epic pug sitting

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Recently I did a post titled Pug Epic Book In Art – (the post is about my painting in which a pug sits in a café reading a book) – since then I’ve also mused about a character who wrote the book the pug in the painting is reading. Here is an illustration of who I imagine is sitting to write the story “Epic Tales of the Pug King” – the book being read by the other pug in the painting:

Epic300

“Epic” by Clancy – ink and gouache on paper

And I’ve written the full text of the story that I hand lettered on the painted-book within my painting referred to in the prior post – the painting that when my wife saw it said she’d like to read the rest of the story of which only a part was depicted within the painting. So here’s the story:

Epic Tales Of The Pug, King  – by Clancy

The Pug King’s elegantly chipped ceramic bowl appeared before him resplendent with gravy, chunks of meat and yams. His Majesty tasted the gravy, then a meat chunk, the gravy again, then a yam, a meat chunk with the gravy and a piece of yam with gravy. He licked his lips, the bowl and his lips again. The Royal Feast was done; the dog sought some sport to aid all digestion and to his owner cried “Sir, Fool! Kneel now and play some ball!” The owner bowed and bent his knee. “Fetch!” he said and flung a mighty fling. The ball arched high into the air across the green expanse of Royal lawn. His Majesty ran flowing, majestically, swiftly, across the grass, conquering the ball and returning back to his owner. Three times, four times they did this at the King’s command. On the 12th time the owner knelt, patted the Monarch’s silken head, saying “Enough now, lets go inside and get ready for bed.” His Royal Majesty barked sharply. “Sir Fool, there’s a King’s personal business still to do…”

thinking marbles

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I’ve been reading “Flow” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and “Looking at Mindfulness” by Christophe André  both books on the topic of caring for and training one’s mind.  A friend also talked to me recently about her daughter’s childhood collection of glass marbles. So I’ve been contemplating both of the phrases “collecting one’s marbles” or “losing one’s marbles”. Isn’t it interesting that we use common toy marbles to make references about mental faculties?  On my blog you can see a recent sketchbook page (https://sueclancy.com/2016/04/14/pug-mindfulness-sketchbook-page/) where I’m ruminating on marbles and mindfulness. Needless to say all of this thinking has inspired a new artwork I’ve just finished titled “His Marbles” 8 x 8 inches, hand dyed paper, hand stenciled paper, and acrylic on cradled board.

His Marbles By Sue Clancy hand dyed paper, hand stenciled paper, and acrylic on cradled board

His Marbles
By Sue Clancy
hand dyed paper, hand stenciled paper, and acrylic on cradled board

 

pug mindfulness sketchbook page

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I’ve been reading “Looking at Mindfulness” by Christophe Andre – and on my walks seeing and meeting Pugs. I’ve also had several conversations with people about marbles; the childhood game, the glass art techniques, keeping ones mental (ahem) marbles. Here’s my sketchbook page with some thoughts that are likely to become a fine art piece.

Sue Clancy's sketchbook page - with a drawing of a Pug dog and quotes about mindfulness

Sue Clancy’s sketchbook page – with a drawing of a Pug dog and quotes about mindfulness