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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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

Technorati Tags: Art Blog Award, Tresses Art Blog, Diane Clancy, vibrant color painting, Neda Doany, Jean Hood, Susan Ekin, The Finely Tuned Woman, Papiers Collés, Sacred Circle Mandalas, Sue O’Kieffee, Texas Hill Country Painter, Susan Elkin Photography, Staci Rose, Heronkate’s Art

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

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, pastel, creating

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

Here is an example of the before and after picture of Miss Chi Chi as she is all ready to go out on the town. Chi Chi loves getting dressed up in hats!! Chi Chi is so delighted to be featured on this blog!! She loves the attention!!

Chi Chi in Flowers, Digital © Diane Clancy

This gives you a sense of what I do for my Fanciful Animal Images. My friend and client gave me several photos of Chi Chi so I could choose which I thought would be most successful. I chose this one and you can see the results!

Chi Chi Before, Photography

Let me know if you have special friends that you want to create a special heirloom image in honor of. My rates are reasonable and people are delighted at the transformation of their buddy!

~ Diane Clancy

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One of the things we artists, and everyone else, needs to remember is to rest and rejuvenate. To allow ourselves the luxury of filling up with spiritual sustenance and spilling it over into our lives. This is actually not a luxury at all – it is as necessary for creative life as breathing. So often in this busy culture we drive ourselves to be busy and think that is what will move us ahead.

Flights of Fancy, Digital © Diane Clancy

Many of us are very busy fulfilling our dreams in life. Many of us artists now know we need to market besides create. I know for me there is no way that I will ever do what I think I need to do to be able to get my artwork out to you as I would like to.

I know I need to take the time to reconnect with the ease of spirit and joy – this is what truly fuels my creativity. Come join me in this “Flight of Fancy.”

~ Diane Clancy

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Wednesday we talked about biodiversity of the species – while focusing on the human species. You can read about this here. A key point for humans is that there is actual strength in difference. Diversity of people are important for the stability and evolution of humans. Unfortunately, languages get lost every day! Unbelievable that there are that many!!

Beseeching, Digital © Diane Clancy

Then there is biodiversity (Wikipedia) of the rest of the species. Science actually echoes thought (or is it the other way around?), the idea that there is strength in difference. Variety in species is actually necessary for the continuation of life. It used to be thought that many animals were cool and a nice thing. The more it gets looked into, it becomes clearer that it is necessary for life.

We have all heard of how many medicines that are so helpful actually are found in plants and microorganisms – that has been an incredible breakthrough. But each of us, human, animal, plant, microorganism … is part of the web of life. Variety actually strengthens our resistance to problems.

The potato famine in Ireland (1850′s) is seen to have been caused by a lack of variety in crops. When things are too uniform, they are weakened so that they are more vulnerable to catastrophe and problems in general. Think about each of us. I know when I do things only one way, when my rhythm is broken, I have less resilience to make changes more easily. To some extent it is similar with nature.

When agriculture gets too uniform and we lose heritage varieties, the ecosystem is weakened. Right now, there is a strong movement in saving old varieties of plant seeds to have for the future. Unfortunately, at the same time, there is a movement by big agribusiness for uniformity so that they can grow, pack, move and sell more easily – that is, more uniformly. This is part of why buying locally is important.

It is disturbing that we are losing so many species every year at this point. It is greatly disturbing that so many species are getting destroyed – yes, I mean destroyed – with the rain forest destruction. The rain forests hold some of the keys to life in many ways – biodiversity, oxygen, indigenous peoples, natural medicines .. the list goes on.

There are some efforts to protect species that are endangered and bring them back. The bald eagle in Massachusetts, US has had some real success. But these plants and animals are another reason why we need to protect the environment and look at our ecological footprint – as so many of us are doing.

This is just a quick overview, but I hope I have given you food for thought about why variety and difference are important for our very survival as a human species. A bright point is that there are still some new species that are being found – particularly in Indonesia. It is amazing to me! Not that these species are new – but those people who keep track of such things are finding them for the first time. This gives some hope for biodiversity – this also means there is that much more land we need to protect – at the same time we respect the needs of the people who live there and depend on these areas.

