Diane Clancy's Art Blog

One of my friend on Facebook is I A the Muse.  She is incredibly creative and also a writer.  A magical, mythological sort of being. Check out her Facebook page to learn more about I Am the Muse.

Awhile ago I am the Muse asked a questions on Facebook and it really made me think.  I am sharing I Am the Muse’s question here, along with my own (long and winding answers – it kept me thinking and I would write more). You may find out a lot more about what has been going on for me than you knew.  Please SHARE YOUR OWN ANSWERS HERE!!  Thank you for whatever you share … This question touched my heart and I hope it touches yours too!

I just found the original post.

 I am The Muse
If you could open the door to “success”
~ what would your “success” actually be? ~

Diane’s answers:   I am here thinking about this – the last few years have been rough taking care of family through surgeries, my Dad’s death and my own doctor’s appts … I am sitting here reevaluating – thank you for this opportunity – I will let you know as I know ~ Diane Clancy

A little later:  I used to be very clear where I was going and very focused until the last several years (see above) … so now – once I am clear about what success is, then that needs to guide my actions. I have accomplished some things important to me that are very successful – like in the relationship realm.

I have been an activist for environment, social justice, health and such for over 40 years – but I don’t have the same drive anymore to take the leadership and make things happen.

This has been a very helpful question to me – so that leaves Art and Creativity (and as much health as possible to support them)

I used to have a focus on getting my art out to the world so that my art can inspire others in their daily life (I wanted my work on mugs and such and now that is true (that is, it is already happening)). Especially given that people aren’t buying in droves … my focus has shifted – and I didn’t realize it until this question.

I want to be creating art – painting, digital, it doesn’t matter – but art that stretches me and allows me to be in that play where I love creating and playing and sometimes feels like I am jumping off a cliff. Success to me means that I am doing that.

Thank you, Muse and thank you to all the others who replied who inspired me to truly figure this out!! ~ Diane Clancy

An Update: I had a pretty serious setback with painful walking, but things are getting better.  I am truly enjoying setting up Zazzle shops now that I have made a whole lot of decisions and learned a lot more in the last several weeks.  I feel I am more back on track than I have since my life felt derailed several years ago.  Thinking about success helped me get my vision back.

Thank you very much for reading my blog and reading about my journey!!  I am eager to hear your thoughts!!  ~ Diane

Bliss, Digital © Diane Clancy

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Technorati Tags: I Am the Muse, Bliss, creativity, meaning of success, success, facebook

Stephanie Mealor Corder of Dragonfly Design Studios featured me and one of my vibrant colorful paintings on the Dragonfly Design Studios Blog – along with 3 other “Bubble” Artists. Stephanie has a lovely blog with many interesting articles.  I am thrilled to be included in this post on “The Art of Bubbles”!! There are some other incredible bubbles too!  Thank you!  Stephanie also has a link to a fantastic article on bubbles – part art and part science. Some of the photographs are stunning!! Make sure you go all the way to the end to see the 2 short videos about dolphins and bubbles … well worth watching!  Thank you, Stephanie!

I am delighted and amazed to receive the Art Blog Award from Teresa of Tresses Art Blog who has some very lovely artwork! She has a lovely blog Tresses Art Blog and here is the post with all the details that go with this award. I am thrilled!! Thank you! Tresses is Teresa’s muse – very cool!!

Art Blog Award

Winners of this Art Blog Award are asked to name 7 things I love and pass on the honors to 7 other bloggers:

Ok, first 7 things about me:

1. Sunlight dappling on the leaves and walls

2. My partner, daughter, family and friends

3. The vibrant orange & yellow of autumn leaves against the piercing blue sky

4. Watching a movie that transports me to a different reality

5. Chocolate in many forms and also pizza

6. Roses and other flowers where the colors blend and the patterns make my soul leap

7. Sudoku

Here are my nominees … all very fine and hard to choose with so many great blogs!! Know that I considered YOU!! Thank you!

1. Neda Doany of Papiers Collés - she is an incredible & insightful artist and writer

2. Jean Hood of Jean Levert Hood – Texas Hill Country Painter and my co-moderator of VAST

3. Sue O’Kieffee of Sacred Circle Mandalas – a very gifted mandala artist & good friend

4. Susan Elkin of Susan Elkin Photography – photographer extraordinaire and my best friend ever

5. Irene of The Finely Tuned Woman – courageous, strong, insightful and enjoyable woman and my most faithful commenter

6. Staci Rose of Staci Rose Designs – creative artist and read about the Holocaust Butterfly Project

7. Kate of Heronkate’s Art – a bright, creative painter who makes floor cloths among other things

This was fun to honor all these lovely artistic, creative people! Thanks for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

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I am thrilled to report that I have been working in the studio … using real, non-digital, art materials.  This is one of the results.  I have created 15 ACEOs that I like … and by the end of doing them, I was getting back in the groove again of how I use pastels.  I have never tried to draw so small before – not in any serious way.  Some of you know I have been trying to get back in there (the studio) to create with traditional mediums … so this is quite a success for me!

