Monthly Archives: January 2008

Pet Monologues

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This image is for the Pet Monologues is the blog which I directed you to showing that incredible video about the lion hugging the woman who rescued him. I sure was moved and I think many of you were too!! Also they highlight art, poems and more that showcase animals every week. You can see there blog here. And this is the post for this particular challenge. I hope you enjoy the images there!! Anyone can join in this fun here too!! 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!

Lady in Butterflies

Lady in Butterflies, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am going to keep this short today after yesterday’s very long post – both to prepare and read!  I would love to hear how you are doing!!

~ Diane Clancy

Thumbnails for Illustration Friday

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Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my Illustration Friday entry yesterday!! You Really Made My Day!! Beverly said she had an entry ready to go but got stuck on making the thumbnail for the challenge. Obviously I would love to see her entry and would love to see Bev enter this challenge!! So I am going to share how I make the thumbnail … in-Photoshop there are usually multiple ways to do things … here is the way I do it. It takes a lot longer to tell how to do it (and read about it) than it does to just do it .. so please give it a try! Please forgive the large files … I thought want to make sure you can see the details to be able to follow.

Selection

Selection

First, I am bet you know the selection tool … the tool that allows you to choose a part of your image … it is circled in red. Choose this tool.

Fixed Aspect

Fixed Aspect

Set it to the fixed aspect ratio … highlighted in red … and set it to 1 to 1 ratio. This makes it so you will have a perfect square as you make your thumbnail. Now go ahead and choose some part of the image … whatever part you want to use as the thumbnail that people will see.

Crop

Crop

Now that you have chosen the part of the image you want to save, go to Image on the top bar and go down and choose crop … highlighted in red.

Image Size

Image Size

Next we will set the pixel size for our thumbnail. Illustration Friday has a pixel size of 50 by 50 … so that is what we will choose. Go to Image again on the bar across the top and go down and choose Image Size.

Set Pixel Size

Set Pixel Size

A window will come up after you choose Image Size. It is good to set the resolution to 72 pixels/inch for the web. (Lower red highlight) Some people may use a slightly different number … but 72 is fine. This makes an image “lighter” for the web. For printing the resolution would be much higher, but for the web setting this number to 72 helps a page load faster.

Now … it is time for that 50 by 50 pixel that is their standard. The upper red highlight shows the pixels in the image. Here it is important to set 50 height and 50 width because that is Illustration Friday’s specification. Now you can see what we cropped the image to a square … this way it is easy to set the size to 50 by 50. Then press OK.

Save for the Web

Save for the Web

Next we Save for the Web. The first time I did Illustration Friday I was hoping I could just upload a 50 by 50 jpeg … but it was a larger file than their specifications and it wouldn’t upload. So we now go to File on the top bar and go down to Save for the Web … highlighted in red.

Set Jpeg

Set Jpeg

It will open up into a big window like this. For a regular image, you will choose jpeg … and high is good. I use the default of Optimized checked off and Quality to 60. These are highlighted in red to help you find them. If your file has transparency, you will probably want to use gif.

Save

Save

Now the Save box will come up. You want to make sure you like its name. For the web, there are no blanks in names … Save for the Web automatically puts “-” into between names. Choose where you want to save it and remember that. When you go to upload your thumbnail, you will, of course, need to find it again.

This was done in Photoshop CS2 …. I think you will be able to follow this .. even if you are using a different version. These are not the new fancy tools. I sure hope this was helpful to you!! I apologize again for slow download times for so many images!! Please let me know if you have questions.

It was so weird using the program to do what I was teaching you to do … all these images went through this process also (except resizing to 50 by 50). Enjoy and please let me know how it goes!! I am looking forward to YOUR Illustration Friday!

Golden Glow

Golden Glow, Digital © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

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Illustration Friday – Tales and Legends

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Illustration Friday has a challenge every week. This week is Tales and Legends. To me this gives a sense of legend and stories. I hope you agree! 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!

Tales and Legends

Tales and Legends, Digital © Diane Clancy

Tales and Legends

Mystery, unknown and unknowable

Stories passed on

From olden days

Based on something …

Experiences and fears

Prejudices and behavoir

Twisting and turning

Spinning and twirling

Who knows how they started

Often, not always,

A nugget of wisdom remains.

~ Diane Clancy

The Universe Wrote Me

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I found this wonderful site that sends me messages every day … from the Universe. “Thoughts become things… choose the good ones! ®” is their slogan. The website is www.tut.com. I find their sayings often very helpful … so I figured I would share this with you. It is a free newsletter. So I share today’s thought with you …

Yellow Mist

Yellow Mist, Digital © Diane Clancy

From the Universe:

When you understand, Diane, that your disappointment in another’s behavior or choices always stems from their immaturity, or yours, rather than their unkindness, or yours, it becomes much harder not to keep skipping through life, giddy with joy, smelling the flowers.

