Monthly Archives: October 2007

Mazes and a Question

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Thank you for all your thoughtful responses yesterday!! I have new things to try out now! I need to play catch-up today – including on your blogs!  I just made an addition to this post … I have put a version with my signature, so you can see the difference.  I am interested in your input now.

Purple Maze

Purple Maze, Digital © Diane Clancy

Some days are like a maze

Others like a straight-line sprint

Some weeks are like a maze

Hopefully we get to the center of the maze

The center – of ourselves and of the maze

Clarifies everything

Purple Maze

Purple Maze with signature, Digital © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

Question for You

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Some of you have bought work of mine and others have said you plan to. So, as my customers, I have a question for you. Last night I brought some of my cups tiles, postcards and more from my CafePress Shop to my art business class. They loved the merchandise and thought it looked great! But they has one problem with it – my name is not on the mugs and all at all.

All Directions at Once

All Directions at Once, Digital © Diane Clancy

When I ship from my Etsy Shop, I send a business card and they know it is from me. I can also sign the print or card if they would like me to.

I explained to the class that with the merchandise from CafePress there was no way to put my name with the products. They get shipped directly to the customer. They then wanted me to put my name on the image itself that I upload for CafePress to print from.

That is the only way to have my name associated with the image. I want to know what you think. I am of mixed minds. In one way I can understand their concerns – sure it would be great for people to know the work was mine
and come looking for more!

But in another way, I am concerned with anything that could take away from the painting itself. I am not sure my name as it would be on a picture in a way that didn’t take away from the painting would be clear enough to come looking for me and then find me.

So, I just don’t know! I am turning to you to ask your opinion. Which way would you prefer? I hope you will really take the time and be truthful. Thank you in advance for all your help!!

~ Diane Clancy

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Worldwide Women Artists

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Today I was accepted into Worldwide Women Artists. Their slogans are “Quality Art on the Internet” and “Quality Art Direct from Artists.” I am pretty excited that they wanted me to join. I have yet to put my bio and such at the site … but I will very soon.

Worldwide Women Artists - Quality Art Direct from Artists

Worldwide Women Artists – Quality Art Direct from Artists

I very much look forward to networking with this powerhouse group of women artists!! Any woman artist who is selling her own art online is welcome to apply. I saw the logo someone had at Etsy and checked it out. I am sure you will hear more about this group from me at another time.

Green Ice

Green Ice, Digital © Diane Clancy

Today I had my first wholesale sale of mats. Whole Foods (only the local store) has been buying my cards for awhile. It’s great because our cards get sold fairly quickly. So I am pretty excited that they are going to try 8 of my small mats this holiday season and see how they sell. Yippee!

Tonight is one of the reunions of our art business class. Plus my connection right now is slow as molasses!! So I need to get going. But I would love to hear about you!

~ Diane Clancy

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ACEO Edition for Sale

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You asked for more bubbles, so here is another one. To me this has a very different atmosphere from the others. To me, this has a very peaceful feeling .. and I still need some rest and rejuvenation from how hard I have been working lately. I would love to hear how you are doing!

Contemplation at Dusk

Contemplation at Dusk, Digital © Diane Clancy

ACEOs are Art Cards Editions and Originals. They (also called ATC – Art Trading Cards) are 2.5 x 3.5″ big. (You can read about ACEOs here and here.) When I mentioned I was going to put some ACEOs in my Etsy Shop, you suggested that I make “bubbles” ACEOs. So I thought I would try something that Lisa Call has done – offer them for sale right on the blog.

Autumn Ruminations

In the Zone, ACEO Edition © Diane Clancy

If anyone wants to have this, it’s yours for $7 including shipping. It is titled and signed on the back. It is enclosed in an archival sleeve and then enclosed in a 3 x 4″ rigid topload card holder for safety and display. I had never heard of them until a month or so ago. And seeing all these little pictures I have printed out in archival inks and paper, I now understand why people do collect them.

I have tended to collect greeting cards of other artists’ work to have art to be inspired by at a reasonable price. But I now see the allure of all these pretty paintings, nice and small and all the same size. So I am a convert!

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Illustrator Friday – Trick or Treat

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I decided to do my second Illustrator Friday … and the topic this weeek is “Trick or Treat.” Here is my digital painting and a few words to go with it.

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat, Digital © Diane Clancy

One night a year

The children get dressed up

To go out to ask for treats

Little do they know

Many of the ghosts

Always are there

They show themselves more freely

On this very special night

But they are always there

Take a second look …

For they are everywhere!

