Diane Clancy's Art Blog

Susan Elkin and I participated at the lovely artisan fair Handmade With Love Fair last Saturday. We sold my vibrant, colorful paintings and Susan’s mysterious photographs.  We have some photos from the fair that I thought you would like to see.  I am very pleased with the improvements in our display – I think this time we did create a fairly enticing presentation of our work.  Please check out my giveaway of FREE business cards!!

Merchandise at Handmade With Love Fair © Susan Elkin

Karen Shaw Suriner of Stargazer Studios was a total miracle for us with all the help she gave Susan and me.  I hope you will check out her wonderful Etsy shop, Stargazer Studios. We went into the wrong end of a very large building and carried too much of our things the length of the building.  Karen helped us get the rest of the merchandise and tables from the car.  Then Karen gave us feedback on our setup. Besides the checking in with everyone during the fair (Karen was one of the organizers), she also helped us get the tables, mats and cards back into the car.  Given our exhaustion, I have no idea what we would have done without Karen that day – THANK YOU, Karen!!!   You might also want to check out Karen’s Facebook page.

Karen Shaw Suriner, Stargazer Studios © Susan Elkin

Here is a photograph of Susan at the fair (you can see her photos are better but she is the photographer!).  Susan has an Etsy shop where you can see some of her engaging photographs. I couldn’t do these artisan fairs without Susan – she has a lot of strength for handling the tables and such. We may have to reevaluate our ability to do this kind of show – this took a lot out of both of us.  We may need to limit ourselves to shows that are very, very local (this was 25 miles away) – that would also give us the advantage of probably knowing some of the people going to the fair – we knew no one who was attending the fair – although we knew most of the vendors. Susan also has a Facebook page.

Susan, Susan Elkin Photography © Diane Clancy

We worked hard to make our presentation better than it was last time.  Each time we work to make us look more professional and engaging.  I thought you would enjoy this photo that shows the whole presentation.  We wanted to draw customers and collectors in with Valentine’s Day vibes. For us this has been our best presentation yet.  We look around and learn each time. That card rack is part of our display.  Those cards were our best seller at this fair – unlike any other fair we have been to.

Handmade With Love Fair © Susan Elkin

I spent hours working with the pricing materials to make them festive for Valentine’s Day – it took some work to figure out how to best do that.  Now I will be able to do that better in the future.  We were able to borrow a white table cloth and then had some pink and reds plus lace to entice it all up!! I so admire all the artisans who have created elaborate displays!!

Facebook Artist Page: DianeClancyArt
Etsy: dianeclancy
Twitter: dianeclancy
Zazzle: dianeclancyart*
Blog : dianeclancy.com/blog
Website: dianeclancy.com

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, Karen Shaw Suriner, Stargazer Studios, Susan Elkin, Susan Elkin Photography, Handmade with Love Fair, artisan fair, fair presentations

Handmade with Love – Craft & Gift Market is going to be an incredible Craft & Gift Market this Saturday, February 12 in Easthampton.  I hope you will come (if you live near enough). There are going to be many fabulous items for sale, including my vibrant, colorful paintings in several forms.

The Facebook page for Handmade with Love is right here! FIRST 50 CUSTOMERS GET A FREE GIFT! Candles, jewelry, cards, art, collage art, handbags, glass, photography and much more!! Please come join us! Please check out my giveaway of FREE business cards!! Thank you! ~ Diane Clancy

Handmade with Love – Craft & Gift Market

Facebook Artist Page: DianeClancyArt
Etsy: dianeclancy
Twitter: dianeclancy
Zazzle: dianeclancyart*
Blog : dianeclancy.com/blog
Website: dianeclancy.com

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, Handmade with Love, Craft & Gift Market, Handmade with Love – Craft & Gift Market

I like to enter the 2 Things Challenge each week. This week is Post / Card. These are my vibrant, colorful paintings of Post & Card. I have been wanting to share with you the design of my new postcard – so when Post & Card came up – it was too too perfect! Here is my chance to share some of my new advertising materials!!  Thank you for this challenge! Here are the entries for the other week’s Chain / Game. Anyone can join in, and I hope you give it a try!! We would love more people playing with us!

