Diane Clancy’s Art Blog

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.Do you like this image? It is different from many of my others … I created it when I was working on the Two Things Challenge for Apples and Zebras … (or was it A to Z for the challenge)? I am making some definite progress on getting my life more manageable … except for all the emails I am waaaay behind. Something had to give so I could get caught up on some other work.

;

Zebras Within, Digital © Diane Clancy

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There is a breather about the Orphan Works Bill but we may not be out of the woods yet - read the details below! We need to stay alert because “hotlining” has been used to pass bills without public input on short notice.

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!  There are some of my regular readers who are away and I want to give them a chance to enter.

Lush Flora, Digital © Diane Clancy

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS’ PARTNERSHIP
Senate Orphan Works Bill Put “on Hold”

We’ve just received word that the Senate bill has been put “on hold.” In fact, there appear to be multiple holds on it. Senators who “hold” hotlined bills do not have to identify themselves nor give their reasons for holding it. Holds are temporary. We don’t know how many of you contacted your Senators on such short notice this afternoon, but many, many thanks to all of you who responded so rapidly.

Most people are unaware of the process called hotlining. In the past it was used to pass non-controversial legislation, but increasingly, it’s being used to pass bills whose sponsors don’t want to see debate. An excellent article in Roll Call explains the process. Here’s an excerpt:

Senate conservatives are upset that the leaders of both parties in the chamber have in recent years increasingly used a practice known as “hotlining” bills - previously used to quickly move noncontroversial bills or simple procedural motions - to pass complex and often costly legislation, in some cases with little or no public debate. The increase was particularly noticeable just before the August recess, when leaders hotlined more than 150 bills, totaling millions of dollars in new spending, in a period of less than a week.

The practice has led to complaints from Members and watchdog groups alike that lawmakers are essentially signing off on legislation neither they nor their staff have ever read…

In order for a bill to be hotlined, the Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader must agree to pass it by unanimous consent, without a roll-call vote. The two leaders then inform Members of this agreement using special hotlines installed in each office and give Members a specified amount of time to object - in some cases as little as 15 minutes. If no objection is registered, the bill is passed.

- From ‘Hotlined’ Bills Spark Concern
By John Stanton, Roll Call Staff
September 17, 2007
To read the full article, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3p8×2u (link isn’t working correctly in their announcement)

This is the second time the Senate Orphan Works bill has been hotlined this summer. The previous hotline came on June 5, the same week artists descended on Washington to urge lawmakers to oppose this controversial bill. The bill was put on hold that time too.

Since bills can be hotlined without prior notice, we’ll all have to stay vigilant throughout the rest of this legislative session. Thanks again to all of you who responded so quickly.

Over 60 organizations, representing more than 250,000 creators, are united in opposing these bills in their current form. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.

Read the list:

http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics

~ Diane Clancy

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This video is absolutely amazing!! If you loved that lion video I showed you before - and who didn’t? Then you will LOVE LOVE LOVE this video … it is utterly amazing …  some of us have cried from the beauty.  I know I could put the video here … but it slows things down more - so I wanted to link you to it.  It will open in a new window.  

Spring Motif, Digital © Diane Clancy

Speaking of slowing things down, my blog is loading more slowly than it used to … I am not sure if it is from the java scripts for the shops and places where you come from, or all the little images I have in the sidebar … so when I have time - ha ha!!! - I am planning to put more pages on this blog and put some of my links and shops there and put all my fun awards on another page too.  

Others involved in the issue a few days ago say that it is actually I whom is owed an apology - I think that is accurate … but not worth getting involved with.  I apologized (way more than I should have  - but it is done) … thank you for your support!!!

~ Diane Clancy

Some good news on the environment - I have mentioned that we have been working to protect the wetlands where they want to build a 160,000 square foot store in our small county.  The developer (who is developing this on speculation) says that the wetlands isn’t really a wetlands so shouldn’t be protected.  An independent firm was hired … one that our mayor hand picked.  Our mayor has run on a platform of promising a discount store - no matter the cost to the environment. Great news!!  The independent firm said that Wetlands 4 IS a wetland!!! So very good!!  We shall see what happens now.

Tropical Eye, Digital © Diane Clancy

Today is also another big day in our town. Today is election day and we shall see if we can get some people into town offices that can take some creative action to get our town back on track. We have some real work to do (as many places do) to get the finances balanced and the schools doing great again.  Unfortunately this same mayor had slashed art, sports and music when she first came in to office and lots of students then “choiced out” to other towns … and took the tax money with them.  This school choice started in Massachusetts awhile ago and is not working for our town. All in all I am hopeful that we can get some people in office who are not running on their personal agendas!!