Moreover, when you understand that with enough maturity on your end you can always find peace in all of your relationships, it becomes much harder not to run down the street kissing everyone you meet on both cheeks.

Kiss, kiss –
The Universe

Wisdom, Diane, is the real deal.

Back to Diane … I am going to share about my health … that is going to take awhile to figure out and write … so it will be soon but not today. I have a full day today with the chiropractor, a client and a meeting tonight to protect the wetlands. I have started with the taxes and am in better shape but still need to learn some information for something I have never done before. I hope your day is excellent!

A big plus … my browser has been slow as molasses (a saying that means very slow!!) … I decided to restart the computer last night – which also means restart the browser. Aaahhhh … it is running at a reasonable speed. YES! I probably should have done it awhile ago, but I always have sites open that I want to check … that I haven’t gotten to yet … so I resist closing it. But right now is nice and fast!

In answer to Bobbie’s question … the only email I get from the Universe is Monday through Friday, I get one message with the daily message from the Universe.

~ Diane Clancy

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Two Things Challenge – Empty/Full

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I like to enter the 2 Things Challenge each week. This week is Empty and Full. I sure hope you like it! It took awhile to figure it out. I thought you might like to see last week’s entries …. they are here. Anyone can join in, and I hope you give it a try!! We would love more people playing with us! Details are at this link above.

Empty & Full

Empty & Full, Digital © Diane Clancy

I asked this yesterday and got a few answers … and I thought I would ask again … even though I am beginning to form an opinion. There were so many words yesterday, it would have been easy to lose this. So, please feel free to share your opinion.

I know I mention my health a lot but don’t say much. Given I am in business – an artist wanting to support myself from my artwork, I have been hesitant to say very much. But in comments and in other places I have said quite a bit at this point. I have decided that if you do want to know more, I will share it. So please let me know. Thank you!!

~ Diane Clancy

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Giving Awards

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Recently Sue O’Kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas surprised me by honoring me with this very special award, You Make My Day. And Kris Cahill of Art & Clairvoyance also gave me this special award. Given that I want to inspire and uplift people, this award delights me!

You Make My Day Award

Perhaps now is the time to ask the question. I know I mention my health a lot but don’t say much. Given I am in business – an artist wanting to support myself from my artwork, I have been hesitant to say very much. But in comments and in other places I have said quite a bit at this point. I have decided that if you do want to know more, I will share it. So please let me know.

What a special award … what a wonderful thing to say to anyone – You Make My Day! There are so many different ways that many of You Make My Day. I will tell you some of the people I would have given the award to but they have already been given this pleasure. To start, Sue and Kris who gave me the award in the first place. Neda, Chris, Bobbie, Debi, John, Lisa, Irene, and Creative Every Day. The Blogosphere is wonderful in the way it allows incredible connections!!

Blue Dusk

Blue Dusk, Digital © Diane Clancy

So here are the rules: “Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Beware! You may get the award several times!”

Gale Rainwater Photography is a blog I have recently discovered. The breathtaking photos he posts inspires me to the max! I also appreciate the way he has been commenting and participating in our little community. Gale, You Make My Day!

Staci Rose is an artist I met through Worldwide Women Artist Online. She has been very kind to me and helped my learn the ropes in the social networking arena. Staci is also another Etsy seller. Here is her blog. She has also been featured a lot lately at Etsy which inspires me. Staci, You Make My Day!

Kara Jones is an artist whose blog I stumbled across. I am totally taken with some of her work. I plan to feature her (with her permission – I have it) in a bit. She is also a great example for me as she is dealing with her life’s difficulties. I am glad I am getting to know her! Kara, You Make My Day!

Jean Levert Hood is an artist I have met somewhat recently through a variety of artist connections. I have been delighted that Jean has been commenting here regularly … it is a nice bridge for me and she has been very supportive! Jean’s work is beautiful and inspiring!! Jean, You Make My Day!

Julie has a blog where she has been telling us about her move, life and art. Julie was incredibly kind and generous to me last October (or September) as I entered my first contest – for the World Card Making Day. She took me under her wind and answered endless questions and was very kind! She has interesting journal entries most days. Julie, You Make My Day!

Frances is mostly taking a break at the moment … from her blog … but lucky for us she stops by the blogosphere sometimes to say hi. She is a master at finding fun resources on the web!! She is always coming up with some new fun, charitable and/or useful thing. Frances, You Make My Day!

Bev has a blog where she posts fun photos and stories about her life in England. I love learning about the different textures there. But even more … she has this great analysis, thoughtfulness, insight and perceptions that she spreads throughout the blogosphere in the comments she makes. Beverly, You Make My Day!