Post & Card, Diane’s New Postcard (front) © Diane Clancy

And here is the back or second version for this challenge of Post & Card.  For the back I decided that I didn’t really need it for sending and if I did – it would still work.  As you can see, I am marketing both Susan and my work under my business.

Post & Card, Diane’s New Postcard (back) © Diane Clancy

Thank YOU for stopping by and reading my blog.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: 2 Things Challenge, vibrant colorful painting, Diane Clancy, postcard

Thank you for coming by – I would very much appreciate your input and feedback.  I am working on a brochure for my business – something I have wanted for years!  I am getting a brochure as a thank you for sponsoring the brochure giveaway … and I need your input – please!!  This is one side of the flyer (the outside)  – the middle column is what is at issue here.  The other side of the flyer is the inside.   This is a tri-fold brochure – it gets folded into three parts.  Please see the end of my post for a reminder of my current FREE giveaway!

Center Align – Front of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

The images of the merchandise are not finished yet – there are issues with these images so far – and I am not sure which items I will use.  But the main issue is the readability of the middle column of online shops and sites.  Can you read it better centered or left aligned? Also, which way do you like the look of better?  I want it to be useful to people – for sure! This is the column blown up to make it easier to see – I think it is bigger than life – so please keep that in mind!

Center Align – Middle Column Only of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

One of my friends said the centered version gave him a headache.  Susan and I both think we can read the centered a lot more easily.  Because the websites are staggered, then we both think it is easier to read the actual website addresses.  Plus I like the way it looks much better centered.  But I want my collectors and clients to be able to read it – that is the most important thing!  I really want to hear your feedback – even if it differs from mine.  Does it bother you that some of the columns are centered?

Left Align – Front of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am very excited to be doing this brochure – for years I have been thinking about it.  I have been wanting to promote my vibrant, colorful paintings and also my graphic design and web design business.  But this last week I needed to actually make decisions and put all the information into a brochure.  At first I had trouble thinking of what to put in it … then there was too much – so I couldn’t include things like my Artists Statement.  Here is the column in question – how readable is this to you?  Remember it is large here.

Left Align – Middle Column Only of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

Someone asked about the inside of the brochure – so here it is.  Perhaps I am trying to do too much … but I would like one brochure for the different things we are offering.  Thank you again for your feedback!!

Inside of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

Here is a newer version of the outside – I think I have incorporated most of the ideas that people have shared.  Thank you so so much for all this input!!  The images aren’t technically accurate yet – I am doing the layout first and then will go back and make sure they are all 300 dpi tifs.  Thank you again!! I would love to hear what you think of this version!!

Outside of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave feedback!! I so appreciate your input!!  Here is the link to the 50 FREE Greeting Cards Giveaway!!  (Sorry only for US residents) Thank you again!

Thank you!
~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: brochure, Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful paintings

Sorry for the short notice, but you can write until TODAY  – and I hope YOU will!! At last the government WANTS to hear from actual artists instead of only big businesses.  Some businesses want to use our work without our permission (or payment) – this has been called the Orphan Works Bill.  I know I want to protect my colorful, vibrant paintings!!  Please read yesterday’s post for details.  My letter is below just as an example.  Thank you! ~ Diane

Summary of issue: Over 85 organizations opposed the last Orphan Works bills, representing over half a million creators. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.

WRITE TODAY – details in yesterday’s post - my letter below!

My name is Diane Clancy from Greenfield, MA.  I create vibrant paintings that feature color and vision to inspire and uplift people.  I work both in traditional mediums and digital mediums.  I also do graphic design and web design.

I sell originals of my work.  But I also use my images (paintings) for prints and on merchandise. I have several online shops where people can purchase my work – both from me directly and through shops that do the printing themselves and send the merchandise and prints directly to my customers and collectors.

On some images I spend well over 100 hours to produce the original painting.  To make a profit in my art business, I need to be able to use and reuse such an image over and over again to make my art business profitable.  That is partly why I sell prints of these paintings and also sell these images on items such as mugs, tiles, journals, calendars and tote bags.  This is how I make my money from such a painting.

As a commercial artist, I have a business plan and much of it is based on reuse of my paintings – by ME!  If other businesses are able to use my images, saying that they are orphaned, I have lost much of my business and income.  My paintings, my images ARE my business.  I have spent much time and effort in creating them and marketing them.  I need to be the one who gets the benefit of my intellectual property rights.

