Diane Clancy's Art Blog

Win 2 free cards!! It’s that time of year again! For the worldwide One World, One HeART GiveAway – I am pretty excited!!  There are already over 400 blogs giving away gifts to people who enter their giveaways!!  You need to leave a comment to participate – of course with a way to contact you. Details for you to join in your own blog are here.

Lisa Oceandreamer started OWOH 2 years ago and she has a blog here which lists all the blogs involved and gives the details. If you are thinking of joining in and having your own giveaway, please go there and get the details.

Conundrum I, Collage © Diane Clancy

Lots and lots of blogs are giving away items – to show love and build the blogosphere. So once I knew, how can I resist? My give-away will be two of any of these cards of my vibrant, colorful paintings. You choose which ones and I will send them to you – for FREE. (and yes, you can choose 2 of the same).

Reflections in Blue I, Pastel © Diane Clancy

You have until February 11 (at least at most blogs) to leave your name and join in each blog’s give-away. If you want to win the give-away, leave enough information for me in a comment to this post so I can get a hold of you. Remember your email is hidden so it is safe with me.

Reflections in Blue II, Pastel © Diane Clancy

Make sure your email address is a valid one and not one of the no-reply ones. Please do not leave sensitive info like your address or phone .. I can get your address when you win!

Mother Watching All, Oil © Diane Clancy

I will accept all entries until midnight eastern time on February 11 and then the winner will be announced on February 12 … and then your gift will be coming your way! To ANYWHERE in the world!

Sight, Collage © Diane Clancy

Here are more details if you would like to participate. There are tons of blogs participating … so gone on over and check them out! I know I plan to!! Also this list will stay up for 6 months after the event ends – so it is a great way to find wonderful new blogs!

Anticipation, Collage © Diane Clancy

The prize is any 2 of these cards. The size is 4.25 x 6″ and they are professionally printed. I look forward to seeing who wins!!  Starting in March I am going to be doing a monthly giveaway of one of these cards – your choice – in exchange for allowing me to put you on my email list … this is NOT for this giveaway – but for the one starting montly in March.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: One World One Heart, GiveAway, Lisa Oceandreamer, blogosphere, free, Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting

I have been tagged by 3 people over the last couple of months … and I will be doing my blog tomorrow (Wed at the latest) to respond (and thank) to the tags and to tag some of you!! In the meantime I will share this story I have promised you – a story that inspired me greatly!  This was something I read (years ago).  I forget the source and some the of the details may be somewhat inaccurate but sticking with the essential truth of the story.  (I am better on broad strokes than details around remembering things  … oh, that can be one of my things to tell you the tagged items tomorrow <grin>.)  If you want to skip my prologue and epilogue, go right to the story in bold red.

Slipping, Digital © Diane Clancy

These first paragraphs are giving background information for those unfamilar with these issues. In the United States issues around welfare are seen as a big deal.  In this country, we give some people a monthly stipend and health care for themselves (and often they have children also) so that they may live. This happens when people apply for help because they cannot do it themselves. In this country there is often a negative stigma to asking for this kind of aid.  Also many of us who have disabilities have also had to ask for help (disability payments) to survive. Unfortunately, there is a lot of judging by many toward those needing help.

Other countries tend not to have the same judgments about helping people to have a roof over their heads, food in their tummy and health care.  But in this country there are often pretty tough attitudes toward people needing help.  (I know -  I was on disability for a long time – because I needed it to live). People can become dependent on help for sure … but many people use it for a short term assistance until they can keep a job with a livable wage.

There are many other issues that complicate things for people wanting to get a job that will support themselves and their families.  Some areas have entrenched poverty.  Often the educational system is not giving everyone equal opportunities to get quality education.  Also, there are many personal issues that can complicate things for many.  And, the US, unlike most other so-called developed countries, does not provide health care for all.  Many people, especially women, have felt they needed welfare because they couldn’t make the jump to a job that provided health coverage for themselves and their children. I tell you this to set the background for this uplifting story.

[THE STORY] There was a group of welfare recipients who were chosen to see if they could work together and figure out how to get off welfare and get back to work.  Most people would rather be working (in a decent job environment) … rather than collecting welfare.  But it is often hard to know what steps to take once you get to a place of needing help.  This was a study set up by someone to see what might help get people another level in their lives.

