Monthly Archives: August 2007

Another Evolution

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This painting is practicing Wabi-Sabi as is talked about in Neda Doany’s blog here and here again. Irene commented on the progression on this image over the last couple of days as being related to the idea of change and impermanence being part of life.

Cirque du Soleil Dancers

Cirque du Soleil Dancers, Digital © Diane Clancy

I feel very delighted that Irene would think that “apparently you have no angst of becoming in the process of growing into some more.” Not true but perhaps I am making progress on my own self and being and creating. This blog, the blogosphere and the support of you fantastic bloggers has moved me ahead in my own creative process to take more risks and be more relaxed in showing work that I haven’t honed and tweaked within an inch of its life.

It is nurturing a playfulness and enjoyment and sharing with others that hasn’t always been true for me around art. In the several art classes I took years ago it was more true for me – we had to produce, produce and produce. And I got some good paintings out of the whole process.

In a way blogging is like that for me – I have a community that I feel a responsibility to create new paintings for. It is a stretching myself for me and my art but also for you – it is very useful to me.

How is it for you?

~ Diane Clancy

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Excellence in Play

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This post tonight is honor of excellence in play. Something that I strive for as an artist. Cirque du Soleil is incredible! (the people not my painting) And I am working to be more in joy more often again! What do you say?

Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil, Digital © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

Watching Again

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I am here watching you … and soon I will reply …

Watching Again

Watching Again, Digital © Diane Clancy

Much of the action is in the comments anyway … and tomorrow I will catch up again …

~ Diane Clancy

Color Shifting

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This painting is also a tip of the hat to Harry Potter. It took me about 10 tries before I got the “eye” how I wanted it. It is amazing to me how the name of an image can change the whole way I look at it.

Behind the Mirror

Behind the Mirror, Digital © Diane Clancy

Answering some comments from previous posts … Sue O’Kieffe, to answer your question, I am looking at the blog (and particularly the paintings) on my CRT monitor, and I see a bit of a color difference, but not much at all. With all my files they are a little different on the large monitor upstairs versus my laptop. Mac vs PC can come into it too.

I am ready to print “In the Cathedral” but waiting for Susan to come home to put her image into the file too to save paper … but it looks good on the screen and usually it prints pretty closely … except the purples are usually too reddish when printed from Photoshop files … so I may need to work on that … We shall see!

Sue, it is neat the way we work so similarly!! I enjoy working and painting when I feel that I am at least as much as vehicle as a creator. For me it is so much more fun!

~ Diane Clancy

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Update – the purple printed redder than I see on the screen.  I think I should have chosen all the purple and shifted that color somehow to a more bluer purple.  But this is the consistent off-printing that happens.  It is pretty close but not exact.  And I tried to adjust the saturation on certain colors, but I couldn’t get it how I wanted … so I printed to see what happened – but it looks great!

Time to Look Upward

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Time to look upward and be inspired! Day to day can result in so much getting lost in the details … and then there is stepping back and looking at the big picture. I figure a cathedral that was designed and built to direct our attention to the lofty and to the uplifting was a good place to start. So here is my offer to help each of us be reminded of the whole awesome the whole life force truly is.

In the Cathedral

In the Cathedral, Digital © Diane Clancy

In answer to your question … I heard it out there in the stratosphere … I usually start by working with the image itself (particularly in digital) and then ask the painting what it is wanting to communicate. I listen the best I can and then give it a name to call attention to the purpose it was letting me know about. I am directing attention to what I hear the image is expressing.

Any thoughts on any of this?

~ Diane Clancy

At the Beach

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Today I wrote lots in response to your comments … as comments on the posts.  I now have the two bug projects I have been working on in pretty good shape … so I can start to catch up with life … hopefully!   So I am taking a day off to visit this painting.

At the Beach

At the Beach, Digital © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

Look at this Eye and Meditate

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If you look at this eye and meditate, you will hear and see all the answers from your recent comments and questions (keep them coming, please!) If this painting doesn’t reveal it all to you, you will have to wait until tomorrow to hear it from my own fingers …. Fantastic comments!!

The Eye

The Eye, Digital © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

Working on my CafePress

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I have been hard at work on my CafePress shop (www.cafepress.com/dianeclancy)!  I found out that a particular file format was the best one to use for the brightest, clearest images.  So I am changing them all. Also I am beginning to understand the importance of a story with a painting to draw people in … so I have been busy.

On Air

On Air, Digital © Diane Clancy

As I checked my email, I saw that Neda has been very busy here commenting and asking good questions … I will answer soon – to the best of my ability.  Thank you so much to all of you who have been commenting .. tomorrow I will be here more.  I am delighted that some of you are taking the time to comment – thank you!!

~ Diane Clancy

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Being Silly

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One of the things I am particularly enjoying about this process of digital painting is my sense of being silly and having fun. Sometimes my silliness gets separated from my painting because I want to make sure I am reverent. But with the digital, somehow it seems ok to just be silly with the paintings and with the names.

Deadlines Looming

Deadlines Looming, Digital © Diane Clancy

Many of this last series of images the last month or two, I would never do in paper or canvas and paint. For me, there is something about this medium … partly the immediacy with the tools I am using … that really bring out my silliness.

So many of them look like silly little creatures. Sue O’Kieffe also had mentioned a quote from a famous person about painting from the unconscious (or subconscious) caused figures to emerge. Somehow that also helps me feel good about these silly little beings that are emerging.

