Diane Clancy's Art Blog

This acrylic painting is the companion piece to “Fire and Air” in yesterday’s post. I have a friend who, when he was 10, used to always say, “This painting is 3D.” At that time those “Magic Eye” or 3D images were very popular. You relax your eyes and look that picture and a 3D vision pops right out at you.

Water and Earth, Acrylic © Diane Clancy

Sometimes (often?) children can see what we can’t see … I always wondered … because each time he insisted it was 3D! But I was never quite sure what he saw – I think it was just the image itself for him was 3D.

Looking at it online, of course, is not like looking at the original … but sometimes I almost see what he means … even looking at this online version. As I go and check how this post looks as I am writing it, again I am struck by the 3D quality. For me, it has something to do with the light (I think) in the middle of the painting. The more I look at it, the more 3D it looks to me. Does anyone else “see” the 3D?

The painting Fire and Air doesn’t have the same quality of light in the center … when I look at it after looking at this Earth and Water, I can see a faint 3D quality if I have soft eyes … but not as striking as this one. I have 2 other canvases stretched and prepped to paint 2 more of this series. These are horizontal mirrors and I think the other 2 would be vertical mirrors to these two – though that is not set in stone yet.

I am not sure whether I should paint them. On one hand it would give me a set of 4 which could be good for licensing, but I am somewhat anxious about trying to recreate the “feeling” of these two paintings. For me, it is part of what I grapple with as an artist ~ how to move between letting my muse move me versus having my mind direct me more. I know a balance is needed and I am not always sure how to be on target with that balance.

Sounds like life again, doesn’t it? I guess in many ways life is painting and painting is life. For me, they certainly are not all that separate. By this time, I am again struck how 3D this particular painting looks to me ~ thank you for those eyes of that child!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: acrylic, Magic Eye, 3D, licensing, balance

My enhanced animal images are pretty unique from what I gather. These unusual digital paintings are among my most universally popular images. Often when people see their “own” animal companion, they immediately stop and buy a card – and often all the cards with that particular animal. I have had requests to put people’s own animal companion into a field of flowers. This special series is admired by many.

Freckles in Butterflies, Digital © Diane Clancy

Continuing with the idea of licensing (from yesterday’s post), I think it makes the most sense to start with the Enhanced Animal Images. There is no question which paintings belong in the collection. Many companies want a group of at least four images so they can create sets of products – like four place mats.

I have plenty of these paintings using a variety of cats and dogs (and even a doe and bear cub). There are a butterfly theme and three flower themes. These images might be marketable to more companies than, say, the Goddess series. All in all, this might be a good place to start.

The Goddess paintings are near and dear to my heart – so perhaps starting with other paintings make sense while I develop the ability to take the inevitable “no thank yous” that will come as I am finding my niches.

This is feeling concrete and productive – thank you!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: enhanced animal images, digital painting, animal, licensing, Goddess

The last few days I have been talking about my balance between the creative process and marketing. The two most important pieces of all this are – my creating because I love making art and – my collectors (this means you) acquiring my art. I need to remember that all the other parts of the processes are focused on these two goals – creating and collecting.

Bottlescape II, Pastel © Diane Clancy

Besides my site, I now have two online stores Etsy and ArtFlock. I think I will probably start an eBay store too, but I haven’t done that yet. I am still checking out to see if it makes sense. (Comments are welcome – please share your experience with me and others who read this blog.)

The next big step for me to take is licensing my work to various companies who would like to use my images on their products. I have a friend with experience who was going to help me sort through which places would be most appropriate for me, but unfortunately life has sent her some twists and turns that make her temporarily unavailable.

I have quite a long list of companies who look for artists in order to license artists’ work. I have also done a lot of looking on the web researching different licensing companies. The licensing process has actually changed greatly over the last several years. In some ways it is a little simpler now.

It is getting toward time to figure out which ones to target. You can see that the place interested in “Bottlescape II” and “Flowers IV” (yesterday’s image) may well be different. But they are not the companies who are going to want my Goddess series. This is the stuff I have to sort out.

It feels more concrete and manageable telling you about it and allowing you to share in this process. Thank you for being part of my progression.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: balance, creative process, marketing, collector, Etsy, ArtFlock, eBay, licensing, Goddess

Today Neda emailed me saying, “I love the whimsical and poetic quality of your work. A true inspiration!” (This is the first we knew of each other!) What a smile that put on my face. That is exactly how I would like to be seen. I am not sure how Neda found my blog (or site), but I appreciate her taking the time to let me know that my work touched her!

Animals I, Digital © Diane Clancy

Today was also a productive day for me for the business! I am now able to accept visa and other credit cards through PayPal. That has been on my list of things to do for a long time. It took me quite a while to read all the fine print and make sure I chose the right type of account and that I understand all fees.

I also got my Etsy shop set up today! If you want to visit Diane’s Etsy Shop to check it out, please feel free! I listed only a few items to start to get in the rhythm. Again, it took me a long time to read all the fine print to make sure I understood what I was getting into. I need to “talk” with the guy at ArtFlock to get some advice before I post my first items there.

I am so excited because I have been wanting my work online for sale besides at my website for a long time! I can also put in a PayPal shopping cart and people can buy from my site with PayPal. I hadn’t realized that selling through PayPal on your site was totally secure.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Etsy, ArtFlock, PayPal, animal

I am sure that all these animals are journeying somewhere important. Clearly, there is a specific place they are going – even though the path is winding … do you know where they are traveling?