So this group started meeting and talked about what was in their lives that they needed help with.  One woman said her screen door was ripped and the landlord wouldn’t return her calls.  A man spoke up … he said he knew how to fix that and would be delighted to!!  Out of this interaction, this was the start of his creating his own fix-it business and he was able to become self-supporting.

Another woman shared that it was needing childcare that was the roadblock to her going to the local community college so that she could learn skills to support herself.  A third woman spoke up, saying that her kids were at home and she would welcome taking care of some others.  Out of this interaction, the third woman started her own daycare and become self-supporting.  The second woman completed her degree and was able to get a job so she could support herself and her children.  [End Story}

This inspires me so much!! It is the whole idea of looking at people and seeing their assets and not just their deficits. The usual welfare system (and disability system) are focused on seeing people as needy and not seeing their strengths also. That was what was (and is) so inspiring to me around this short part of the story that I remember.  I do think it is important that people contribute to society – and there are many, many ways to contribute.

I think helping people build on their skills is a smart thing to do.  Most people are eager to be able to give – but it is harder to think about others when your own (and your children’s) basic needs aren’t being met.  This kind of supporting people to be empowered and self-sufficient is more time and money consuming at the beginning, but has an excellent pay-off.  It is like giving kids a quality education is much better (and cheaper) for society – in the long run. Remember, any of us could be in a situation of needing help from others!!

If you want to see the 2 articles I wrote in early December (they were the precursors to this), you can see them here (World AIDS Day and Me) and here (HIV/AIDS and Community Organizing). I hope you enjoyed this inspiration of these 4 people … and please forgive all the surrounding details to put it in context for those who live outside the US. Thanks for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: welfare, disability, assets

Yesterday was quite a busy day – the people downstairs’ lock broke – again – so a chunk of the day was spent on that.  I have to deal with plenty around this house … it is close to 100 years young and is lovely!! and also old. This is one issue that weaves through my life – and for some times of things I need to deal with them quickly – for sure!

I have done community organizing for over 40 years … lots of volunteer work – in many different areas.  Given my health, it was one way I could contribute to the community – yet still take care of my health.  It gave me a sense of purpose much larger than myself and my own issues and concerns.  I feel really good about all the work I done over the years – in peace, environmental, health, and social and economic justice issues.  Yes – I have been a little busy – and much of the work I was even able to do from bed! (I am sure I could write a book with tales of my life and organizing.) (My treatment went well today.)

A couple of years ago I decided that I needed to switch my organizing focus to art organizing.  It seemed important to back up my art career with mainly focusing on the creative arts.  “They,” “The Experts,” all say that the most important thing to build your art career (maybe even more than good art) is networking, building relationships and marketing. So, I deligently started about two years ago.  I dove in.  I refused to take on more responsibility in other areas (that lasted a whole year I think).  I got active in art locally and online.

Actually I got pulled back in to both environmental organizing and local politics organizing. If we don’t have a functional earth, we have nothing to stand on.  And if we don’t have decent local government (and national – yippee!!), then the arts and the economy are not well supported.  The quality of life degrades when there is divisive and power-hungry leadership. But I am once again switching my focus some away from this. There are such important crucial issues in both areas, that I cannot turn my back on them … but I have seriously started putting my needs at the forefront.

Being so sick for so long, it was hard to not put the big picture ahead of me – given my personality.  But I have come to a new place inside myself, and I am pulling inward in a healthy way.  There were years I was so sick I could barely get out of bed, so when I have energy, I want to do things that I feel will help the world and make me feel empowered and effective.

So I am working myself out of some of the things I have been doing.  I have not been the head honcho or anything with these things the last few years – just a good team player.  (I was a leader a lot for years.) But I am letting people know that I am giving myself a chance to succeed with my art career.  People are *mostly* supportive. And I am doing it.

I am going to stop here … and tomorrow talk about the grant and press release. I am wanting you to understand the texture of my life and my thought processes in doing what I am doing.  It was very exciting to get the grant!  It was the first time in my life I have been paid for organizing – I am thrilled.  That is why I am going to start again tomorrow … so it is a readable length.

