Diane Clancy's Art Blog

Here is another of my pastel Art Cards, ACEOs.  This one will be for sale both as an original and as a print. I like it quite a lot! Art Cards are 2 1/2 x 3 1/2″ – in any medium … the size is what makes them ACEOs.  They have become a very popular, affordable way to collect an artist’s work. They are fun, a manageable size, lovely and affordable!  I plan to put the originals in some of my online shops and also the website and blog.  Unlike many other artists, I am going to list each original in only one place – I don’t want to risk selling it twice!  Thanks for all your encouragement for creating my vibrant, colorful paintings!

Magenta Moon, Pastel © Diane Clancy

The extremely high stress situation that was supposed to be over has reared its ugly head again!!  This was supposed to be over and the resolution was supposed to be clear.  But the person/agency who was in charge of that, totally, totally messed it up!  So now it is a real big, ridiculous situation.  So it is back on the front burner … and I am having a hard time dealing with it.  I keep working to keep things in persepective – after all, there are much, much worse things in life.  But the powerlessness around this specific thing is pretty horrible for most people.  And one of the worst things is that there is no accountability for them … they get to make mistakes with no consequences … and mess up people’s lives in the process.  Any prayers and healing are greatly appreciated!

At the same time some other projects – like the AWE Project, Artists Window Exhibit and the town elections – are also taking a lot of time and energy … so I want to make sure I get some rest in!  Thank you for stopping by!  I would love to hear how you are doing!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, pastel, ACEO, Art Card

This week I have created 13 pastel Art Cards, ACEOs.  Art Cards are 2 1/2 x 3 1/2″ – in any medium … the size is what makes them ACEOs.  They have become a very popular, affordable way to collect an artist’s work.  I had mainly been making digital paintings that I made into Art Cards … and prints of some of my larger vibrant, colorful paintings.  But by popular demand (and the call of my muse), I am painting new vibrant, colorful pastels using traditional mediums right in the studio … totally away from the computer.  And it feels great!

Summer Morning, Pastel © Diane Clancy

But today I have been realizing part of what is so so great about working digitally – once you create the piece, you have it already to go!  It is easy to print because the colors on my computers generally match reasonably well with the printing from my archival printer.  The prints I make are rated to last 100 years … so the prints I create will last you a long, long time …

But when I scan in the little ACEOs, the color doesn’t translate as accurately to the computer.  I also need to protect the scanner from the pastel, so I use this shiny paper I bought years ago.  I read about it as a way to protect your scanner and still have fun, messy things to scan.  Once I get the digital file, I need to analyze what the color shifts are.  Some of them need to just be lighter, or shift the reds more toward magenta … or … or … and the beat goes on.  So it is a lot more work to get from a digital file to the printed art when I start with traditional medium.  But the pastels and other paints and papers are SO much fun to work with.  Yes, I know I could photo them too … and that is another set of problems.

This is one of my very favorite ones of the new Art Cards … I love the way certain blues and yellows bounce off each other – I have loved this color combination since I was a child .. even though you would never know that by the lack of frequency I use this combo.  My favorite colors – as you  may have have guessed – are magenta/hot pink, aqua/azure  and violet/purple. These colors just make my heart sing … I love them!! I love the way this trio interacts with each other .. I go around and around with which one is my favorite of the moment depending on the shades.

But also the way this particular bright, light, vibrant blue plays together with a clear, bright, light yellow – oh, it always grabs me and transports me into joy.  Did I ever mention that the unifying theme of my work is color?  Thanks for stopping by and I would love to hear about you!

Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, pastel, ACEO, Art Card, muse, color

How do you name paintings?  Or anything else that you make?  I like to give a name because I feel it enhances the painting and also gives a way for the viewer to look at the work – when they would like that way into the artists’ mind.  So I name all my vibrant, colorful paintings … but I sometimes run into problems.  How unusual!  (smiling) This is one of the ACEO paintings I made for the WWAO Swap … and I named them all – of course – I always do!

Green Dusk, Pastel © Diane Clancy

But tonight when I went to write a post, I ran into a road block.  This was the pastel I chose to share with you … so I went to my image folder to make sure you hadn’t seen it before … and there was already another Green Dusk .. a digital one!  Well, it is too late to change the name of either … so one is a Green Dusk pastel and another a Green Dusk digital.  I prefer that doesn’t happen, but obviously I am far from perfect. At least I feel there is a similar feel in one way to them both – so it shows some internal logic in my names.

Green Dusk, Digital © Diane Clancy

How do you keep track of all this?  Do you name your paintings?  Do you ever use a name more than once?  Do you care?  Be great to hear from you on this topic!

I have been extremely busy with the AWE Project today.  If I had more time, I would give you links to WWAO and also describe the AWE Project again .. but off to 2 more things before I get to bed tonight … so I will see you tomorrw!!  Love to hear about you!! Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, pastel, ACEO, AWE, WWAO

Every week Illustration Friday has a challenge for a specific word. It is a great way to showcase your work and a wonderful opportunity to meet lots of wonderful people! Anyone can join in with their entry to Illustration Friday. I so much enjoy doing this challenge. This week is Fleeting. This vibrant, colorful painting of Fleeting shows someone day dreaming  with Fleeting thoughts idly drifted by. I encourage you to check Illustration Friday out! Lots of fun people and paintings!

