Mind Body Spirit Artist Series - Diane Clancy

Ever since I first saw Diane Clancy's stunning visual landscapes - with the beautiful little balls -  coming across by computer screen, I have been completely fascinated.  What are they?  How are they created?  What do they represent?  All I know is that once you see one, the images tend to stay with you ~  I hope you enjoy this interview with Diane Clancy as much as I did.  It's a fascinating peek into a beautiful world!

                                                                                                         ~ diane fergurson

Peach Fantasy

MBS: Can you tell us a little about your background? How did you get started in art?

Diane:  When I was 3 and 4, I spent a lot of time (when I was supposed to be napping) watching the shadows across the ceiling where the light snuck in.  We also had this cool blanket (and I still have it) that is peach and cream with the reverse designs on each side.  I flipped it back and forth, back and forth, to see the difference in how it looked depending where the colors were. My Mom would listen as I showed her these things.

I have always loved color and rainbows.  As a young adult I quilted and crocheted some using color in a way different from what I saw others use.

In my late 30's while struggling with a lot of health issues, I looked through every single offering in the U Mass catalog and found only one that I was interested in - Textile Design.  I was a double computer science and math major and I just needed a break.  In that class my work was different from others and they couldn't believe I wasn't already an art major.  They all encouraged me to go take classes in the art department and the rest is history - I never looked back.

For me, math and computer science were comforting and art was like jumping off a cliff … but I went ahead and jumped.

 

Conundrum 1 - Rainbow Woman

MBS:  Well I guess I have to ask the obvious - what did you find?  Both on the way down and also at the bottom of the cliff (or is there a bottom)?

Diane:  When I was very sick for a long time, I had a lot of time to meditate, connect with my inner self and Spirit.  Often I would make up spiritual exercises or read them in books or tapes and try them out.  Remember, I spent a lot of time in prayer and mediation - I couldn't really do much else.  One exercise I read about was being in a very large enclosed bubble.

The activity was to climb up and up a very tall ladder to the top.  At the top was a diving board that I was to walk out to the end and then allow myself to step off.  It was scary for me walking up that high, but it was still solid matter. Walking off the diving board was another thing.  I knew I would not really die, so I took the risk to go ahead and step off.  Absolute terror overwhelmed me as I was falling.  The feeling was totally real and present.

I knew I couldn't physically die, so I kept just allowing myself to fall.  And all of a sudden I was caught and held mid-air.  It was a very physical feeling. I have never felt the same level of fear since then - this healed something inside me.  This was totally transformative for my relationship with my inner self, soul, the universe. I have more trust in the unseen.

So computers and math are a foundation for me, a known quantity, an internal pattern of the universe.  Those first times I put a pastel to paper in drawing class were very scary to me.  Bits of terror flooded me.  But I did it anyway, with the knowledge that I had been caught when I jumped off that other cliff.  It often got easier.  But now, sometimes I still get panicked with a blank piece of paper or the start of a new project.  But I have that inner place now inside that has some essential confidence and connection that allows me to reconnect and thus keep going.

Church-Lady

MBS:  I've always wondered about the bubble imagery.  It's such a predominate part of your your work, but I didn't know if it was a bubble, circle, orb or something else of spiritual significance.  Can you tell us a little bit more about it?  The image is just always so beautiful,immediate and captivating.

Diane:  For me, while creating digital art there is always an element of surprise. There are lots of paths one may pursue as one is developing computer art. I played with KPT filters with Photoshop and came upon the bubbles.  When I first saw the bubbles, I was totally and immediately captivated.  This was a direction I knew I wanted to follow and explore.

The Bubblescapes look like mini-universes to me so I was hooked!  I love seeing things cosmically! The inner and the outer are reflections of each other.  These creations can be micro-worlds within a cell or the very outer edges of space and time (or anywhere in between).  To me, there is also a wholeness of a bubble … a perfect sphere that represents the whole.  I also am quite taken with the way some bubbles are transparent and then there are layers upon layers.  So, they are a reflection of life. These are some fractal Bubblescapes that I see very spiritually.