My shop at Etsy is http://dianeclancy.etsy.com. If you ever see an image that you want as an ACEO or any other size, just let me know and I am glad to create it for you!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: environment, Etsy

Today I prepared and printed many ACEOs … it was a lot of work and a lot of fun!!  I played with this image and made several other variations of these unusual birds. Please all US residents take the action suggested below to try to stop this irresponsible version of this well-meaning but mis-guided bill. Clearly my local US Representative, John Olver, does not understand the importance of this bill. He supports it for the museums. He doesn’t realize how much this will hurt all the artists in his district.  So please, please write!

Spring Birds, Digital © Diane Clancy

Totally quoted from an email sent to me:

A quick update about this bill. It is poised for a final vote (date not yet announced) so please try to get your final “shots” in.

What illustrators and designers and photographers etc. are doing now is a postcard mailing blitz… (many of them are using their postcard mailers or printing off something quickly)

On the back they write: “Please vote NO on the Orphan Works bill– H.R. 5889 for the House; S-2913 for the Senate” and sign it with their name and contact information.

No explanation necessary just “VOTE NO TO THE ORPHAN WORKS ACT.”

**But here is the important part: **

**Any correspondence needs to be addressed to the DISTRICT OFFICE. **

Apparently, mail received at district offices, gets to the congressmen faster than it would if sent to their actual offices.

You can go to this link:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Just click on the name and it will take you to his or her website where the mailing address of the district office can be found.

Check out this article printed by the Boston Herald

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1095637&format=comments#CommentsArea

-the cartoon that accompanies it is great!

~ Diane Clancy

It is so inspiring to have so many bloggers yesterday participate in Bloggers Unite for Human Rights Day.  There are so so many issues that need attention and I am grateful to all who participated.  If I had more time to read, I am sure that I would have learned about many more issues!  Frances, yes, that was a bubblescape created in Bryce with the electricity thanks to a Photoshop filter - KTP Lightning.  Nora, I am very very disappointed to hear that the Netherlands went back to private health care with your “pay(ing) three times the insurance fee for less coverage.”  Very disappointing!

Orange Spring, Digital © Diane Clancy

You can see that my feedreader problem is now fixed. Whew! One problem off the plate. It had been going on for quite awhile before I even caught it. Thank you again for stopping by and commenting.  

Hope you are all doing well today!! This is my hospital day when I go and get Remicade for the Crohns.   I plan to spend some time thinking about priorities and how I really need to spend my time. Since I feel on a treadmill, clearly something needs to change.  I can’t work on the computer or paint there, so it is a good time to think.  Thank you again!

~ Diane Clancy

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Here are more links … This is compiling all that I could find about the Orphan Works Act to make it easy to find the info. Certainly it is only few places that is saying it is baloney (really only one) and another says we are over-reacting. So I would say that it is real - one is a US House hearing link - so hopefully it can get disappeared before it gets going … but it will only do that because we care and act.  I hope you will sign the petition - I am putting it first (you can sign this if you are from ANY country).  Please also contact your legislators (if you are US residents.)

The Empty Chair, Pastel © Diane Clancy

Ths is a link to sign a petition against this act;
(http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/no-to-orphan-works-act.html)

from this link:
“One thing to keep in mind, though, is that in law writing, as in law practice, the battle is often won in the drafting stage. Multi-billion dollar industries that stand to benefit from harvesting others’ intellectual property have been pressing Congress on this issue for years, and you can be sure that the pressure did not relent between 2006 and today. Speaking as a historian as well as a lawyer, I would observe only that the blogosphere’s insistence that artists wait in silence while elites write the law is not lacking in irony.”

(http://blog.newsarama.com/2006/07/?p=7811)

Orphan Works Bills Blog
http://orphanworks.blogspot.com/

Information: Crafts of Texture feels it so important, they put the article in today.  (Just information that other artist groups are taking this seriously.

You can read more about it here;
http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=Columns&article_no=3605&page=3

This is a link with the contact information for the president and all US senators, representatives, state governors and legislators;
(http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml)

US House Hearings
(http://judiciary.house.gov/oversight.aspx?ID=427)

Resource Page for Artists
(http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00185)

Illustrator’s Partnership is saying:  (directly quoting - I understand that they want this passed around)  

“The language in the draft confirms our warnings. If this bill passes, you’ll be forced to clear all your secondary licensing rights through at least two government certified databases –

“The language in the draft confirms our warnings. If this bill passes, you’ll be forced to clear all your secondary licensing rights through at least two government certified databases – or risk orphaning your art.