Fleeting, Digital © Diane Clancy

Thanks so much for being in my life and caring!!  What you are up to at this point of your life? Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Illustration Friday, Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting

Today was a day spent mainly preparing for the next AWE Project (Artists Window Exhibit) in downtown Greenfield during the month of May.  I am not sure why it all takes so long to do – but it sure does.  Matching up artists with business owners, needing of course to work with people’s needs – what kind of art of place wants, what kind of conditions an artist needs … and of course, there is always the waiting for answers.  Today Susan Elkin and I finalized the lists of stores and artists (and artists in stores) – 3 lists and we tweaked again the press release to send out to the artists to get feedback.  Just getting the email list up-to-date for which artists are in this project took a long time – some new ones were given over the phone and others from emails.  That kind of coordinating just plain takes time!!!  But people do love the AWE once it is up … there is such great feedback!

Magenta Blossoms, Pastel © Diane Clancy

So I started a couple of ACEOs today, but I couldn’t get very far – this AWE detail work took over the day.  Tonight is the Conservation Commission to witness protecting the wet lands.  At last the state insisted that the owners protect this wetland that for 2 1/2 years they have tried to pave over.  Then the process will go on to the Zoning Commission.  If developers had just agreed to a reasonable size store, a smaller footprint, or fewer parking spaces, the discount store would already be built.  So the beat rolls on …

Thanks for stopping by and I would love to hear about you!

Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, pastel, ACEO, AWE

In the last few days I have created 4 pastel ACEOs – it has been  a lot of fun.  After I painted them, then there is the putting them into digital form to market online.  That adds another whole element!!  Because I was scanning 6 ACEOs with similar colors, I think that is why I ran into so many problems … the colors all turned too much orange and I spent several hours trying to figure out how to deal with all that.

I had made 15 vibrant, colorful pastel paintings before and scanned them and I thought the color was more similar between the scan and the original ACEOs.  At last I found the only 1 of the 15 I still had – right in the place I had looked 8 times …  The color is slightly more vibrant than the original, but not that wholesale color switch …   Eventually I filtered the ACEOs and got them pretty close to the originals.  When Susan Elkin has time, I want to show her all of them and get her opinion … she is most helpful with those kinds of things.  You will be seeing the new ones in the next several days … and I will be offering both the originals and prints for sale.

Yesterday I was featured at Found Handmade. This blog features all sorts of finds from lots of different online shops – it is very cool.  Here is the Found Handmade Blog and this is the post where I and others from the ACEO Market on 1000 Markets are featured. There is lots of great merchandise that you can see (and maybe even buy) each day.

Featured at Found Handmade

1000 Markets is a marketplace that has Markets (instead of teams as Etsy does).  So there are individual merchants and then markets … which are merchants who come together with a common purpose ..  geography, type product, method of making items or styles of art.  The ACEO Market, which recently accepted me, is a market that showcases … guess what … ACEOs … Art Cards (2  1/2 x 3 1/2″) that are a fantastic, affordable way to collect an artist’s artwork.  I highly recommend them.  At the ACEO Market (http://www.1000markets.com/groups/aceos) you can see lots of different, unique ACEOS!!  You can see lots of my vibrant, colorful paintings at Diane’s 1000 Markets (http://dianeclancy.1000markets.com).  Please stop by!

Jean Levert Hood of the BBEST Team featured me on the BBEST Team Blog yesterday.  There is a lovely writeup of me …  In part Jean says “I find Diane’s work to be energetic and yet peaceful. Her color choices, design and composition show a sharp eye for a creation sure to grace your walls! With work priced from $4.00 to well over $1000.00, you easily find something for every budget, any room, or that special gift.  … This is one talented lady!”  Thank you, Jean!

The BBEST Team at Etsy is a great group of people.  Here is what they say about BBEST on their BBEST Blog: “The BBEST Team is a vibrant and talented group of Etsians aged 40+ who are dedicated to Etsy which is synonymous with quality handmade items. Our very diverse group provides a place to chat, exchange ideas, help and support like minded members who call themselves the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team.”

Kelly Turner has featured me on her blog “Kelly M. Turner, It Comes from Within.”  Some of what she said about me is “(Diane) has been such an inspiration to me in assisting me in connecting with other artist. … She was so patient with me and gave me link after link, and contact after contact.” Kelly continues “Diane is an exceptional lady, she has helped me continually in giving me sound wisdom in getting my artwork to other artists and colleagues of hers. Her expertise in this field is dynamic.”  This is quite a lovely testimonial to me! Kelly says even more about me and you can read it on her blog.  Kelly has featured one of one vibrant, colorful paintings.

Please check it out! Kelly Turner’s blog is here and here is the post that I am included in! Please check it out!  Thank you, Kelly! Here is some of what Kelly says about her own creative process “My paintings reshape the process of the subconscious mind. I usually visualize and characterize the thought process before it gradually evolves to an idea. I have always been fascinated with nature and objects that enhance my focus. My method uses analogy and reality.” – very interesting!