I then started to create Bubblescapes in a different way (with the Bryce computer program).  Lots of folks create worlds and landscapes with Bryce but I have never seen anyone else use it like I do.  This is partly why I say one chooses the ways to work within the multitude of possibilities with computer programs.  I got totally hooked on creating bubbles and Bubblescapes.

With Bryce the bubbles became more of images of people some of the time.  I have one digital painting (Evening Stroll) with a couple walking down the street with streetlights; I imagine that they are window shopping.   At other times with the ocean bubble landscapes, I also use the bubbles as people. With these kind of images I see the bubbles very much as representations of humans or other beings.

Sometimes the Bubblesapes are landscapes over an ocean with the bubbles floating. These Bubblescapes again seem more cosmic and mystical.  The series that has faces in the bubbles are overtly spiritual since the faces I used are from my Goddess series.  I have some Goddess images that I have created in traditional mediums (oil, mixed-media, acrylic, pastel).   Often the bubbles are transparent and thus back to the mysticism.  Other times they are opaque and reflect light and create color in wild and beautiful ways.

Bottom line, I connect with my inner self, soul and Spirit when I create, to the best of my ability.  So I am especially happy when my art reflects the whole, inspiration, goodness, spirituality in some small way.  Bubblescapes seem to help me reflect spirituality.

Spring Creation

MBS:  Are all of the Bubblescapes Digital, or have you created them using other mediums as well?

Diane:  I have a little bit of precursor work with Bubblescapes in traditional mediums, but as of now all my true Bubblescapes are digital.  I have tons of ideas for bubbles in pastel, collage, colored pencil, acrylics and even watercolor.  I am hoping as I get stronger and healthier, I will be able to get back into the studio.

MBS:  How long does it normally take you to complete a piece?  Do you work on more than one piece at a time?  Do you work in a series?

Diane:  There is an incredible variety in how long it takes me to complete a piece!!  My signature piece of Conundrum I, mixed-media, took me over 100 hours over several months to complete.  Some of the digital work can have total synchronicity and pop out in a half an hour.  Many digital pieces take an hour or two while others it is hours.  Of course after I create a piece there is a lot of other work to be done.  In many ways the creation is the easy part.

I do work on several pieces at once - I find it helps me keep the momentum going.  Almost always I work in series.  I like to work from one direction, then another and shifting again.  I feel that helps me explore a subject, a feeling, a vision better.  Sometimes the series occur over a period of years.

MBS:  Do you have any themes surrounding the Bubbblescapes that you find yourself coming back to?

Diane:  I very much want to get back to the KPT filters to create more Bubblescapes like the Inner Flow series.  KPT only works on an older version of Photoshop and on an older computer (system 9 for Mac folks).  So I have that next to me to get going on them.  I love the sense of inner and outer connection that I get from this type of Bubblescape - it draws me deeply in.  So this pulls me back.

For the Bryce Bubblescapes I need to go back to an older computer also because Bryce is not supported in the current Mac system versions that one needs to use for protection on the web.  So again, I really want to get back to creating with Bryce!!  Those ocean bubbles speak to me so loudly!!  Ideas and values are fun to play with in the ocean Bubblescapes.  I have been working on a Simple Pleasures series that I would like to return to.  These are oceans with ideas like Whimsy, Love, Solitude, Joy.  It is such fun to create feelings based on color and design.

I also want to explore some of the landscapes like Peach Fantasy, Spring Renewal and Bubble Garden to see where I can go with them.  And many people have been responding deeply to ones that I have temporarily called Instincts and Bittersweet.  I like this clearer sense of bubbles as people and values.  So I want to dive more deeply into Bryce again to push the limits to see where else I can go and explore.

As I can, I sure want to expand the bubbles into traditional (non-digital) mediums.  In my mind I am testing what it would be like to work with Bubblescapes in different mediums.  I test ideas out so that when I face blank paper I will have some idea of what I want to play with.  So, as you can see, bubbles are always floating around my mind!

