A Creative Life

playing cards and pleasures

November 26, 2019

For my evening-just-before-bed holiday reading I’m re-reading “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. Last night I read this: “Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment. “Do you prefer reading to cards?” said he; “that is rather singular.” “Miss Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, “despises cards. She is a great reader and has no pleasure in…

A Creative Life, animals in art, artistic inspirations, books, Books In Art, Dogs in Art, fine art, functional art, games in art, graphic design, illustrated shorts, illustration, product design, publications – publishing, reading in art, small things

Books In Art, card games, deck of cards, games, Jane Austin, playing cards, pop-up shop, reading, reading in art, Vintage Books
playful and practical

November 19, 2019

One of the purposes of the Arts is to help us live well and, paraphrasing Kurt Vonnegut, to grow our souls. I’ve had this in mind as I’ve created my holiday stocking-stuffer stuff for my upcoming pop-up shop at Vintage Books Dec 7th from noon to 4 pm. https://www.vintage-books.net/ Making a whimsical, playful, calendar with…

A Creative Life, animals in art, artist book, author illustrator, books, Books In Art, Cats in art, Dogs in Art, drinks in art, fine art, graphic design, illustration, magic realism, small things

animals in art, art calendar, Books In Art, calendar, gifts for readers, illustrations, Kurt Vonnegut, living well, practical art, readers, stocking stuffers, The Arts, Vintage Books, whimsical artwork
pop-up pet portraits

November 14, 2019

Dec 7th during my pop-up shop at Vintage Books https://www.vintage-books.net/ from noon to 4 I’ll be doing some “live drawing”; I’ll work in my sketchbook and if anyone wants a small portrait of their pet I’ll happily do one using a phone photo as inspiration. These portraits I’ll do at the pop-up shop are what…

A Creative Life, art commissions, art techniques, artistic inspirations, cat portrait, Cats in art, dog portrait, Dogs in Art, fine art, handmade papers, public art, sketchbook

art commissions, art supplies, caplan art designs, dog portraits, fine art, fine art commission, fun gift, Joseph Gierek Fine Art, performance art, pet portraits, pop-up shop, portable art kit, portable sketch gear, portraits, sketching, sketching kit, Vintage Books
local stocking stuffers for readers

November 7, 2019

I’ve been having a blast playing at being a North Pole elf, designing gifts for my upcoming pop-up shop at Vintage Books https://www.vintage-books.net/ Dec 7th from noon to 4pm! The Pacific Northwest social scene has been inspiring and guiding my thoughts. Here in Vancouver all year long people get together regularly for happy hours, for…

A Creative Life, Art Licensing, art techniques, artistic inspirations, author illustrator, business of art, creative thinking, fine art, functional art, games in art, illustration, magic realism, reading in art

dinner parties, Gifts, gifts for readers, gifts for teachers, local bookstore, Pacific Northwest, parties, party, pop-up shop, small gifts, social society, stocking stuffers, unique gifts, Vintage Books
barrelhouse cover art

November 4, 2019

It’s happening!!! I’ve done the cover art for Barrelhouse Magazine Issue 20 and the magazine issue is now available! You can see the cover here https://www.barrelhousemag.com/ – (and buy your own copy via that link) – of course when I get my printed copy of the literary magazine with my artwork on it I’ll share…

A Creative Life, dog portrait, Dogs in Art, drinks in art, fine art, functional art, illustration, publications – publishing, published art

art, arts and literature magazine, Barrelhouse Magaziine, beer, bulldog, cover art, dog, dog art, dog portraits, illustrator, literary magazine, published art
stocking local love

October 29, 2019

My local bookstore Vintage Books https://www.vintage-books.com/ is the first bookstore to carry my newest book “Dr. Bob’s Emotional Repair Program First Aid Kit” – and in advance of the Nov 1st release day too!! When I was at the bookstore talking with the manager she asked me if I did my art on “stocking stuffer…

A Creative Life, animals in art, Art Licensing, artist book, artistic inspirations, author illustrator, books, Books In Art, business of art, Dogs in Art, fine art, graphic design, mental health, pattern design, product design, publications – publishing, reading in art, small things, Sustainable creativity

artwork, book, bookstore, Clancy art on gifts, designs, fine art inspiration, Gifts, gifts for book lovers, gifts for readers, graphic design, holiday stockings, indie bookstores, jigsaw puzzle, local bookstore, playing cards, product design, stocking stuffers, winter holiday
a familiar unfamilar language

October 23, 2019

My friend and neighbor, who has two grandchildren under the age of 2, was showing me a vintage toy that was purchased for the kids; a red and blue ball with shaped holes in it, with the yellow-block shapes inside the ball. You pull open the ball, the yellow-shape blocks spill out and you can…

A Creative Life, art techniques, artistic inspirations, Dogs in Art, fine art, illustrated shorts, illustration, magic realism, mundane and magical moments, reading in art, story, visual thinking, words and pictures

artistic inspirations, blocks, book, conversation, creature, dog, flying book, illustration, kids toy, language, language use, shapes, space alien, whimsical art
First Aid in the bathroom

October 17, 2019

As I did the layout and design for “Dr. Bob’s Emotional Repair Program First Aid Kit” I was thinking about the bathroom. There’s even a part in the book that talks about the use of self-care phrases on the bathroom mirror. When it came to printing I chose a slick cover-stock and slick, thick pages…

A Creative Life, artist book, author illustrator, books, mental health, publications – publishing, published art, words and pictures

accessibility, autograph, book, book arts, book design, book signing, bookstore, Dr Bobs Emotional Repair Program First Aid Kit, dyslexics, easy to read, font, font use, indie bookstores, layout
the sacred stew dance

October 10, 2019

It’s finally gotten to be “soup and stew” weather here in the Pacific Northwest! When I was making a stew the other day I realized I was twirling, aka dancing, in the kitchen; popping quickly between the stove, the counter where I was chopping veg, the pantry and the refrigerator. I was so excited about…

A Creative Life, animals in art, artistic inspirations, Books In Art, Dogs in Art, drinks in art, food in art, kitchen art, magic realism, Narrative Art, reading in art, story, visual story

artistic practice, blue booby, book, coffee, dance, dogs, Fall weather, food and drink, food in art, fountain pen, gouache, happy dance, ink, inspirations, kitchen art, Pacific Northwest, people with dogs, soup, stew
ode to fountain pens

October 4, 2019

On a recent trip to the library I saw a book titled “How To Draw And Write In Fountain Pen: A Modern Guide” by Ayano Usamura. (book link) The book reminded me that I’ve not talked about this essential studio tool in a while. I’ve used a fountain pen almost daily since I was in…

A Creative Life, art book review, art techniques, artistic inspirations, books, Books In Art, business of art, drawing as thinking, fine art, illustrated shorts, magic realism, reading in art, Sustainable creativity, Writing And Illustrating

art book reviews, artist book, Ayano Usamura, book, book reviews, daily drawing, Dr Bobs Emotional Repair Program First Aid Kit, fountain pen, fountain pen maintenance, illustration, Levenger, Noodlers, Noodlers Ink, Pelikan, pen and ink, pens, public library