by well-being in a world where we tend to focus on what is wrong. As we cheer on our personal “trauma trophies”, we focus on our troubles, challenges, and chagrins. This leads me to wonder: 

What happens when we focus on what is right? 

What is good here? 

How do we find lasting health, happiness, joy, and wellness? 

The visual foundation of this series embodies the core principles I have learned from living in the frequency of my own well-being and continues to evolve as I do. This one-of-a-kind artwork is acrylic on paper and measures 9” x 12”. 

Prints and Original Artwork for Sale Online

You can buy high-quality prints of Consciously Growing My Well Being online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Consciously-Growing-My-Well-Being/499285/11750045/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.

Drishti What?

/

Deb chaney talking about her paintings in 2015

How this project began...

Before I get into why I chose to name this upcoming painting exhibit The Drishti Experience - Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being, we’re going to go back in time, and if you are curious, I’d like to share with you the story of when and where the idea came to me.

In October 2015, I was invited to give an artists’ talk at the Vancouver Arts Colloquium Society. This was when and where the idea came to me; it was from a really good question one of the audience members asked me after my presentation.

For the engagement, I brought a number of 23” x 30” abstract paintings on 300 pound cold press watercolor paper, from my Fragments of Life Series to show and tell. I used the paintings and their titles to share how I felt that making this art had re-taught me how to be in the world and start to feel good again. For this to make sense, we have to go even further back in time.

On July 8th, 2002, on my 28th birthday, after four days of labor,  The Universe gave me the greatest gift of my life. I won’t pretend it was easy or comfortable, however, sometimes the most challenging experiences we go through offer us the most substantial gifts.

My son Max was born and died that day.  He had congenital defects that were not detected prior to birth, so even though he came out alive and kicking, a beautiful, perfect little baby, his lungs were the size of lima beans. I watched the medical team try to resuscitate him, but nothing could be done. This little angel came and went, transforming me for evermore.

The next year, my daughter Ruth was born, and subsequently came the heedless gifts of divorce, depression, and delusion. I thought I could handle being a single parent, do it all on my own, but several years later, after nights of anxiety attacks, and days of planning my exit, I was so exhausted and mentally unwell that I was hospitalized. I then lost custody of my daughter. 

I didn’t know it back then, but I was existing at the very bottom of the frequencies of emotion: I lived in shame. The experience was a combination of feelings of guilt, grief, and fear.  This is important to mention because this project is about capturing the frequency of my well-being, so we need to bring the concept of frequency into the discussion in order to understand how it all plays together. At that time, I felt such a level of indignity around all of this happening and my being unable to ‘handle it’ that life felt unbearable. The one thing that brought me solace and glimpses of joy was making art. And I had a deep and burning desire to get well, but no idea yet how.

Back to 2015: During the Q&A part of the artist’s talk, a woman raised her hand and said that from her perspective she observed someone who had done a tremendous amount of healing. (Thank you). She then asked me, What did I feel was the key component that helped me heal from mental illness? It was exactly at that moment that the idea of the Drishti Painting Series came to me, because my answer was the definition of Drishti.

Drishti comes from the Sanskrit word meaning to focus the mind. I realized then that my focus on my decision to do whatever it takes to get well so that I could get my daughter back was the reason I was healing. I became aware, in the moment of this woman asking me her question, that the power of focus is absolutely key in the process. I also realized that many other components that had helped me find my well-being were also imbued in my paintings.

I am excited to share the other elements that I feel played an important role in my healing journey, in my later writings, as these discoveries are very much where things get fun and we move up the ladder of frequency, into courage, acceptance and finally into flow…

We all go through challenges in life; this is an inescapable part of human existence. It is what we do with them and whether or not we let them ‘keep us down’ or if we choose and allow them to teach and transform us. I made a decision to get well and had my practice of making art alongside me to help and guide me. This  is why I am so excited to create this series of paintings and share them with you. To celebrate positive possibilities, healing,  and well-being. 

Join me?

Click here to receive an email invitation to The Drishti Experience Exhibit - Capturing the Frequency of My Well-Being, a series of large scale abstract mixed media paintings for exhibit Nov 2024 - Jan 2025 at Amelia Douglas Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 

#TheDrishtiExperience

Only 1 Left in This Beautiful Series of Delights

/

The Delight of Words and Paint iii of iii by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

I’m delighted to share that my original abstract painting The Delight of Words and Paint iii of iii has been sold. 