Animals III, Digital © Diane Clancy

This is a digital painting that  will be very good for licensing. I think these animals are incredibly fun and fanciful. The curves of the animals follow the curves of the paths they are following. Unlike much of my work, the colors are a little muted. Again,  these designs would be great cards and wrapping paper.

I am so hopeful that this weekend I can make some progress at getting my work more widely available at Etsy and ArtFlock. I am so excited – I think this is the right timing for me – and hopefully for the market! A new, important step for me.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: animals, digital painting, licensing, color, wrapping paper, Etsy, ArtFlock

This abstract design is full of fun and life and asks … “what’s going to happen next?” I know I would love to get a present with this wrapping paper. (I would like to get a present anyway, but even more so with this paper.)

Abstract Design IX, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am still looking into licensing these designs for wrapping paper or fabric. If you would like to read more about this process for the abstract designs, please read the post Abstract Design XI.

I think the movement and energy of this digital painting is fun – the movement is horizontal, vertical and diagonal. The composition of a painting is important. One wants to keep the eye of the viewer in the image and to keep the person looking around at different parts of the picture. I think this works in this painting.

Does anyone know of ArtFlock, http://www.artflock.com ? I have heard of Etsy, http://www.etsy.com/, these last few weeks. I am glad to find other artists have been satisfied at Etsy. Does anyone know if ArtFlock treats their artists well also? Thank you for any help you can be!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: abstract, design, wrapping paper, licensing, fabric, digital painting, composition, ArtFlock, Etsy

Looking for a birthday party! This wrapping paper design is looking for a company to make it into actual wrapping paper. Already I have cards showcasing this digital painting, but my customers are wanting the paper to go with the cards.

Toys II, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am exploring licensing for my designs. Someone would be allowed to use my designs (paying a royalty, of course) to make products that they then market. Licensing has become quite a large part of the art marketing field nowadays.

If you would like to read about the details of how I create this kind of design, please check out the post Flowers XVII. When I saw all these cute toys, I just had to make them into a design that the kid in me sure loves.

It was a glorious day here and in this area most people are very happy that the sun is out and the day is warm. Hope you enjoyed your weekend!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: wrapping paper, design, digital painting, licensing, marketing, toys

This abstract design is from another series that I would like to use in licensing for wrapping paper. One of my brothers feels that this is a very unique type of design for wrapping paper – he thinks that it is so unusual that it would be very successful. Now to find a wrapping paper company that agrees!

Abstract Design XI, Digital © Diane Clancy

When I had given my abstract digital paintings to the wrapping paper representative, she was concerned that they might be hard to print. But she didn’t chose my images anyway, so it was a moot point at that time.

The printing industry has changed dramatically in the last several years. If there were potential problems then, they may not exist anymore. I think this might also be good for fabric.

I do love these colors in this design! Those who have been following my blog – or my art career for that matter – know that I love bright colors – particularly in the purple/pink/aqua family. Aside – odd to have mentioned someone in my family of origin in the same post that I have mentioned my favorite family of colors.

This painting looks like Spring to me. I do enjoy looking at this image. It is in a repeat pattern, so it can repeat endlessly without any more seams than you already see.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: abstract, design, licensing, wrapping paper, digital painting, printing, fabric, color

This digital painting is from my design series that I want to license for wrapping paper, and perhaps fabric. This is the first toy design that you have seen in my blog. This design is already in my fine art greeting cards, customers want the wrapping paper also.

Toys V, Digital © Diane Clancy

If you are interested in how I create this kind of design, please read post Flowers XVII – there are a lot of details there. Layering is a big part of this creative process.

I love looking at this particular design. I love the color of the background. It sings to my heart! And I love the little dolls and unicorns … the fish kite … the pinks. I quite a happy little girl inside when I look at this design!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: digital painting, design, license, wrapping paper, fabric, creative process, color, toys

Purple, yellow and green are spring colors to me. That is why I have chosen a digital painting of a design in these colors on a day many celebrate as Easter. Purple and yellow are traditional Easter colors – at least for us growing up. But I want to continue the discussion started in comments in yesterday’s post about licensing – in the post Flowers XVII.

Animals V, Digital © Diane Clancy

Sue O’Kieffe said that some of my designs reminded her of wrapping paper and fabric. She also suggested that I pursue licensing for some of these images. Sue asked if I had considered that.

Many people have also stated that these designs would be outstanding wallpapers. I have actually had people (I didn’t know) want to order my wrapping paper from seeing these designs on my website. The only problem is that these designs are cards and prints but not wrapping paper yet.

I sent samples to one company and she was very nice but said they weren’t the kind of wrapping paper her clients want. Yet many stores and individuals have seen my fine art greeting cards and wished for the matching wrapping paper. They have said how much more enticing they are than current choices in wrapping paper.

Here I am back at one of my dilemmas. Which direction to pursue and how to best use my time. Also, how much to create for myself and how much to pursue the market. How much to persist and when to cut my losses. (I know one try isn’t a lot.) But sometimes I am not sure which direction to prioritize.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: digital painting, design, licensing, wrapping paper, fabric, animal, Sue O’Kieffe