I want the government to protect my copyrights of my paintings … and to not make it easier for others to call my images orphaned and then make money from these paintings.  I am an American micro-business, an entrepreneur – the backbone of the American economy.  I need the US government to be protecting and encouraging, small creative businesses …  I also think this is what is going to help turn around this economy.

Also, I am an artist living with a disability. Having this small art business is what allowed me to move off disability to be supporting myself. Please help me support myself.  I know of many artists with micro-businesses who are living with disabilities.  Creating and marketing our art is what allows many of us to minimize financial support from the government.  To me, clearly, it is evident that is good for the economy.

Thank you for asking artists for our input!  I am greatly appreciative that you want to hear from us,
~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Orphan Works, colorful vibrant painting, Diane Clancy, copyright

Sorry for the short notice, but you can write until March 24  – and I hope YOU will!! At last the government WANTS to hear from actual artists instead of only big businesses.  This is again about copyright issues. Some businesses want to use our work without our permission (or payment) – this has been called the Orphan Works Bill.

Most of us artists want to protect our copyrights to make sure that we can protect our work.  I know I want to protect my colorful, vibrant paintings!!  Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators’ Partnership has put together this information.  Mark Simon is an Artist Adovcate and he passed along this information also.  Thank you to them!  Please read below for details.  Thank you! ~ Diane

Summary of issue: Over 85 organizations opposed the last Orphan Works bills, representing over half a million creators. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.

WRITE TODAY – details below!

Hello fellow artists,
Below is great info on a White House initiative to find out more about copyright protection for artists and small businesses.

The deadline to hear from artists is <WED MARCH 24>, SO DON’T DELAY. Email them now. Info is below.

Artist Advocate,
Mark Simon

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS’ PARTNERSHIP

White House Seeks Artists’ Comments to Improve Copyright Protection

3.18.10

New Copyright Czar begins Joint Strategic Plan to Protect Intellectual Property
Victoria Espinel is the first U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), also known as the Copyright Czar. Congress created IPEC by an Act of Congress. Ms. Espinel serves within theExecutive Office of the President to coordinate with all the federal agencies that fight the infringement of intellectual property.

Ms. Espinel and her team are specifically tasked with formulating and implementing a Joint Strategic Plan to help protect the ingenuity and creativity of Americans by improving the U.S. Government’s protection of the rights of intellectual property owners.

Your input is requested.
The White House is inviting your public input and participation to shape an effective intellectual property enforcement strategy. Please respond with your written submissions regarding the costs to you, your business and the U.S. economy resulting from infringement of your intellectual property rights, both direct and indirect.

This will be a 2-part process.
The first is to gather public recommendations by March 24. IPEC will then gather your input on the formulated plan.

Please be precise.
Include your name, city, state, and what type of artist you are. Explain why copyright is critical to you as a commercial artist, how infringement affects you, and what the U.S. government can do to better protect the rights of American artists. If your submission is about your economic loss due to infringement of your copyrights you must clearly identify the methodology used to calculate your losses or otherwise validate your infringement and enforcement costs.

Your submission will be publicly posted.
For this reason, please do not include in your comments information of a confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary information.

Confidential disclosures.
If you have confidential business information that would support your recommendation or that you believe would help the Government formulate an effective enforcement strategy, please let them know by contacting:

Thomas L. Stoll
Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator
(202) 395-1808

Deadline: Submissions must be received by Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at 5 p.m. EST.
Address: All submissions should be sent electronically via intellectualproperty@omb.eop.gov

Additional Background Reading:
White House Blog
Federal Register Notice Request

- Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators’ Partnership

______________________________________________________________

For news and information, and an archive of these messages:
Illustrators’ Partnership Orphan Works Blog: http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/

Over 85 organizations opposed the last Orphan Works bills, representing over half a million creators. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.

Technorati Tags: Orphan Works, colorful vibrant painting, Diane Clancy, Illustrators’ Partnership, Mark Simon, copyright

I won 250 business cards … from Lynne Reichart  Here is the post about this.   An artist’s ramblings by Lynne Reichart Blog often features great giveaways by UPrinting.com. There is another one running right now – a giveaway for posters. You can see my signature vibrant, colorful painting on the front.