I know I have given a very slight overview of this topic and welcome your own thoughts, experiences and ideas!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: biodiversity, microorganisms, potato famine, resilience, biodiversity, ecological footprint

I am very moved by the outpouring of kindness and understanding that you have given me in your comments! You have touched me in a deep place in my soul with your connecting to me … and letting me know about it! This is an added bonus I did not expect when I started blogging!

Happy Dog, ACEO © Diane Clancy

I promised I would give you the link to the World Card Making Day (WCMD)- which was yesterday, October 6, 2007. If I had known earlier, I would have shared this so all of you could have the chance to play too. It is a little like Rima’s challenges … different blogs set up a kind of card to make and then details were posted during different times of the day and then people went to town creating cards!

ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) and ATC ( Art Trading Cards) are 2.5 x 3.5″ cards (made of many different materials) that people trade and collect. They are the same size as a baseball card (at least baseball cards in the US – I don’t know about other countries) and people often keep them in plastic sleeves that people use for baseball cards.

I have had a request to make some of these ACEOs and so I saw an opportunity that would force me to push myself fast and furious without worrying about quality .. sort of like it was for me when I took art classes. I produced tons of work because there was a deadline without the pressure of having to be perfect … I am sure many of you understand what I mean.

If you want to see the ACEOs I made yesterday they are posted at my other blogs here and here. I posted until 2 am my time last night so there may be some you didn’t catch. There are no duplicate ACEO images between the 2 blogs. And I hadn’t posted on either since I posted about the Blog Action Day – so that is when you will know you have seen all the ACEOs.

For me it was a great chance to get the brush going again without worrying about meaning or what it looked like. I need to do my environmental challenge so hopefully the brush got loosened up so now there is just the brain (or heart and soul) that need loosening.

The other thing I wanted to share is about this painting. I just was putting paint down and I thought it looked terrible – so I almost threw it aside. But I am very conscious of the earth and thriftiness. So I put a little more on it. Then I wiped a brush on it. Then put a bunch of marks in the back. Then, magically, at one moment, it showed itself as a dog. A pretty cool dog too I think. So I went back and reworked it a bunch more times … I thought you would be interested to know about its history. I think it is one of the strongest images from yesterday .. and it almost got thrown out!

I want you to remember that persevering is important. Things may not go quite right at the moment, in life and in painting, but keep stick with your process. You helped me persevere yesterday with painting and painting when it all looked like total junk to me .. then it gelled. So I want to pass this along to you!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: kindness, blogging, WCMD, ACEO, ATC, art classes

One thing that has been great for me in blogging is getting back into creating paintings again. I had gone on quite a digital image binge a couple of years ago and then slowed way down (except for animal pictures). I have not done that much new painting with traditional materials except for working on a couple of series that I knew I wanted to work out to four in each series. And I have spent a lot of time marketing and doing graphic design and web design for clients.

Above the Race Track, Digital © Diane Clancy

Coming here and having you want a new painting every day, I worried if I would have enough. I am sure I had enough for maybe a year (or 2 depending on what I use), but I am very conservative in a certain way (not politically), and I didn’t want to use up all my paintings.

So I started creating new digital ones to hopefully delight you. And it has been great – because you have helped me go past what I was doing before in working with Studio Artist. In Photoshop I am probably working very much similarly. But your comments have pushed me past where I was working with SA. To a bunch more steps and taking images and working and reworking and reworking again.

Then – about the names – you pushed me to get more creative when I was going on and on with the Beyonds – since I was working with the same base image. That was how I was naming before – using one name for all 4 or so images I would make from one source image.

Right now I have over 300 images in a folder from one painting. Almost all the images I have created the last couple of months have been from the one base painting. So, obviously, Beyond 301 doesn’t cut it.

The Confession – for my Blog Action Day painting, I want to use traditional mediums – which means physical paints, physical collages, physical pastels, etc. Now … here is the confession really – I am scared! I feel I can never do anything worthwhile and that it just won’t look that good … and I can’t do it. I am nervous to so this!

The Appreciation – I want to thank you all for helping me develop into another stage in digital painting and also naming of paintings. Having to come up with a new name every day has made it much easier to be creative in names.

Thank you for sharing my process and please feel free to share yours!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: marketing, graphic design, Studio Artist, Photoshop, Blog Action Day, traditional mediums, creative process, digital painting