Sue Clancy's Blog, page 61

go sketching sandwich

I like to go sketching as a way to “gather data” that I’ll use in my fine artwork. I’ll go looking for colors, shapes, patterns and many other elements in the real world from which I’ll draw and make notes in my sketchbooks for reference use – inspiration – later in my studio.  Where I’ll go depends on the kind of data I’m needing to collect: is it botanical colors? natural shapes? or urban tile/brick patterns that I need? No matter where I’m heading there is often the question: “What to do about lunch?”

This sandwich is fast becoming my go-to-reliably-yummy-easily-portable fave.  I’m calling in my “Let’s Go Sketching Sandwich”. It’s a fave because of it’s yummy-ness but also for it’s portability. There’s no need for a cooler or a way to keep it cold (translation; no need to carry additional gear!), it’s not a messy sandwich and it can be eaten with one hand – all virtues in this artist’s book!  I can literally stick this simple sandwich in my art bag and go!

Here in this post is – irony intended – my sketch and notes about my sketching sandwich that I made in my sketchbook!

And yes, it is important to press the sandwich together – it helps meld the flavors. It is also helpful to wait an hour or more between making the sandwich and eating it.  This also contributes to this sandwiches portability; I can wrap this sandwich tightly in wax paper, put it in a ziploc bag and put that in the bottom of my art bag – any sketchbooks on top of the sandwich are helping me “meld” the sandwich. If it takes me 30 minutes or an hour to get to where I want to sketch – all the better. Now – let’s go! (Any curiosities about what else is in my “art bag” besides this sandwich can be settled here: https://sueclancy.com/2016/02/18/sues-sketching-setup/)

the Let’s Go Sketching Sandwich – recipe and drawing in Sue Clancy’s sketchbook

 

 

 

closet creature art poem

Closet Creature – words and art by Sue Clancy

 

Closet Creature

By Sue Clancy

 

Rattle, rustle, bang, bump,

my closet door opened – THUMP!

I smelled it first and wrinkled my nose

then in the moonlight there arose

a creature with a tennis racket head.

Its flannel arms stretched toward my bed.

It smelled of moldy milk I’d dripped.

It staggered in muddy jeans I’d ripped

and moaned as it came toward me,

“I am the ghost of Dirty Laundry!”

 

pug mindfulness sketchbook page

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

 

poem plus illustration

cut handmade paper illustration for a poem titled “What J. J. Said” by Sue Clancy (art and words both are by Sue)

What J.J. Said

By Sue Clancy

 

John Jerry Adler

climbed up, up, up

a very tall ladder

and whispered

in the ear of a giraffe

“you matter”

chihuahua book hat

Here is number 3, in my new series of related artworks, titled “The Read Hat”.  For this one I focused on memory and awareness; the image of a book symbolizes a collection of information, the ancient Greek text represents the beginnings of human philosophical thought… and yes, I also thought of magicians and the hat as a (voila!) vehicle for transformation.

Like the other two artworks “The Read Hat” was also inspired by colors in my landscape, Chihuahua dogs, dot patterns and comfortable pajamas.

The Read Hat by Sue Clancy, 14 x 11 x 2 inches, hand dyed paper, hand stenciled paper, handmade paper, found paper and acrylic on cradled board.

Posts about the other 2 artworks in this series of 3 are here: https://sueclancy.com/2016/04/04/chihuahua-book-balloon/ and here: https://sueclancy.com/2016/04/07/chihuahua-book-wagon/

chihuahua book wagon

Like the first piece in my new series of 3 artworks, my second piece has also been inspired by dots, evening book reading, chihuahua’s and the colors I’ve seen in my local landscape. My newest piece is titled “The Read Wagon”. It, too, is made with my hand dyed, handmade papers, hand stenciled papers, found paper and acrylic on cradled board.

For “The Read Wagon” I thought about how books I’ve read in the past, the experiences I’ve had, have enabled me to understand and appreciate new-to-me books and new-to-me experiences. I imagine myself as walking around with an invisible wagon tagging along behind me full of the stuff-of-memory, education and awareness.

The Read Wagon by Sue Clancy, 14 x 11 x 2 inches, hand dyed paper, hand stenciled paper, handmade paper, found paper and acrylic on cradled board.

The post, about “The Read Balloon”, my first piece in this series is located here: http://sueclancy.com/2016/04/04/chihuahua-book-balloon/

chihuahua book balloon

I’ve been thinking of dot patterns, dogs, books and how I enjoy wearing my pajamas and reading before bed in the evening. I’ve been thinking of how books sometimes seem to  appear in our lives as if dropped from the sky – and how we release them back when we’re done reading them. Oh, and language ‘balloons’ or ‘thought bubbles’…

Also, recently I’ve been taking walks on the Salmon Creek Trail in Vancouver WA, noting the colors of the sky, the water, the landscape – and getting to see and meet many dogs along the way. Lots of Chihuahua’s! All of this (and more) has inspired a series of 3 artworks – the first of which is “The Read Balloon”.  Stay tuned for the others…

“The Read Balloon” by Sue Clancy, 14 x 11 x 2 inches, hand dyed paper, hand stenciled paper, handmade paper, found paper and acrylic on cradled board.

 

 

 

 

 

chihuahua sketchbook pages

I’ve been thinking about dot patterns and I’ve been seeing lots of cute chihuahua dogs when I’ve gone out for walks – so I’ve been thinking of chihuahua’s. I’ve also been thinking about books, writers, the alphabet…  Here are some doodles that I did while thinking the above mentioned thoughts. (see this blog post for photos of my original “dot” inspirations and the dot papers I made – http://sueclancy.com/2016/03/31/new-papers-for-art/)

Articles for Artists – Resources to Present, Promote, Market Your Art

Source: Articles for Artists – Resources to Present, Promote, Market Your Art

new papers for art

Been busy making new handmade papers for some new fine artwork.  Here’s a photo of them and the stencil’s (lower left corner of the photo) that I used to make the patterns on my hand dyed papers.  Sharp eyes will probably recognize the inspiration source (see this post http://sueclancy.com/2016/03/29/garden-of-ideas/) for a few of the patterns.

Sue Clancy’s newly hand stenciled, hand dyed handmade papers she’ll use to make new artworks