artwork

stocking local love

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

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 items” and if I would consider doing a pop-up shop for the holiday season – in late November or early December.

Well, I’m a firm believer in the philosophy “take tarts when tarts are passed” so I said “Yes!” and have been busy doing product designs since then!  Nice to dust off my old graphic design/product design skills (what I got a college degree in!).  Here’s a pic of my new book and a few of the stocking stuffer gift items I’ve gotten so far…

DrBobAndGiftsSM

As you can see in the photo I’ve put one of my artworks onto a 252 piece jigsaw puzzle – the finished puzzle size is 11 x 14 but the box containing the puzzle is small enough to fit into a large Holiday stocking. Another painting I’ve put onto the backs of playing cards and … oh, there are many more items still in production.

I’ve been thinking non-stop about what fans of my artwork and my fellow book readers might enjoy finding as gifts in their holiday stocking; bookmarks, drink coasters, art prints, playing cards, calendars… Is there anything I’m forgetting??

Please let me know and I’ll keep busy working on items that may help spread a little love and joy to my fellow literary fans.

And I’ll update you with my progress here first… btw I’m using Zazzle to produce most (but not all) of my designs and have also created a “store” there.

still a character

A Creative Life, animals in art, art techniques, cat portrait, Cats in art, dog portrait, Dogs in Art, fine art, food in art, Narrative Art, story, visual story

Here are a few of the artworks I’ve recently sent to Joseph Gierek Fine Art (www.gierek.com) for the upcoming Holiday Art Show.  I’m sure you’ll notice my “still life” object practice work now combined with characters. Yes, I’m trying to make every element count toward the visual story. You know, like a writer tries to make every word count.

“Cupcake” by Clancy
“Making Time” by Clancy
“His Marbles” by Clancy

peppers and burgers oh my and artist books too

A Creative Life, art techniques, artist book, books, functional art, handmade books, Kim Cooks Sue Draws, kitchen art, visual thinking

Chef Kim Mahan came to my studio for a visit and made some decisions about recipes. We are cooking with real butter now! Meaning major progress towards having a real live published cookbook has occurred.

It is an artist book. Which means it’s an unconventional cookbook. It’s not bound in the traditional sense. It’s artwork – that you can cook with. Part of the reason for not-binding this book is that as separate pages one can be placed under a refrigerator magnet while in use.

Also the Chef will be able to mix and match sets of recipes according to themes (yes, we already plan to do more illustrated recipes!).

Here’s an example of mix-and-match:

from “Kim Cooks Sue Draws” https://sueclancy.com/artist-books/kim-cooks-sue-draws/
from “Kim Cooks Sue Draws” https://sueclancy.com/artist-books/kim-cooks-sue-draws/

There’s a kitchen-skill being taught (“how to roast a pepper”) and then there’s a recipe that applies that skill.  (The “Please-ya Burger” recipe also uses the kitchen-skill “How to peel and roast garlic” that I’d illustrated and shared on my last blog post here.)

Incase enquiring minds want to know – here’s my general definition of what an “artist book” is:

Artists’ books are works of art that utilize the form of the book – a set of sequential “pages” that unfold/display in a way that utilizes time like a printed book does. The reader sets the pace of the viewing/reading. Artist books are intended as works of fine art they just happen to be “book-like” as that format helps convey the artist’s concept. Artist books are often published in small editions and they are sometimes produced as one-of-a-kind art objects. Often they are produced for a specific audience or purpose. Artists’ books utilize a wide range of forms, including scrolls, fold-outs, concertinas or loose items contained in a box, portfolio or envelope. Artist books are often intended for art gallery, library or collectors display.

With that definition you can begin to see, I’m sure, the “artist book” aspects of this cookbook project with Chef Mahan.  The slight difference between the artist book definition above and this project is that this artist-book-cookbook will also be practical. You can use it to make dinner.

More about this project here and here.