~ Diane Clancy

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Printing ACEOs

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I am going to print some ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) or ATC (Art Trading Cards) today. As I mentioned in this post, ACEOs or ATCs (the same thing, just different artists call them various names) are like baseball cards – except for artists. Actually, not just for artists any more than baseball cards are for baseball players! They are a relatively inexpensive way for people to collect artists work they like.

Emerald Matrix

Emerald Matrix, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am going to print these 2.5 x 3.5″ prints on my printer with archival ink and archival paper and package them in 3×4″ sleeves for baseball cards and then in a protective holder made for baseball cards. The artists over at Etsy have been incredibly generous in helping me make decisions as they have shared how they do it. Thank you!!

My ACEOs probably won’t be listed until Saturday, but I am going to do them now. My shop is www.dianeclancy.etsy.com if you would like to check it out. It is such a balancing act to create art and market it. Also, a balancing act to pay attention to what people want and be true to myself and my artistic vision.

I attended a town meeting for Greening Greenfield yesterday to further environmental consciousness. Encouraging people, without guilting people, I think is important. And being inclusive!! I would love to hear how and what you are doing!

~ Diane Clancy

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Illustrator Friday – Grow

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I have seen Illustrator Friday mentioned around for awhile … and decided to check it out. This weeks challenge is “Grow.” This is my very first entry.

Grow

Grow, Digital © Diane Clancy

Life

It all starts with a seed

It expands outward

Life gets complex

There is beauty

There is difference

It is alive

Life is Us

We are Life

~ Diane Clancy

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2 Things Challenge – Elegant/Gaudy

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Some of our most faithful readers and commenter’s are very active in the 2 Things Challenge. The deal is that anyone can participate and enter your own entry. This week the challenge is Elegant and Gaudy in one image. I think this is very bright, ok, ok, gaudy … and it also has an elegance that I love. I think it is classy. I have been wanting to join in on some of the different challenges that blogs sponsor to network and connect more with other artists. So this is another step – after my World Card Day entries.

In the Zone

In the Zone, Digital © Diane Clancy

Follow-up to Blog Action Day – there was a fantastic show last night on CNN – Planet at Peril. Very powerful viewing. It will be available for renting soon. The second part is tonight. I highly recommend it! A wild combination of very scary info about how fast things are degrading and very inspiring with success stories and what work people are doing. In other words – like life – in other words – life itself – what allows us to live!!

Thank you for your support of me as an artist in yesterday’s post. I would love to hear how you are doing!

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Autumn Ruminations

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I think Autumn is a good time for thinking and re-evaluating things. Of course, right now in the southern hemisphere it is Spring – and that is a fantastic time for starting new things. So, all around the world, we are again in transition.

Autumn Ruminations

Autumn Ruminations, Digital © Diane Clancy

I spent yesterday getting my digital paintings that I have created over the 5 months organized and accessible. I am trying to make life more manageable here. The last couple of months have been consumed with a couple of big projects for clients and that part of the business has slowed down a bit.

This gives me a much needed rest and a chance to think about what I really need to do. What do I need to do in my life? What is working well in the business? What is not working as well? Is the blog working well? Are there changes I need to make?

I have my online shop CafePress where you can find my paintings on mugs, totes and tiles. Also I have my Etsy Shop where some of my cards and prints are for sale. I am thinking about selling the ACEOs I made the other day there. At my website you can order any of my work as cards or prints. I can send you an email bill by PayPal if you like and they handle the financial transaction.

I think I am suffering from a feeling that I am not a very good artist at the moment. It is very tempting as an artist to judge myself by sucess and how many people buy my work. I know I need to market more or differently or maybe be patient with what I am doing. Clearly, this is a good time for more evaluating!

~ Diane Clancy

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Creative Fueling

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One of the things we artists, and everyone else, needs to remember is to rest and rejuvenate. To allow ourselves the luxury of filling up with spiritual sustenance and spilling it over into our lives. This is actually not a luxury at all – it is as necessary for creative life as breathing. So often in this busy culture we drive ourselves to be busy and think that is what will move us ahead.

Flights of Fancy

Flights of Fancy, Digital © Diane Clancy

Many of us are very busy fulfilling our dreams in life. Many of us artists now know we need to market besides create. I know for me there is no way that I will ever do what I think I need to do to be able to get my artwork out to you as I would like to.

I know I need to take the time to reconnect with the ease of spirit and joy – this is what truly fuels my creativity. Come join me in this “Flight of Fancy.”

~ Diane Clancy

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Handing Out Awards

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Karl Meyer has a blog called Karl Meyer Writing and he also writes many articles for newspapers, books and such. Trust me, he is very active for global peace, the environment and rights! He hasn’t written that much political in his blog yet, but wait until he gets going!