Thanks for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Butterfly, organizing, community organizing, sense of purpose, creative arts, locally, online

I am so moved and delighted and excited – as is most of the world!! Electing Obama gives me hope that we can move beyond the kind of politics that has dominated this country.  I am also saddened that gay rights took a real hit in this same election that has so much hope. But I also know that it is just a matter to time … clearly, the tide has turned from, say a decade ago. Many people now understand that gay people are people just like black people are people. It will take a little longer, and a lot of work, to give fulls rights to gay people. But in the meantime, we have Obama and he will lead this country with a new attitude of respect and cooperation.

Animals V, Digital © Diane Clancy

This image is for the Pet Monologues which is the blog which I directed you to showing that incredible video about the lion hugging the woman who rescued him. Also they highlight art, poems and more that showcase animals every week. You can see their blog here. And this is the post for this particular challenge. I hope you enjoy the images there!!Here is that other lion video I told you about the other day. 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.

They put up a few of the images and then have links to the rest of the sites … perhaps you will feel moved to participate!  Thank you for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Obama, gay rights, Pet Monologues

First off, anyone who is willing, I would love if you would send thoughts of peace to Lebanon – I have friends with family at risk there.  I know there are so many places that can use our kind thoughts and healing energy.  Thank you! Lots of rainy weather here today … but I managed to get a walk in around the block before it started.  Today (and the last few days) I was working on taking a client’s photo of her dog and getting the puppy – the gorgeous puppy! – into fields of butterflies and flowers.  I don’t want to show you yet because she has not seen the images yet and that doesn’t seem right.  At least today’s work was more successful than yesterdays!!  That is, is will be successful assuming my client and friend likes at least one of them!

Nature Reflections III, Digital © Diane Clancy

These birds are part of the series that I did awhile ago with a very pretty bird picture .. and then I made lots of transformations of it.  Have you ever been playing with images and created several images you love, knowing, of course, that you will remember how you did it (ha ha  famous last words!!) … Well, I wish I could remember how I did this.  (At least I remember which program).

This week I missed the Illustrator Friday challenge … the very first time since I started to participate.  Shucks … I meant to get it done.  I want to make sure I at least do the 2 Things Challenge this week.  I also have 2 other jobs (besides the ones I mentioned above) that I need to get done.  And then all the other responsibilities I have taken on.  A little too much on overload – but I am delighted to get this puppy into his field!!  Thanks for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: peace, Fanciful Animal Images, digital painting

I am so thrilled that I have been featured on another blog!!! You have heard me speak of Chris O’Byrne who has a blog focused on online art marketing. Chris has decided to feature an artist every Friday on his blog. He decided to start with me!! I hope you will take the time to go over and check out his very interesting blog … thank you again, Chris!! You (my readers) are so so wonderful!!

Lemon Flight, Digital © Diane Clancy

One other thing I want to let you know about today … I have found out about a new resource for bloggers called rrsHugger.com. I think many of you know what rss feeds are … a way to be able to keep up with your favorite blogs by a feed reader instead of having to go visit the site to see if they have posted yet. The rss feed is the mechanism that gives you the info about their blog.

Each blogger chooses a blog name … mine is www.rssHugger.com/dianeclancy.com.  They are providing this service free at the moment if you write a post about them. I am hoping you will go visit it.

This is great for bloggers because there is a lot of exposure. One exciting thing is that they have a random way of showing blogs so that everyone gets a chance to be seen. They also have the top 100 blogs and other ways of finding blogs.

For readers, it is an advantage because you can find lots of new (to you) exciting blogs to be able to read and follow very easily. I think this is a win/win all around!

I just read a very powerful post by Staci Rose on the Holocaust and powerful responses. There is a moving remembrance in London happening … this month. Harry Potter’s glasses are involved. Staci wrote an incredible post about the Holocaust, survivors, and several fantastic resources. I strongly recommend you check out this post!!! Thank you, Staci!

We will get back to marketing .. there are just so many exciting things to write about!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Chris O’Byrne, online art marketing, rss feeds, Staci Rose, Holocaust, rssHuggers.com, OnlineArtsMarketing.com

Happy New Year!! Let’s all have the best year we have ever had! It would be wonderful for each of us to move ahead with our goals, health and relationships and to have peace and justice everywhere on earth. This includes environmental justice – caring for the earth! Sounds good to me!! Marketing is going to wait a few days as I am inspired to write a few other posts first. Lisa Call inspired me to review the year in this post. Today I am going to look at 2007 and see what I have done and tomorrow focus on what I want to accomplish.