Despite its masquerade as the “last resort” to search for a rights owner, these databases will likely become the only source many users will rely on for finding a rights owner. Reason: it will give users the legal right to infringe any copyright not in the databases.

We’re working with our attorney now to prepare opposition letters.

We have contracted CapWiz, a service that will allow you to send these letters to Congress with a push of the button.

CapWiz will also provide us with “digital stickers” that anyone else - organizations, individual artists, blogs, etc. - can put on their sites that create a direct link to the command center to write their Congressman and Senators to defeat this radical change to U.S. Copyright law

Please stay tuned and we’ll tell you in a day or so what you can do to register your opposition.

For additional background on Orphan Works, go to the IPA Orphan Works Resource Page for Artists
(http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00185) ”

Links that say this is baloney or Overkill

Baloney Link
(http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/12/countering-the-fud-a.html)

Overkill Link

(http://blog.newsarama.com/2006/07/?p=7811)

You may copy this, forward this and/or post it on your own blog.  You may link your blog or forum or anything to here so that people may have access to these links.  I would like this word to get out!!!  Thank you for caring and being involved!!!

~ Diane Clancy

The Orphan Works Act is under consideration again and as artists and supporters of artists, I hope you will respond!!  From different artists’ groups, we have heard that the new draft of Orphan Works Act of 2008 is going to be released next week.  Artists and supporters who have seen it are horrified. Quote from the Illustrators’ Partnership “If these proposals are enacted into law, all the work you have ever done or will do could be orphaned and exposed to commercial infringement from the moment you create it. “ At least 12 artists groups are working together to help get the word out so people can get informed and then TAKE ACTION!!!  Lots of links below to get informed and please at least sign the petition.  Anyone anywhere in the world can sign.

Terrain, Digital © Diane Clancy

Again, quoting from the Illustrators’ Partnership, “ forget the spin you’

ve heard from backers of this bill. This radical proposal, now pending before Congress, could cost you your past and future copyrights.” This includes those of you who are creating beautiful and fun works on your blogs - they can take and use them too.  All of our work is fair game.

Here’s a link to a site where you can sign a petition against it. Why not sign and pass it on? This is so important to all of us!!! We MUST take action!  Please sign … YOU can sign - it is international.  No to Orphan Works Petition. 

Mark Simon has a webcast interview with Brad Holland.  Their webcast interview is here. They have given permission to for this audio file to be copied, transferred and replayed … they want this stopped!!

Again, quoting from the Illustrators’ Partnership, ”for additional information about Orphan Works developments, go to the IPA Orphan Works Resource Page for Artists,  They go on to say “If you received our mail as a forwarded message, and wish to be added to our mailing list, email us at:  illustratorspartnership@cnymail.com.  Place “Add Name” in the subject line, and provide your name and the email address you want used in the message area.”

Here are more details about this Here is the article with the details Mark SImon and Orphan Works Act. Quoting from the article … “This is not just about professionals…it will cover amateurs, hobbyists, your grandmother’s hand made quilts…even family photos posted on the internet will be fair game to be “orphan images” and swiped up and used by companies WITHOUT YOUR OKAY.”

These are some more details from article by Mark Simon … Quoting “ TO ALL ARTISTS AND ALL SUPPORTERS OF CREATIVE WORK: Our work is at risk of being stolen …. legally!! Here is the article with the details Mark SImon and Orphan Works Act. Quoting from the article … “This is not just about professionals…it will cover amateurs, hobbyists, your grandmother’s hand made quilts…even family photos posted on the internet will be fair game to be “orphan images” and swiped up and used by companies WITHOUT YOUR OKAY.”

If you want more synopsis from a post on my blog, it is here.  I hope you will take this seriously.  I bet we can stop this if we all work together.  You have my permission to use my wording if it is useful to you … to pass along.

Sue O’Kieffe, thank you for the link to that audio recording recourse also.  I really appreciate that you let me know!  Just to let you know, I walked all the way around the block today … definitely progress!  Thank you!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Orphan Works Act, Orphan Works Act of 2008, orphan images

Illustration Friday has a challenge every week. This week is Primitive. I hope you like this primitive, untouched area … this is where all the bubbles actually are born … it is top secret to protect this pristine bubble nest.  Illustration Friday is a great way to showcase your work and a wonderful opportunity to meet lots of wonderful people! I encourage you to check it out! Lots of fun people and paintings!

Primitive, Digital © Diane Clancy

Primitive

Untouched, unblemished

Primitive is sometimes used

As a putdown

But I don’t know why

I love naive art

Also called primitive

This sophisticated stealing

From artists (see below)

Is a real problem - 

Please read and then write!!

