I’ve always wanted to make an art calendar. A group of 12 images on a theme. So I did one titled “Reading All Year” – theme of books and reading- I like to read. Maybe you’ve noticed…😁 Happy New Year!!
Month: December 2019
Pocket Full on new paper
A Creative Life, Art Word Combinations, artist book, artistic inspirations, books, fine art, food in art, handmade books, illustrated shorts, illustration, mundane and magical moments, small things, words and picturesI was given some art paper during the holiday. So I wrote a poem, illustrated it and folded it into an artist book. It’s titled “Pocket Full” and is a limited edition of 2 unique books.
Btw: Edition 1 already has been sent to a collector. Contact me privately if you’re interested in Edition 2.
Holiday book reader
A Creative Life, Art Word Combinations, artistic inspirations, author illustrator, Books In Art, fine art, illustration, magic realism, mundane and magical moments, reading in art, visual story, words and picturesHappy Holiday’s everyone! (And yes, there are nods to some friends, family within the artwork below. This image was our Holiday card this year…)
Happy holiday sketchbook
A Creative Life, Art Word Combinations, artist book, artistic inspirations, functional art, handmade books, illustrated recipe, kitchen art, recipe illustration, sketchbook, Sustainable creativity, words and picturesHere’s a page from my kitchen sketchbook with my Irish Coffee recipe. Cheers!! And Happy Holidays!!
Btw: This recipe and many others are in my newest published artist book titled “Favorites So Far- a kitchen sketchbook” https://www.blurb.ca/b/9759759-favorites-so-far
Bookish holiday traditions
A Creative Life, art commissions, artist book, author illustrator, books, Fine Art Commission, illustrated recipe, illustration, kitchen art, reading in art, Sustainable creativityHaving recently finished, framed and delivered the last of my fine art commissions that are intended as holiday gifts (so no spoiler pics exist of my recent artwork) my thoughts turn towards my own holiday.
I’ve made no secret, on this blog, of the fact that I like books. So even tho I am not living in Iceland, and have never visited, I adore their tradition of Jolabokaflod and my spouse and I observe our variation of it! Here’s how it goes: Within the weeks before Dec 24 we visit locally owned independent bookstores and buy books. Dec 24th we cook, share food, drinks and books! Dec 25th is spent reading and reheating leftovers. This is our current holiday book stack:
Books are also created by me – hand drawn, illustrated, indie published etc. – and given as gifts. Because you follow me here’s a link, with free previews, to the book my spouse and I jointly made for our Jolabokaflod gifting this year. I’ll post more about this kitchen sketchbook in the future but for now the link will be my early holiday present to you!! Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Say no more.
Hare heritage and narrators
A Creative Life, animals in art, art commission, art techniques, Art Word Combinations, artistic inspirations, Books In Art, fine art, magic realism, Narrative Art, reading in art, visual story, visual thinking, words and picturesI’m finishing up a fine art commission for someone’s holiday present. So instead of talking about that – here’s a painting I finished just before the holiday rush began. Titled “Hare Heritage” and created with ink and gouache.
Yes, this piece is a new one within my readers series. (You can see more of the series here www.sueclancy.com/fine-art )
As I work I’m experimenting with the 3rd person omniscient narrator – and other narrator writing techniques. The viewer of Hare Heritage (the third person) can see and speculate on 2 visual story-lines within this painting.
It’s a fun challenge to apply writing techniques to fine art! And using the topic of readers and books adds to the pun.
Art for the holidays
A Creative Life, animals in art, art commissions, Art Licensing, artistic inspirations, Cats in art, Dogs in Art, drinks in art, fine art, Fine Art Commission, functional art, games in art, published art, reading in art, small thingsI’ve been busy working on fine art commissions which are someone’s holiday gift. So instead of talking about that – below is access to a “Reading All Year” calendar I made, and fun socks and playing cards, bookmarks, puzzles, drink coasters and such…yes, it’s all design play using my own fine art about reading and pets. Art is for making people smile – and I like sharing smiles with fellow book lovers and pet lovers. https://www.zazzle.com/s/sueclancy
Popup shop success
A Creative Life, animals in art, artistic inspirations, books, Books In Art, Cats in art, Dogs in Art, fine art, functional art, games in art, reading in art, small thingsYesterday was the popup shop day at Vintage Books and I was non-stop busy creating miniature pet portraits from before noon to after 4! It was fun!! Sold other holiday stocking stuffer gifts with my art on them too. My “Reading All Year” calendar was a hit …. if you weren’t able to come yesterday here is the link where you can get my calendar, puzzles, playing cards, bookmarks, prints, coasters and socks. What fun I had hearing people laugh when they saw the visual puns ….
Here’s a photo of me (wearing green and black) at my popup event. You can see my portable art set up in front of me.
Most of the pet portraits I did are intended as holiday gifts -so no pictures- but here are some comments: “Wow, it looks like a Saturday Evening Post cover art!” “This makes me so happy!” “Oh my (—) is just going to love this!”
The excellent event was capped by comments from the Vintage Books store staff “I never heard so many people say ‘this gives me so much joy'”
Pet portrait project
A Creative Life, animals in art, art techniques, artistic inspirations, business of art, cat portrait, dog portrait, Dogs in Art, fine art, small thingsMost years near the holiday I do a miniature pet portrait project -creating small pet paintings people often give as gifts. This year I am doing this project as part of my popup shop at Vintage Books, http://www.vintage-books.net Dec 7th from 12 to 4 – and using people’s phone photos as inspiration.
This year I am also teaming up with a local frame shop, Aurora Gallery, http://www.auroragallery.com …. yes, Virginia, it is possible you could walk out of the bookstore Dec 7th with a small framed work of art!
As I have worked on this years version of this project I have been adjusting my portable art kit. .. I will be creating some of the pet portraits at the busy bustling bookstore. The main adjustment to my portable art kit has been the addition of the Pentel Water Brush. It is the blueish colored “pen” in this photo. The water brush stores water inside itself and allows me to work without a pan of water at my elbow. It works well and hopefully the “less potential mess” of it will be welcomed by bookstore staff
Bookstores are sacred places you know.