Front of My New Business Card © Diane Clancy

Back of My New Business Card © Diane Clancy

Some people had asked me to show them what it looked like once I designed it … so here it is … I have been wanting to way to make it easy to let people know WHERE online they can find my work.  I think I like it quite a bit … some other giveaways that I am involved in are below.

You may want to enter my One World One Heart Giveaway – here is the post – it is a free prize with free shipping anywhere in the world.  This is a worldwide event – details are in this post.

The winner will be announced on February 15 – so be sure to leave a comment by February 14. There are at least 1000 blogs participating in this giveaway – so jump on the magic carpet and go exploring … and win some prizes too!!

Design Style Guide is having a Valentine Giveaway with 10 – yes 10 – different winners!! 10 shop owners have all offered to supply FREE gift certificates (and FREE shipping) for each of our shops!!

These certificates are worth between $20 and $30 or  for a specific item or for YOUR choice in a shop – so well worth your time! It is very simple to enter – read the blog post for details. For each of 10 days, there will be a winner!

Thank YOU for stopping by and reading my blog.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, Lynne Reichart, One World One Heart, giveaway, Design Style Guide giveaway, business cards, UPrinting

The Design Style Guide is a wonderful place that is bringing together thousands of items that are appropriate for Home Decor. Their main purpose is to promote the team and its members to Interior Designers (and like-minded consumers) through various promotions and advertising techniques.   This is part of the move to promote handmade items instead of mass produced things. Their focus is on marketing and branding “Handmade Home Decor” to professional Interior Designers.

Design Style Guide Giveaway #5

They are having a series of giveaways – the current one with Diane Clancy (yes, ME!!) at Etsy and 1000 Markets.  This is a free giveaway and I encourage you to join in and see if you can win!!  The Giveaway is through October 20 – so join in today!!  Here are the details about the giveaway on the Design Style Blog.  You know my art – I encourage to go join in the giveaway. Here are my shops Diane’s Etsy shop and Diane’s 1000 Markets Shop. This is a great opportunity and let’s hope one of you wins!

If you would like to join Design Style Guide, please click here:

Thanks for stopping by!

I am adding new things every day to my shops – I am getting back in the flow – so keep checking to see which one YOU want to take home!! Thank you!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Design Style Guide Giveaway, Etsy, 1000 Markets

The Design Style Guide is a wonderful place that is bringing together thousands of items that are appropriate for Home Decor. Their main purpose is to promote the team and its members to Interior Designers (and like-minded consumers) through various promotions and advertising techniques.   This is part of the move to promote handmade items instead of mass produced things. Their focus is on marketing and branding “Handmade Home Decor” to professional Interior Designers.

Design Style Guide Giveaway #4

They are having a series of giveaways – the current one with Joan of TheGiftHutch at Etsy.  This is a free giveaway and I encourage you to join in and see if you can win!!  The deadline is September 2 – so join in today!!  Here are the details about the giveaway on the Design Style Blog.  Joan creates beautiful pillows, sachets and other gifts and I encourage to go join in the giveaway and also look at her Etsy shop. This is a great opportunity and let’s hope one of us wins!

If you would like to join Design Style Guide, please click here:

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Design Style Guide Giveaway, Joan of TheGiftHutch

This is the Freckles in Flowers II Mug from my Zazzle shop – I am thrilled that 2 people have bought it in the last month …  from my Zazzle shop (http://zazzle.com/dianeclancyart).  At the bottom of this post is another hint of selling and buying from CafePress vs Zazzle.

Freckles in Flowers II Mug at Zazzle © Diane Clancy

You can see that it is different from my Freckles in Flowers II Mug from my CafePress shop (http://cafepress.com/dianeclancy).

Freckles in Flowers II Mug at CafePress © Diane Clancy

It is so interesting to me to have such different looking mugs – yet both starting with the same image …  To make things even more fun, at Zazzle you can choose lots of other styles of mugs before you check out – all with the same image … go check it out.

At CafePress, you can also get the same vibrant colorful painting on different mugs – but I have to prepare those other mugs for you – you yourself can’t just chose the other variations for yourself … this is one of the things in favor of Zazzle.  Which of these 2 mugs do you prefer?  Thank you for being in my life!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful paintings, Zazzle, CafePress