Diane Clancy’s Art Blog

Here is another one of these vibrant, colorful paintings – an Art Card, ACEO (2 1/2 x 3 1/2″). This is a quick post … just want to share another creation with you.  I am having a fun time making these little pieces of art!!  Thanks for all the encouragement!  I still haven’t gotten them listed for sale as originals in my shops – but that will be happening this week.

Violet Elegance, Pastel © Diane Clancy

Thank you for stopping by!!  I would love to hear how YOU are!

~ Diane Clancy

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

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

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

I have know Frances for a long time in the blogging world … and we have been very faithful posters on each others’ blogs at times.  The other day Frances said ” I do agree with Irene. I haven’t been visiting much recently, but I do really like your hand made work sooooooo much. I guess I am an old fashioned girl.”  So this one is in honor of you Frances!  This is one of the vibrant, colorful pastel ACEOs that I created a couple of weeks ago. Frances went on to say “The digital images are pretty, but the pastels and suchlike are moving and interesting – I guess the hand work makes them more emotional?  Way to go gal.”

Dreamy Blossoms, Pastel © Diane Clancy

I really appreciate the comments and the intent – this all helps me get back painting with traditional mediums!!  I think I will put some prints of these pastels in my Etsy Shop.  I am working on some originals also so that I can list them in one or more of my online shops.  Let me know if you would like one … you can also buy one here.

I want to let you know that the procedure today went very well.  The preparation was brutal … but my specialist said that it is very clear that the Remicade is helping my Crohn’s Disease greatly!  So that is great news for me!!  Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

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

Irene of  www.themostsplendidday.blogspot.com said ” I would love to see more of your pastels, because I think your true artistry comes out best in those and they are so fabulous.” So this one is in honor of you Irene.  This is one of the vibrant, colorful pastel ACEOs that I created a couple of weeks ago. Irene went on to say “I think the computer does no justice to your talents, though you turn out nice things. I like the non virtual arts in which you excel. Even if they are the ACEO’s. Go and show those, they are lovely.”

Purple Harmony, Pastel © Diane Clancy

To be a broken record, I plan to get back to the studio to work in traditional mediums … Irene’s lovely encouragement helps me go in that direction.  Today I did manage to get somewhat back to work on digging out all the back-uped work from the family situations going on. It is one of those times for one foot after the other … and also getting into the studio.

I think I will put some prints of these pastels in my Etsy Shop.  I am working on some originals also so that I can list them in one or more of my online shops.  Let me know if you would like one … you can also buy one here.   Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

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

This is one of the vibrant, colorful pastel ACEOs that I created a couple of weeks ago.  I thought you would enjoy seeing it.  I really enjoyed making these Art Cards, ACEOs with traditional mediums .. in this case pastel.  I have been wearing rubber gloves the last couple of years when I have been creating with pastels.  I don’t know if that is silly or smart.  I tend to do a lot of blending of colors to lay down a carpet of color to then draw the image  into.  I sketched a little with pencil so I could work the fields of color into rough shapes.  I love smearing the colors around to get the effects I like.  I don’t think most artists use pastel this way .. but I enjoy it and some people like the effect.

Glowing Reds, Pastel © Diane Clancy

Each birthday and Christmas I give two of my nieces cards of my artwork.  Part of the present is they get to look through my website and blog to choose whichever painting they choose.  It is a fun way to have a focus together.  The last year or two I have also given them each an Art Card, ACEO of the same chosen image.  They have had great fun getting them. And I LOVE getting back thank you notes on these cards!

As a second ACEO, this year I gave my niece Sarah a print of one of the pastel ACEOs I recently created.  Here is what she said in  her thank note : “Thank you very much for the cards and the two trading cards. I absolutely love them! I really like the extra trading card and how you can see the pencil strokes and the texture (I pulled it out of its sleeve to touch it – just to see – it’s amazing and really pretty!)” This is part of what you would get if you purchase one of these.

I think I will put some prints of these pastels in my Etsy Shop.  I am working on some originals also so that I can list them in one or more of my online shops.  Let me know if you would like one … you can also buy one here.   Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

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

This is one of the vibrant, colorful pastel ACEOs that I created a couple of weeks ago.  I thought you would enjoy seeing it.  And an update on my life also.  I had mentioned that a very highly stressful event was promised to be over by last Friday afternoon at the latest. That didn’t happen.  Instead it has been dragged out for another week and a half.  I am not very happy about it … but there is nothing I can do to change that.  And I am doing much better at handling my stress now that the process has been started.  Thanks for all your support!!

Sunrise Blossoms, Digital © Diane Clancy

Today I was featured in another Spot Light … this time with 2 of my images .. I am sure you recognize them if you are a regular reader.  This is a cool thing similar to a treasury at Etsy.

I would love to hear how you are doing and also how you deal with circumstances that are less than ideal.  Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, Spot Light, pastel

WWAO (Worldwide Women Artists Online) is a great group of women artists that I belong to.  We had an ATC swap this spring of 2009. ATC are the same as ACEOs … a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2″ piece of art.  ATC is the Art Trading Card … so that name gets used for when they are traded instead of sold.  That is partly why I have started calling them Art Cards, ACEO in my shops … I think that is a clearer name for these delightful little works of art!

The WWAO Collaborative Gallery shows the incredible work of many talented artists from WWAO.  This gallery (http://wwaogallery.blogspot.com) showcases ATCs from 16 artists in an incredible diversity of styles and mediums.  It is worth taking the time to look through these posts …  I know I have enjoyed seeing lots of work from one artist, each after the other … in some deep way it taught me something I can’t verbalize yet … about both the continuity and range a single artist can have and still have her style look coherent.