Rima hasn’t been posting so much lately … but she is a great go getter in inspiring people to play to together!! Rima issues challenges for anyone to participate in. She is also generous in teaching her skills. Rima, You Make My Day!

Susan Elkin Photography hasn’t been posting much lately … but I live with her and each day she impacts me more than anyone else – of course. I do hope she starts to post again, but I know the things she is struggling with. Offline, Susan, You Make My Day!

This was harder than I thought … I would still want to award Lisa Call, Robert (I will introduce you to him soon), Collin, Elis, Nicola, Nicole, Joy, Elis, Dera Ann, Ellie, Monica, Pandi, Tom and more … but I have spent almost all morning on this so cannot keep going. But please know you were thought about!! Thank YOU for Making My Day!!!!

~ Diane Clancy

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Lime Aglow

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Lime Aglow

Lime Aglow, Digital © Diane Clancy

Thank you for your continued support. I have reason to hope that tomorrow I will feel better and be able to visit you!  Thank you for supporting my resting!!  Hugs to you all.

~ Diane Clancy

Brief Update

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Thank you for all your kindness and support!! I hope you know from the past I listen seriously to what you are saying. So I am going to keep things simple on the blog at least today and tomorrow to give myself a rest. So you will have to wait a little longer … more time to let the suspense build! … to hear who I am giving the You Make My Day award to. My art business class reunion last night read me the riot act just like you have. (This is a saying meaning people are saying something they want me to take very seriously.)

Purple Grain

Purple Grain, Digital © Diane Clancy

A brief health update – the going to the chiropractor has definitely been helping with the arm (and neck and back) pain … a lot. The way my chiro works is seeing someone preferably 4 times a week … (he works very gently) … so I have been doing that to support my health. For me, this has been taking a gigantic piece of each day but I think it is worth it to get this pain backed off.

In the northern hemisphere, it is winter and where I live is has been bitterly cold (I know for some of you 8F degrees is balmy but not for me!!) I have been getting chilled each time I go outside – I do dress warmly and wear and hat and mittens). So I have needed to go outside 3 times a day several times this week and it is taking a big hit on me. After today, things are slowing down a little and I am being more careful in taking on other appointments as I factor in this toll of the weather and chiro.

Thank you stopping by! Thank you for caring! I am always delighted to hear about you!! Thank you! (And I will catch up with your blogs.)

~ Diane Clancy

You Make My Day Awards

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Recently Sue O’Kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas surprised me by honoring me with this very special award. You Make My Day.

You Make My Day Award

What a nice thing to say to anybody. The question is, how often do we do it?
A special kindness , a smile, a laugh, an unexpected compliment, a hug…all these gestures come and go. Do we tell those who add an extra lightness the joy it brought? I do not mean to be preachy here. It’s just, well, I hope you do. We need to let those people know, even if it is just a passing acquaintance in a line at the store, the extra ease they bring to us, if and when they do. Light and love gets passed this way. Moments of the day are brighter for everyone involved. (These ways of making people’s day are copied from Sue’s blog … I thought it was part of the award … I think she has done a wonderful job elaborating on how to share joy!!! And why try to improve on perfection.)

Midnight Purple

Midnight Purple, Digital © Diane Clancy

So here are the rules: “Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Beware! You may get the award several times!”

Sue’s blog, Sacred Circle Mandalas, is a wonderful blog! It is one of the first art blogs in the blogosphere that I could find – it was sure a relief to find someone who valued art. Now, of course, I know many people – but she was the first. Se has gorgeous mandalas that just make my heart sing. Day after day she puts out beautiful, spiritual images. Lately she has expanded her repertoire … but still uplifting!! We are also both artists who are working at marketing our art and have had a great time supporting each other on many levels. Sue also commented almost every day back when almost no one else knew about this blog!! Sue, You Make My Day!

Tomorrow you will get to find out who I am passing this award on to. There are so many deserving people and today I need to rest … so thank you for witnessing my award and tomorrow I hope you will check back – after I have chosen among all you wonderful readers! No easy feat!

~ Diane Clancy

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Local Cultural Council Grant

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Thank you to everyone who stopped by and looked and commented – even though I didn’t write. I did not feel well enough to do anything but share an image and it means a lot to me that you came anyway!! Thank you!

Green Moon

Green Moon, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am pretty excited because I got news of the results of my grant application to the Local Cultural Council. Some of you will remember I applied back in October 2007. I got the notification letter and was awarded the full amount I asked for. I have never even applied for a grant before so I am very delighted! This grant is to coordinate the AWE (Artists Window Exhibits) Project in downtown Greenfield, Franklin County, western Massachusetts, US.

