sue clancy – artist

Our Fairy Goddaughter asked “How does this fractured ankle issue impact your work for upcoming art exhibit stuff?”

Here’s my reply:

It’s definitely slowed me down. Since I already do my sketchbook pages at the breakfast table I’m experimenting with also doing work in short bursts in the mornings on the smaller fine art works: 5 x 7 inch size for sure and maybe the 8 x 10. I haven’t tried an 8 x 10 size at the table yet but I will. Sitting at the table to paint is okay for short durations and for smaller works but laying down with my foot more highly elevated is more comfortable and larger pieces like 8 x 10 take more time so there are adjustments still to be done.

In the photo below are two 5 x 7 paintings in progress at the kitchen table. Judy helped me photo them since I can’t stand up on my feet to do it. One will be titled “To Take Root” and the other “Bear In Mind: you are enough”

Both are being done with Beam paints, color pencils and ink in dip pens and fountain pens.

For my scheduled upcoming exhibits I had planned to do four 18 x 24 size pieces and two 8 x 18 size works along with a bunch of 8 x 10 and a few 5 x 7. It is helpful that before hurting my ankle I had already selected the theme (Figures Of Speech 2.0) for my upcoming exhibits and my theme and proposed sizes has been accepted by the Caplan Art Designs Gallery.

So rather than having to come up with an exhibit concept, encompassing 20 or so individual artworks, I can focus on the adjustments needed to accommodate my leg issue and still do the work. For example instead of, as was my typical, doing the planning for larger works by standing at the big studio easel to do several preliminary drawings at the intended size of the finished art – I’m now doing thumbnail drawings and making notes in one of my sketch/journal books. See all of the page flags on the book in the pics and the look at one of those pages.

I’m hoping I’ll eventually be able to work in short bursts at the big studio easel again on the larger works. (As the poet Robert Frost wrote “Nothing Gold Can Stay” – things won’t always be like this and they will change) When that day comes I’ll be ready to roll with these thumbnail drawings and notes!!!

Over multiple days I finished my small painting “To Take Root”.

Here’s a closer look at my painting. I took this photo with my camera phone instead of my usual studio lighting and camera because I can’t access that equipment with this dang foot…yet.

Most of this week and foreseeable weeks will likely be spent on the couch, reading, with my foot elevated. So I’m plotting ways to also paint from this position and have a number of ideas! It’s exciting to think about studio adjustments and I’m keen to pursue my theme.

My wife snapped this photo of me on the couch because our art supervisor dachshund was in such an odd looking position but was deeply asleep and obviously comfortable.

After she alerted me to it I took a photo from my point of view.

I’m rereading Steinbeck’s “The Log Of The Sea Of Cortez”. I had written an email newsletter about that book recently – thus the reread.

My week will be full of doctors visits and (more happily) my aforementioned art studio adjustment puzzles plus resting and reading. I hope your week will contain some pleasant things too.