 

Heroes Journey arrives at WSU Vancouver today

A Creative Life, Cats in art, Dogs in Art, public art, publications - publishing

In my last post (here) I was packing up a new public art piece for delivery to Washington State University Vancouver. In my post I was planning for rain. It was a good thing I did because it rained today! Very light rain as we walked the art from the car to the building where it will sit in an office until Oct 4th. Then Oct 4th the artwork will be unveiled and I’ll give a 20 minute talk. Yes. There will be pizza.

Here, below, is a photo of me, the Salmon Creek Journal Editor and another Amazing Person (a V.I.P. administrative person on campus) looking at my artwork. Sweetie took this photo. Right after this photo was taken the artwork was quickly re-wrapped so as to remain top-secret until Oct. 4.

DeliveringHeroesJourney72

 

packing public art for delivery

A Creative Life, animals in art, Cats in art, Dogs in Art, public art, publications - publishing

Soon I’m delivering art to the Washington State University Vancouver campus. I’m excited! I’m also delivering the artwork incognito. It’ll be unveiled Oct 4th so the art-content is top-secret till then so only a teaser peek allowed here.

There’s no rain in the weather forecast for delivery day but I’m not taking chances.  I’ve protected the corners of my framed artwork with some cardboard corner-pocket-protectors and slipped the whole artwork in two layers of plastic wrapping.  In the car for the short trip I’ll pad the artwork with bubble wrap and blankets.  Still there is some distance from the University’s car park to the building where the artwork is to go – and I do live in the Pacific Northwest. Rain is the norm.

Here’s me wrapping on the 2nd layer of protection and only allowing a bit of the content to show in this photo.

wrapforWSUdelivery72

Another teaser – hint : there are both dogs and cats (Clancy style) in this public art piece too.  Aren’t you shocked to hear that? Lol!

After wrapping the artwork completely nothing of the art content can be seen.

If you just can’t stand the suspense – and want more details about this project – one of my last blog posts about this project is here – and that includes photos of me at work on it.

Now to work some more on my speech for unveiling-day!

 

feline fuzzy

A Creative Life, animals in art, art techniques, artistic inspirations, Cats in art, creative thinking

It’s finally begun raining regularly here in the Pacific Northwest and I love it. Today the rainy cool air made me think of contentment and fur.

Here’s artwork of Persian cat that is drying on my worktable. The cat’s name is “Harold”.

WorkingOn1Cat72

art messes math mistakes and teachers

A Creative Life, Art Apparel, Art Licensing, artistic inspirations, pattern design

I’ve had the cold/flu/crud for the last week. I’m feeling better now and wanted to “do something creative”. Trouble is I still suddenly sneeze and cough so using sharp xacto knives, loaded ink brushes and glue laden papers is more hazardous and messy than usual. What to do?

Then I thought – I know several teachers who have this cold/flu/crud too. What could I make that might amuse teachers? Perhaps make them feel a wee bit better? After some further thought I grabbed my felt-tip pens and have been creating pattern designs that will end up on a scarf and or a tote bag.

Here’s a photo of my pattern design work in progress.

letterstimesoops72

After I snapped the above photo I saw my math mistake. Do you see it?

letterstimescorrect72

I did! And fixed it. Hugs and thanks to math teachers everywhere!

Now I’ll do need to do the digital hocus pocus needed to submit my designs to the apparel company I work with in San Francisco California.

But I’ll try to get some rest first.

You can see my full studio pattern design collection via this link: http://www.shopvida.com/collections/sue-clancy

the inspiration lab

A Creative Life, art exhibit, art gallery, fine art, visual story, words and pictures

LyricalLab72

A neighbor asked me to take care of her three Labradors while she was away.  Each time, as I served up doggy dinner, one of the dogs “sang” in a sweet baritone – thus inspiring my artwork pictured above titled “Lyrical Lab”.

This is one of the artworks that will be in an exhibit opening Oct 3rd (see the event tab at www.caplanartdesigns.com).  I’ll also give a short talk about what inspires my artwork.  Here’s my best tip about giving short art talks: tell stories.