Sunrise Bouquet, Pastel © Diane Clancy

On the last several ACEOs, I was tackling them as if I actually knew what I was doing .. it  was a great feeling!  I love working digitally and it has been wonderful for me to be able to … especially when I often didn’t feel well enough to be in the real physical studio.  But it was also miraculous for me to be able go into the studio … where there is no UNDO button … and start to feel good about creating this tiny little cards (2 1/5″ x 3 1/2″) …. it started to be a whole lot of fun!  Even though it is cold in the studio – the temperature is 63 degrees.

I hope you like this vibrant,  colorful painting! I know I do … I use pastels in a way unlike most people … but I use them the way that feels right to me … Delighted to be sharing this with you!  Thank you … I would love to hear about your own process in creating.

Susan Elkin and I have been working quite hard on her business and she has made incredible progress.   By the way, Susan has posted today!!  Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

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Technorati Tags: organizing, Creativity Every Day, Illustration Friday, foreground, background, focus, digital painting

I have made incredible progress at organizing these past 3 days … it is such a relief. I think I deserve a vacation in an Aztec Garden. I have taken care of so so many things that had piled up … and it was pretty overwhelming.  But I tackled it like I tackle paintings … it is my creative process.  Just a little bit at a time .. telling myself all I have to do it a tiny bit … what a relief!! And then I am able to really make a lot of progress as long as I am not pushing too hard. My studio table is even clear … on Facebook several artists commented how great it was that I could see my table – since they couldn’t – that made me feel better.  But WHEW!! How good when tackling such a big thing and it starting to come together.  I find I need to have a fine balance … putting things off doesn’t work .. but neither does forcing it. When the timing is right, it flows. Thanks for stopping by!!

Aztec Garden, Digital © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: organizing, creative process, Facebook

This looks like a Goddess Mandala to me.  It looks mythical and deep with layers of meaning. It looks like a scared symbol of an earth culture. For me it is a sacred symbol – I see a goddess created from ancient, significant symbols. There is a human aspect and also a nature deva facet. And of course, the colors have profound spiritual implications. Absolutely amazing the way the unconscious speaks in art!!

Life Mandala, Digital © Diane Clancy

I have a give-away to celebrate my 500th post. You can still enter to win!! Here are the details. It is FREE to enter! Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Goddess, Mandala, scared symbol, deva, spiritual, unconscious, give-away, FREE

I love this painting … the colors and the stillness uplift me … hence the name. My affirmation for the day is “still joy” … that is what I want to foster in me and in the world.

Still Joy, Digital © Diane Clancy

Many times of my life I have been filled with still joy even if I have been way too busy … I want to reclaim that still center of myself where I am centered and joyful, even when way too busy … time to get back in alignment!! The quiet sun today is an early spring sun – this actually enhances the process I think. I wish still joy for all of you too!

I am thrilled you preferred the second image yesterday … The first one took a long time to find a car and get it all set up … but the colors and formatting came pretty easily once I got the car in the 3D painting. I was concerned it was too close to “Theory” so I worked and worked and worked to get a painting I at least sort of liked that was different and felt fairly harmonious.

So you liked the painting (in general anyway) that flew out of me. The creative process was in the flow and just moving right along. The other took much longer and never flowed how I wanted .. I think, so often, it is the creative projects that flow that are more effective. Certainly there are still often lots of tedious and slow details to do, but the general creativity comes easily.

Not that is always the case, sometimes it is after struggling with something, that the floodgates open up and wow … it flows! Creativity is so interesting! Hope your day is excellent!

~ Diane Clancy

I like to enter the 2 Things Challenge each week. This week is Peanut and Plain. I was trying and trying to figure out what to do. I would say these are both more conceptual … to whatever degree they work (not sure they do). I would like to be able to create more conceptually – because I think the vision of seeing an idea is very important. I hope you like my entries.

Peanut and Plain, Digital © Diane Clancy

Here is another version (sorry, Neda – she is on a slow, slow computer/phone system right now). But I thought this might actually do better at showing contrast. So I went looking for the right bubblescape to work with and this jumped out as me as plain and peanut – hope you agree!

Plain and Peanut, Digital © Diane Clancy

I have lots of bubblescapes done up that you haven’t seen yet. I put one on Flickr tonight to show my piece for Create Every Day (this is the blog). Some of you may want to join in! There is a message on her sidebar on the right that tells about it and lists all the participants. You can also see the Flickr Group where many people post their images.

To update you – I did some design work for someone as I had mentioned. I had felt very hopeful but it did not work out. The communication did not flow at all and we had a mutual parting of the ways. I think she will pay me what we agreed on .. I think she is honest. It was very weird – I am so known for my clear communication with customers and vendors … but this just did not work that way at all. I think perhaps it was my soul pushing me instead to stay focused on my own work … even if I don’t have as much income.

I know I am way behind in replying to your comments, but I figure you would rather have me comment on your own blogs and try to keep up there better. Hope all is well with you!!!

~ Diane Clancy