Lilac Wonder, Digital © Diane Clancy

Actually I have accomplished quite a bit in 2007 and perhaps it will be useful to document some of it. Some of these were goals and some weren’t.

• Opened my CafePress Shop which allowed people to buy my paintings on mugs, tiles, totes, journals and more. This has been a goal of mine since 1988 (to offer my paintings on merchandise) and CafePress has allowed me to!
• Opened my Etsy Shop where I have been selling reproductions of my artwork from cards to larger matted prints. Opening this shop allowed me to reach more people who wanted to buy my artwork. I have been wanting to market more effectively for a long time.
• Learned about Art Trading Cards (ATC or ACEO) this fall and started offering them for sale. These were my best sellers at Etsy.
• Learned about blogs this spring and have posted a post every day since the end of March on this blog.
• Had several clients for whom I created web sites and blogs. If you go to my site and look under links to clients links, you can see some of them.
• Several clients wanted substantial graphic design work which I was delighted to do!
• I exceeded my financial goals for the year.
• Thanks to one of my readers on this blogs, I am doing better at keeping on top of my financial records … trying for every day to keep the details fresh in my mind as I put them into my databases.
• I have maintained some local card sales.
• Made fantastic connections with online friends!! Thank you!!!
• This fall is when I think I first heard about social networking … I have been very hard at work doing this!! Sometime I will do a post with my connections so you can connect with me in these various ways.
• Found out about and joined WWAO, Worldwide Women Artists Online, a great group of women artists who sell our work online. I have made lots of great connections there.
• On Etsy found out about VAST, Visual Artists Street Team. I was in the group for about a month before I became a moderator … so this is a great opportunity to again connect with other visual artists who sell our artwork.
• Had a very small amount of licensing of my artwork. This was something I wanted to pursue a lot … next year.
• Several clients hired me to put their animal companions into fields of flowers or butterflies. This was a big success.
• I sent out one email newsletter this year – and I didn’t get any “take me offs.” Several people wrote back thanking me for this holiday newsletter.
• Finished “Reflections in Blue IV,” a pastel series I have been working on.
• Been creating digital art like wild, supported greatly by your support and enjoyment of my bubblescapes.
• I have cut a whole pile of blank ATCs that are all ready for me to fill up .. it should be a great way to get back into my traditional painting …. next year.
• Our local Artists of Franklin County became much clearer about our goals, under my leadership. We put on 3 AWE (Artists Window Exhibits) since mid-summer.
• I was invited (and accepted) to be on the Board of Directors of the Create Franklin County, the regional group working to build the Creative Economy.
• I am sure there are more .. but this is exciting to see all the things I have done to move my business ahead as I wanted.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: goals, peace, justice, earth, Lisa Call, CafePress, ATC, ACEO, Etsy, blogs, clients, web sites, graphic design, financial goals, social networking, WWAO, VAST, licensing, newsletter, digital art, AWE, Creative Economy

Two days ago I mentioned that day was the first day of Kwanzaa, December 26 to January 1, a 7 day celebration started in 1966. Kwanzaa is for the African American and Pan-African community to celebrate their heritage and reinforce positive community and human values: a celebration of family, community and culture. I find it a very moving, welcoming, uplifting observance from the ones I have attended.

Violet Mist, Digital © Diane Clancy

A core part of Kwanzaa is the 7 Principles:

(NGUZO SABA (The Seven Principles) taken from the site of Dr. Maulana Karenga, founder of Kwanzaa, link above)

1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

~ Diane Clancy

p.s. Shall I continue with marketing tomorrow?

Technorati Tags: Kwanzaa, celebration, family, community, culture

I like to enter the 2 Things Challenge each week. This week is Tidy and Ends. It was hard to come up with an idea, but at least the execution was easy for me this week! So thank you! I hope you like my entry.

Tidy Ends, Digital © Diane Clancy

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a 7 day celebration started in 1966. Kwanzaa is for the African American and Pan-African community to celebrate their heritage and reinforce positive community and human values. The 7 principles are wonderful – perhaps tomorrow I will list them .. I have been very moved when I have gone to Kwanzaa celebrations!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: 2 Things Challenge, Kwanzaa, African American, community, values