TO ALL ARTISTS AND ALL SUPPORTERS OF CREATIVE WORK:  Our work is at risk of being stolen ….  legally!!  Here is the article with the details Mark SImon and Orphan Works Act. Quoting from the article … “This is not just about professionals…it will cover amateurs, hobbyists, your grandmother’s hand made quilts…even family photos posted on the internet will be fair game to be “orphan images” and swiped up and used by companies WITHOUT YOUR OKAY.”

They want a sophisticated registration system where …  ”These registries are companies that you would be forced to pay in order to register every single image, photo, sketch or creative work.” ….  ”With the tens of millions of photos and pieces of artwork created each year, the bounty for forcing everyone to pay a registration fee would be enormous. We lose our rights and our creations, and someone else makes money at our expense.”

These are just highlights … please go and read the whole article and contact the appropriate people.  They are also considering this in Europe.  Out rights would be lost so that big business can use our art as theirs!!

“Two proponents of this new legislation are Corbis and Getty Images. They are large stock photo and stock art companies. They sell art and photos inexpensively and are trying to build giant royalty-free databases. Do you see how they could benefit from considering most works of art in the world orphans? Do you know who owns Corbis? Bill Gates. He doesn’t do anything unless it can make a huge amount of money. Helping you lose the copyright to your art is big business for Gates.”

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Illustration Friday, orphan images, Orphan Works Act, Mark Simon

Each month Worldwide Women Artists Online (WWAO) have an exhibit (online of course) of members’ work based on a theme. This month is Beautiful Mother Earth. I encourage you to go on over and look at this great exhibit!

Beautiful Mother Earth, April WWAO Exhibit

I am sure regular readers have already identified my painting. Besides being in the online exhibit, this is also listed as a ACEO in my Etsy Shop. Here is my Etsy Shop.If you would prefer this in a different size, let me know and I will do one up for you!! Each of the paintings or items in the show can be purchased. Thank you for looking at my being showcased!!

WWAO on the site says “Worldwide Women Artists is an international collective of women artists showing and selling our work through the worldwide web. As women artists, we give birth to our ideas in a variety of styles and media. We embrace the diversity of each other’s work, celebrating the joy of creating our art and sharing it with the world. We welcome female visual artists from all over the world who create and sell their own original art.”

This ends the interruption in our regular programming … tomorrow will be a Fanciful Animal Image and hopefully by Thursday I will have figured out how to do Homage in bubbles!

~ Diane Clancy

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I am so so excited!! You have seen some of the treasuries I have been in … today I took the plunge and made one myself. I spent over 3 hours choosing the images to go in it .. and read and reread the directions to do it correctly. Also, you have to be there just as it opens up .. so it is very exciting .. you have to put the name in fast enough and everything. So here it is … I hope you like it!! If you are an Etsy member, I hope you will click and comment and help me stay near the top. Thanks to all the wonderful groups I am involved with, I went to near the top of the 222 treasuries within a couple of hours.

Dance of Dreams Treasury, Etsy

I had chosen more than you can put in … I got confused and all … so I have another lot of gorgeous paintings that I can use for another one. This lasts for 3 days. You can have only one at a time, but there is another treasury too … so I hope and can get that one. But that one will open up at about 3 am … so I don’t know. Thank you for reading about this!!!

Etsy has a very cool thing called a Treasury - someone puts together 12 items of people’s work with some common theme. This theme is Dance of Dreams. I am so so excited because this treasury is my very, very first one I ever made!!! Here is this Treasury!! Dancing up and down with joy!!! My shop is Diane Clancy with lots of bubblescapes and Fanciful Animal Images.

I have mentioned the VAST group (Visual Artists Street Team) that I belong to at Etsy. Here is the VAST Blog if you would like to know more. We also help each other market-our art work - we are an online, international group that is creative, loves art, creates original art and has an Etsy Shop.

I also belong to BBEST - Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team. This is a very active group who work hard at marketing and being visible. Here is the BBEST Blog … The Boomers are 40 and over … lots of fun!

The Interior Design Team at Etsy is another team I belong to. This is a group who work to make your home and office look beautiful with lovely items!! Here is the Interior Design Etsy Team. The motto is “Where Networking Work Pays Off.” They also network on other sites that offer products besides Etsy.

I am also part of the ACEO Street Team group (ACETSY) at Etsy. Here is the ACETSY Blog if you would like to know more.

Here is one more Etsy Blog. Anyone with an Etsy Shop can join this blog … so there is a great variety of items. I hope you enjoy finding out about these wonderful shopping opportunities!

Thank you for looking at my being showcased!! Here is my Etsy Shop.

~ Diane Clancy