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Internet Connection

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Susan gave out awards yesterday … starting another round I am sure! I have spent the whole day getting my internet connection back. I had to buy another modem and couldn’t find a dsl modem without a router. I already have a good router, so I didn’t want to re-buy it and lose the network I have. But it became clear that, around here anyway, that is your choice. So I bought it and installed and am now back up and running!. Flowers in the Sun-ACEO © Diane Clancy So all is setup but it has taken most of the day. So I am going to make this brief and will catch up tomorrow on blogs and comments. This was one of the ACEOs I created the other day. I really like it! There has only been one comment on the latest series I have been doing … I have been wondering if you like them. But I would love to hear how you are!! ~ Diane Clancy Technorati Tags: dsl, router … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Biodiversity of Species Part #2 (Non-humans)

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Wednesday we talked about biodiversity of the species – while focusing on the human species. You can read about this here. A key point for humans is that there is actual strength in difference. Diversity of people are important for the stability and evolution of humans. Unfortunately, languages get lost every day! Unbelievable that there are that many!! Beseeching, Digital © Diane Clancy Then there is biodiversity (Wikipedia) of the rest of the species. Science actually echoes thought (or is it the other way around?), the idea that there is strength in difference. Variety in species is actually necessary for the continuation of life. It used to be thought that many animals were cool and a nice thing. The more it gets looked into, it becomes clearer that it is necessary for life. We have all heard of how many medicines that are so helpful actually are found in plants and microorganisms – that has been an incredible breakthrough. But each of us, human, animal, plant, microorganism … is part of the web of life. Variety actually strengthens our resistance to problems. The potato famine in Ireland (1850’s) is seen to have been caused by a lack of variety in crops. When things are too uniform, they are weakened so that they are more vulnerable to catastrophe and problems in general. Think about each of us. I know when I do things only one way, when my rhythm is broken, I have less resilience to make changes more easily. To … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Blog Action Day Wrap-Up

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Blog Action Day has a great wrap-up. Over 2o,6oo blogs participated with over 14,000,000 (yes, 14 millions) RSS readers – which translates into many more readers than that. I know from looking at my own stats, there are far more readers and visitors than the recorded rss feeds. Apparently the number of posts about the environment went through the roof on Oct 15. So ya!! for all of us … and the earth! Baroque Pineapple, Digital © Diane Clancy Neda created some beautiful awards for those of us who took part on the gallery exhibit at Maraya Galleries. You can see mine at the bottom of the sidebar. Thank you, Neda and they are great! I can also give them away – so let me know if you see a blog I should look at – thank you. Another Artist for Peace ©Neda Doany Tomorrow I am going to do the Biodiversity of Species Part #2. So hope to see you then. Of course, I would like to hear about you! Global Artist ©Neda Doany ~ Diane Clancy Technorati Tags: Blog Action Day, stats, Maraya Galleries, Neda … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Bio-Diversity of Species Part #1 (Humans)

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This post got way too long so I am starting with biodiversity of humans and will share the rest of what I have written Friday. Tomorrow I want to reconnect with the Blog Action Day page wrap-up. Consciousness, Digital © Diane Clancy There is a lot of discussion … such as “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” And “in diversity there is strength” and the “web of life.” Often it is groups who are promoting difference and diversity among types of people. A fun, interesting world with a diversity of races, classes, attitudes, religions, ethnicity, sexual identity, physical looks, health, ability differences, genders (some people are breaking gender barriers) and more. There is a lot of pressure for conformity of ideas, dress, looks, attitudes, values in the culture in the US. I know that that is also true elsewhere. Someone who is seen as different is often seen as a threat – to “our” way of life. And I am not just talking race and politics here. I am also meaning women who don’t wear make-up or dress fancy, men who are seen as feminine, people who wear their hair wild … the list goes on. Of course, there are many subcultures that have different values from the mainstream … but usually the pressure is still there. I personally agree with the viewpoint that there is strength in multiplicity and I have actively worked toward supporting a diverse world since young adulthood. And I have worked … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Blog Action Day was Terrific!

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I have you all enjoyed … and learned something … from Blog Action Day. I know I did. Tomorrow I am going to do one more post on species biodiversity and why it is crucial to our survival. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this shield in honor of turtles … one of the many species we need to continue to protect. I am working on another image in this series I have been doing, but it hasn’t quite come out right yet. Tomorrow you should see it! Please let me know how you are doing! Turtle Shield, Digital © Diane Clancy ~ Diane Clancy Technorati Tags: Blog Action Day, species biodiversity … [CLICK TO READ MORE]