I am so honoured and thrilled just knowing that it is now part of someone’s personal art collection.

About this painting

As you can probably tell by the title, this original artwork is part of a series. It is the third of 3 paintings, 2 of which have now been sold.

Working with collage, acrylic paint, and new stencils inspired this process. An array of shades of light and dark greens dominate this abstract painting. Along with photocopied cutouts, strips of pages have been cut from books and collaged around the canvas.

This contemporary art painting is part of my Little Gems Series. These pieces are inspired by practice and play. Particularly the interplay between collage words and paint. These pieces are my practice and are so much fun to create.

The original painting measures 9” x 12” and is a mixed media artwork of acrylics and collaged book pages on paper.

Original Artwork and Prints for Sale Online

While the original has been purchased, you can buy high-quality prints of The Delight of Words and Paint iii of iii online at Saatchi Art here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-The-Delight-of-Words-and-Paint-iii-of-iii/499285/3231598/view

The Delight of Words and Paint i of iii has also been sold, but prints are available here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-The-Delight-of-Words-and-Paint-i-of-iii/499285/3231564/view 

The original painting of The Delight of Words and Paint ii of iii is still available and can be added to your art collection here: 

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-The-delight-of-Words-and-Paint-ii-of-iii/499285/3231586/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.

5 Beautiful Wearable Artworks Perfect For Summer

/

The Flower Cup ii Catherine Full-zip Active top by Deb Chaney

With summer right around the corner, I would like to share some of my favourite summer pieces on Le Galeriste. 

In case you’ve missed it here on my blog or in my Studio Updates newsletter, Le Galeriste is a Montreal-based company that creates wearable art. The Canadian company partners with artists to produce high-quality original art on premium clothing and accessories.

The original art pieces below are currently available at Le Galeriste and perfect for the coming season.

My top 5 wearable artworks for summer

My collection on Le Galeriste has grown to over 300 pieces of original wearable art. It includes skirts, shirts, leggings, scarves, bags, and more.

Here are 5 of my favourites for summer:

My wearable art Spring Collection

If you’re looking for something to wear right now, as mentioned in an earlier post, I have created a Nature Inspired Collection for springtime. It consists of emerald greens, forests, and earthy motifs.

The wearable art collection includes shirts, pants, dresses, jumpsuits, and more. There are more than 110 items to choose from in the collection, which you can scroll through here: 

https://www.legaleriste.com/en/deb.chaney/Nature%20Inspired-deb.chaney

About Le Galeriste Arte a Porte: 

Le Galeriste is the fusion of art and high fashion. The wearable art gallery showcases exclusive works of art from some of the world’s most respected artists, produced on high-end clothing made in Montreal (Canada) in limited and numbered editions.

Le Galeriste’s curators work with the gallery’s signed artists on a selection of artworks and set the artistic intent of the collaboration. The designers then place the art on the wearable canvasses (dress, blouse, button-down shirt, etc.). 

The creations are grouped into bimonthly exhibitions presented to the Collectors via their online gallery, on Instagram, and on their Facebook page.

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.

What Do You Need To Feel Good?

/


You Know You've Got it if it Makes You Feel Good by Deb Chaney (9” x 12”)

It is with great appreciation I share that my original abstract painting was sold earlier in the year. The one-of-a-kind painting is titled You Know You've Got it if it Makes You Feel Good.

I would like to send a heartfelt thank-you to Ms. Lasquite of Talisay City, Philippines for your incredible enthusiasm and passion for my artwork. 

I am so grateful to not only have worked together at Elephant Stock, but to now have you as one of my collectors. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

About this painting

Vibrant colours dance across the canvas, bursting with energy in a symphony of blue and green hues. The large, bold strokes of colour pulsate with life as they lead your eye around the artwork.

The title of this playful and energetic painting was inspired by the lyrics of the song Piece of my Heart, which was a huge hit for Janis Joplin. You can hear her version of the song and follow along with the lyrics in the YouTube video below.

The original painting measures 9” x 12” and is acrylic on paper.

My Little Gems Series

This little painting is part of my Little Gems Series, which I use for testing new techniques and practicing old ones. They are infused with the joy, love, and passion I feel in the studio. That energy is imbued into the painting as my gift to you!

You can see more original paintings in this collection here:

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

Prints for Sale Online

While the original artwork has been sold, you can get prints and reproduction in a variety of sizes and formats here:

https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-You-Know-You-ve-Got-It-If-It-Make-You-Feel-Good/499285/11237901/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.