How about you? What happens when you let yourself be silly when creating?

~ Diane Clancy

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How I have been Creating

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It is delightful that we are talking with each other about these issues of creativity and supporting each other as artists. For me, it is much different doing things digitally than with paper or canvas and paint. Lately I have been sitting down with an image and just saying – “go ahead and change it.”

Here We Are

Here We Are, Digital © Diane Clancy

First, actually I cruise a bunch of images and see who speaks to me. Someone jumps out and yells, “me, me me!” So I say, “OK.” I don’t have anything in mind … I work from the process before me with the Studio Artist program. That is how I have made most of these images lately … and often gone into Photoshop for while too.

It is much scarier for me with paper and paint. Though I used a similar technique for using paper and tempera for awhile and 2 of those images are very popular ones of mine. With paint I feel I have to create something “special” to justify using resources and stuff .. so it is much harder to create.

Also, with paint and paper or canvas, sometimes I do sit down with a specific idea – like to create another image in a series. Allowing myself to play obviously works much better. And I absolutely agree with Sue – don’t worry too much about being original.

Start with something that you want to do and constantly stretch yourself. Hard as it is, try to compare yourself to you – not to anyone else. Though that is easier to say than to do!  I know!  What else are you thinking?

~ Diane Clancy

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Following the Crowd

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Sometimes it is tempting to try to do what everyone else is doing rather than think for oneself … I am sure there are times that we have all been tempted and probably succumbed … whether it be what we are reading, dressing or even creating art. Anyone have stories to tell? Following the Leader, Digital © Diane Clancy ~ Diane Clancy … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Creating Digital Images

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Some of you have been asking how I come up with these digital paintings. I start with something and twist and turn and play … constantly ready to “undo” the last action. The undo’s happen frequently – because each step feels like it is moving me in a direction that nourishes me … or it pulls at me in a negative way – in which case I immediately “undo.” Above the Expressway, Digital © Diane Clancy The other part that I keep a careful eye on is a lot of “saves” … often things look sort of interesting but not complete … so I save them and then continue on with my journey. I learned this part the hard way by having images I really liked, pushing on, and then losing anything good. Just being left with so-so stuff. I have never had such a long run before on creating so many paintings out of one image. But it feels excellent! People here pushed me to go another level and that next step opened a whole lot of doors with my methods. The last time I did a lot of digital images was using many base images, one after another. So the exploration was broad rather than deep. I am enjoying this greatly! Thank you for giving me an audience – you push me to create something for you … I want to delight you! Do you have any techniques or processes or … that you would like to share? … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Such Great Comments!

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This image title is a tip of the hat to Harry Potter – actually Mad-Eye Moody. I stayed up way too late last night reading the new book. And no spoilers allowed!! I will have to catch up on your blogs tomorrow. How delightful to find all these comments – I love it when it seems we are truly connected are caring – it just makes my heart sing! I hope no one minds I am just appreciating and acknowledging those who have posted. Being Watched, Digital © Diane Clancy Welcome, welcome home, Neda!! It is so wonderful to have you back where you are safer on a a consistent basis … and have good internet connection. I know when I visit my Dad and have to go sit on the neighbors’ steps to “borrow” their wireless, I feel less connected. Rima, yes, I am using the web more and more to research things. Also to find info by asking people – so many people are incredibly generous with their experience and expertise – it starts to feel like a good part of a world community. Julie, let us know about your daughter as that progresses! Does she have play dates and such? Are you out in the country or in a neighborhood? Irene, thank you for being so supportive of my art. I am really enjoying the images you are creating! I don’t have a clue how you do some of them. The software that exists now also changes … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Back Online

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As you can see, I am back online.  The silver lining was the people who commented – thank you so much! All night I was dreaming of dsl modems working correctly. So grateful when I woke up to find it a reality!! Well of Dreams, Digital © Diane Clancy This well is so much clearer than my mind. At last today there are lots of projects that I can do but nothing is totally breathing down my neck. I was a little panicked about not having internet connection – partly because I have run into a technical glitch with a project – and online is where I know how to find answers. But it is a little shocking to  me how much I depend on the web now. Socially, artistically, technically, for research – that’s what comes to mind immediately. And I am not in my 20’s … or 30’s … or …. But it has become so much part of my life and my business. I have friends offline … but this too is important to me. And finding info is SO much easier online!! It is a very different world than it used to be.  Any thoughts? ~ Diane Clancy Technorati Tags: dsl, online, research … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

No Internet Connection … Again!

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You have seen this before … those of you who have been here since the beginning. But this is the second Friday in row that I have had time to catch up on my blogging … and I have no internet connection … rather frustrating! I had started to put a new painting in post earlier, but got interrupted … so that is why you have seen this before. And that is why you have not received a response from your email. Freckles in Flowers I, Digital © Diane Clancy I am down at the neighbors to write you … but I can only impose so much. And if I call Verizon support, it will take hours and hours … and crawling all around under things. So at least I can say “Hi!” Please surprise me with lots of comments when I can on again. Hope you are all doing well! ~ Diane Clancy … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Looking Everywhere

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What is that saying? “Looking everywhere but the right places” … is that right?  I believe it is meant originally about looking for love in all the wrong places. How about looking for serenity and being in the flow? That is what I am looking everywhere for.  How about you? Looking Everywhere, Digital © Diane Clancy ~ Diane Clancy … [CLICK TO READ MORE]