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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A friend shared this very interesting Free Intuition Course with me last week.  It is Enwaken with David Morelli.  Last week I had to listen to the recorded version – I already had a meeting at that time.  Tonight is the 2nd call and I am planning on being there live.  I encourage you to check out his website and consider taking this FREE course!  Here is the first post in case you are coming along later.

We all have intuition of course … just most of us have it obscured by … the past and whatever else.  This course is about clearing out the garbage so each of us can access our intuition more clearly and consistently.  This, of course, allows us to do what we need to do.  Hope to see you there!

Thank you for stopping by!
~ Diane Clancy

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This vibrant, colorful painting of Turtle Goddess is another a window into the soul – a Soul Painting.  It is too hot to do or write anything more … but I wanted to say HI to you!!  What do you see, feel, experience with this painting?  Thank you for stopping by!!

Turtle Goddess, Digital  © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

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This vibrant, colorful painting of Golden Inner Glow seems to come from and speak directly to the Soul.  The richness of the golds and purples feels very spiritual to me …  like a window into the soul.  I also see a goddess who can guide us and help us stay in touch with our highest purpose.  What do you see, feel, experience with this painting?  Thank you for stopping by!!

Golden Inner Glow, Digital  © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

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This week has been slower and going better.  I got some real work accomplished.  But I just got some very sad news about the health of a beloved family member who has been struggling health-wise.  Any prayers for him would be most appreciated!  I just got the call .. so tonight I am only going to share with you this vibrant, colorful painting that I created in honor of my Mom and my 18 year kitty companion.  It speaks to love being eternal – beyond all time and space.  Thank you for being in my life.  Thank you for stopping by!

Underground, Tempera © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

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Painting Paradise has a fantastic newsletter – and Marionette featured me and my vibrant, colorful paintings in this current issue.  Here is the issue so you can read it – this is the online version of my personal copy. Marionette has  a wonderful site also! You can read all sorts of information in the newsletter about Marionette’s different painting and creative ventures – well worth the read.  Keep reading to hear some of what Marionette said about me.

Marionette then continues with the interview, some very kind words about me, my vibrant, colorful paintings and then shares some of my shops. You can see it online and connect to any of the links.  Thank you, Marionette!! Thank you for stopping by.  Thank you for being part of my life!!

~ Diane Clancy

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This is one of my dreamscapes … Yesterday Sadia of Sadia Paintings said she liked “How about this one? Digital” the best out of the several paintings that Mel had put in his feature of me and my vibrant, colorful paintings … so this is dedicated to Sadia … it is a different color but I think she will enjoy the texture. I just found one of Sadia’s images that I just HAVE to share with you … it is utterly incredible!!  Here is the post for this image.

This is also not my usual palette (nor Sadia’s) but I hope the form, texture and meaning will delight Sadia!  I see the center of calm in the middle of this painting as the heart or stillpoint as all the motion of emotions and dreams swirl around this center of peace.

Stillpoint, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am still dragging from the time change and all the tension of the family issues I have been dealing with … I am hoping to have more energy tomorrow. In the meantime, I am at least sometimes supporting my own Stillpoint. Thank you for stopping by! I would love to hear about you!!

~ Diane Clancy

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I hope you like this vibrant,  colorful painting!  That is about all I have energy to say tonight …  But I saw this image and to me it told me it is the Crown Chakra … right at the top of each of our heads.  It is a very powerful connection to the divine energy of the Universe.

Crown Chakra, Digital © Diane Clancy

I would love to hear your experiences and relationship with your own Crown Chakra. Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

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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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Mark Forster has a new method of time management, using the concepts of “Thought – Decision – Action” or “Stimulus – Response.” These are wonderful, new, useful concepts.

I read about a really cool site Get Everything Done (http://www.markforster.net/) so I went and checked it out. Mark Forster has 3 books (at least) and numerous articles about various ways to tackle life so that we may be the person we really want to be. Time management and organization can be the foundation for what we want to do with our lives.  Yesterday I read the first chapter of a book that was a big WOW for me … keeping reading to find the change in vision that chapter gave me.

Dreamscape III, Digital © Diane Clancy

I used to be very effective at getting enormous amounts of things done … often feeling pretty relaxed.  But circumstances have changed and many readers of this blog knew I have been in an overwhelm mode for way too long.  This first chapter (never mind the whole book) has given me a life-line to get back my serene, creative, joyful self!

The key – we each have two parts of ourselves … part of our brain uses “Thought – Decision – Action” and another part of our brain that acts from “Stimulus – Response.” I have been on automatic coming from Stimulus – Response.  Working with these two principles is his new system of time management. You can read the first chapter for free right here.

It has been very helpful to me today.  I can see the places I am still being reactive to stimulus around me.  And I was also able to stay focused a chunk of the day.  I have been tangling with taxes and other financial details that I need to do.  I guess I am tired enough still that it is being difficult, but I did stay focused and got a lot done anyway.

I think I can go quite a distance playing with these ideas to help me get back on track. Mark has this fantastic list of tasks and he asks us to decide whether they are “Thought – Decision – Action” or “Stimulus – Response.”  I was surprised by some of the answered but it sure helped me GET the idea!! He has lots of resources on his website – definitely worth checking out!

What do you think? How do you manage your time?  Are you on track?  What needs to change for you?  Thank you so much for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

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This year again November is Creative Every Day, Art Every Day Month. Sue O’Kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas reminded me through her blog newsletter that it is that time of year again. Sue makes incredible mandalas and you can follow her here.  Sue is a very gifted artist!

Art Every Day Month was started by Leah Piken Kolidas 6 years ago.  Leah blog has all the guidelines for participating. This post has all the details. As Leah says, any creativity counts – and it is great if you can create every day or whenever you can.  She encourages people to let her know that you are participating so she can list you if you like.

Here are some logos for this challenge – you can put them on your blog or website if you like. I encourage everyone to be creative in some way in Novemeber.

Art Every Day, © Leah Piken Kolidas

Art Every Day, © Leah Piken Kolidas

Cyan Carnival, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am on pins and needles – like so many others of you – waiting for the results of the election. I sure hope this country gets back on the track of self-respect and respect for all others … including the earth. We are on the verge of such a gigantic step of moving forward for all people!!  Thanks for stopping by!!

~ Diane Clancy

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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

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