I don’t just get the money … I have to do the work and then submit invoices for the particularly parts of the work. One of the big things I will need to do is make a database of all the potential places to exhibit our work (mainly store windows), contact information and any specific details. To do this, I will have to learn a new program to make it easily accessible to others. With this database in other years someone else could more easily take over.

I am now off to the board meeting of the local group, currently Create Franklin County, which works to stimulate the local creative economy, the economy that includes artists, web designers, and lots of small home-based businesses. I think it also includes building the green economy – or at least they are in conjunction with each other.

Tonight is a big step for the town. We have joined ICLEI. ICLEI is an international membership association of local governments working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They provide programs, tools, software assistance and technical expertise towards this goal. To find out more about ICLEI and its programs go to www.iclei.org. The is for local towns and cities working to deal with climate change. Much of this paragraph is taken word for word from the promotional materials. This is sponsored by the Greening Greenfield group that I belong to and am active with.

These are 2 important meetings to go to today … and I am still only at half steam. (This is an expression that means I still do not feel very well). Thank you for coming and reading!! I will catch up your blogs soon.

~ Diane Clancy

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Purple Mist

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Purple Mist, Digital © Diane Clancy ~ Diane Clancy … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Magenta Glow

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Magenta Glow, Digital © Diane Clancy ~ Diane Clancy … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Illustrator Friday – Plain

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Illustrator Friday has a challenge every week. This week is Plain. This is a plain plane of a plain of water which I think conveys plain. I hope you agree! Well, I just decided to add another painting too …. Illustrator 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! Plain, Digital © Diane Clancy Here is my other entry …. Autumn Plains, Digital © Diane Clancy Plain Can mean simple Which is often looked down on But simple can also be clear Wow! Clear, understandable Not garbled, to the point Plain What seemed to be an insult Is actually a tribute Wow! Fancy and adorned Is often preferred But natural often Works much better And may be more beautiful Wow! Plain .. a different eye. ~ Diane Clancy Technorati Tags: Illustrator Friday … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Two Things Challenge – Foot/Loose

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I like to enter the 2 Things Challenge each week. This week is Foot and Loose. You have inspired me to now move backward into the painting more … to get the Footloose sense. I sure hope you like it! Anyone can join in, and I hope you give it a try!! Details are at this link above. Foot Loose, Digital © Diane Clancy I have a gigantic list of responsibilities so I guess I should stop looking around and get to work! Thank you for stopping by! I would love to hear how you are! ~ Diane Clancy Technorati Tags: 2 Things Challenge … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

NicoleB Photography & Little More BlogCatalog

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I know some of you loved yesterday’s colors … but these are the colors that really feed me … I just love them!! Colors like this make heart sing and make whatever feels heavy a little lighter. I will keep creating in the other colors that others of you like too though … don’t worry. Ocean Dreams, Digital © Diane Clancy   Jean Levert Hood asked me a question about BlogCatalog, so I went and figured it out. By the way, Jean has a beautiful blog here. “Diane, I do have one question. How do you get BlogCatalog to know you’ve updated your blog?” I found it once and I found it again … so here goes. Here is my BlogCatalog. Go to profile (top of right sidebar), then go to the second section of the middle (“My Blogs”), click on “manage blogs” (tiny little link on top right of this section). You will go to a new page. You will see your blog listed … on the right side, there is a title called “Actions.” Click “manage” – one of the 3 choices under Actions. The 5th section down on the page is “Thumbshot.” There you will see a button “Update My Thumbshot” – click that. I cannot imagine how I ever found that once (I too wanted mine updated), never mind twice. But at least now we can look back here! Thank you, Jean, for asking! NicoleB Photography asked me to be part of her Artists Unite section … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Finishing Up BlogCatalog

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BlogCatalog is a really cool place to meet lots of other bloggers! I stumbled upon this place last September and have met several wonderful people there. My profile there is here. I have been writing about it this week and I have heard that it is being helpful to go into so much detail … so I am going to continue. You may want to go back to Sundays and Tuesdays posts to catch up. Regeneration, Digital © Diane Clancy First, to speak a little about this next painting in our Simple Pleasures bubblescape series. Those who know my work, know this is a different color range than I usually use. But when this image came out this way, I feel it has a lot of power, a very deep, earthy power. It took while to figure out its title. I ask the paintings what they are wanting to say and how they want me to present them to the world. I feel this is about regeneration and a deep, deep healing and redoing. I hope you enjoy it! Back to BlogCatalog. We have finished with the center column and through “Shoutbox” on the right hand column. Next is “Broadcast.” This is a part of the sidebar I have discovered within the last week – chagrin here. When you join a “neighborhood” (see the other posts, it is saying you are interested in someone else’s blog – so you join the neighborhood), you then actually become part of a neighborhood. … [CLICK TO READ MORE]