Love Birds

MBS:  Do you have any current projects or shows in the works?  What are you currently working on?

Diane:  I am working on a project with a friend in Norway and one in Denmark to showcase art and artistic images on home decor products to make it easier for people to find a wide variety in one convenient place.  Many of our friends promote others work (besides their own) as a way to make extra money from marketing others' products to get a small percentage of the sale (affiliation).  I have been working very hard to get many of my paintings on a wide variety of items both at CafePress and Zazzle to make sure I can be part of this promotion.

The range of merchandise is wild!!  It goes from shower curtains, duvet covers,  pillows  and canvas prints to skateboards, flip flops, thermos food jars, clocks and iPad covers.  As one can image creating images, prepping them and actually getting them on products is quite time intensive!!  Then comes the marketing!!  This is called POD (Print on Demand).  The items don't get created until someone orders them.  A lot of my time has been taken up with this exciting international project of marketing POD items.

Recently I gave a presentation on POD for 2D artists at the 4th Creative Economy Summit in Franklin County, MA.  I  also have been (and remain) on the planning Summit committee for the whole year it took us to put this together.  I have been involved with the Fostering the Arts and Culture Project for years as we work to promote and support the local creative economy, especially as it relates to artists.

I continue to create new artwork in a variety of directions.  These days most artists need to spend a lot

of our time marketing our work.  There are many new venues for sharing and marketing our creations. Part of the process of marketing is creating descriptions and tags so that buyers can find our work.  The rules for those seem to keep changing and most of us (including me) often struggle with that.   I network a lot (much of the new marketing involves one kind or another of social media), learn about what's happening and then dive in to keep moving ahead to cultivate collectors of my artwork.

Inner Flow Mug

MBS:  What is a typical work day like for you?

Diane:  As anyone who owns a business knows, there is hardly a typical day! Some days of course I have appointments, including clients and meetings so that breaks my rhythm.  Or there are taxes to prepare, the plumber, roofer or whatever.  I like the days that I have no structure from when I wake up until I sleep!

On all days, first thing I align with my Inner Self, my Soul and Spirit first and ask that all my thoughts, words and actions be aligned with my own and the Universe's highest and best good.  At some point in the morning, I connect and check in with my partner, Susan.  I check and see if there are any orders from folks that I need to work on, fill or mail out.

On days that are all mine, I open up the computer and start going!  Often I have set up some computer work the night before so I don't have to think too hard to start.  Most of my life involves creating art, prepping this artwork for POD or printing or showcasing, writing descriptions and creating tags for this work, getting that creation where it needs to go for the next step and then promoting and marketing.  Networking is an important part of my day, whether or Facebook or some online group.

At some point, I take a break to exercise.  I might check in with a friend or family member.  At dinnertime Susan and I take a break and eat and watch some TV or a movie.  We love analyzing together the colors, design, story, issues …lots of things!!  We watch the ads with no sound and guess what they are trying to sell and see how well they did that.  With me as a painter and Susan as a photographer, videographer and writer, we get ideas to follow and not follow!  Then I go back to work on the computer.

I have made lists of what I think I should do every day and each week.  The problem is that I would probably need 10 of me to carry all that out.  (And that doesn't include making the art!!)  There is so much out there today for social media, selling and promoting one's art!!  Differentiating what is most important for me to pursue is an ongoing project.  I strive to analyze what is most effective.  And I want to keep learning the art programs I have to expand what I can do and what art I can create.  I value the connections I have made in my online and offline worlds around art and that networking is important to me.   In summary, my days are not boring and I feel grateful to have a full life!

Inner Flow 3

MBS:  I see that you sell your work online.  How has the online experience been for you as an artist?

Diane:  For me, selling online has been fantastic!  I have gotten a lot of feedback that many people are uplifted by my work so it seemed to me that getting my paintings out there in different ways would be a high priority.  My original plan when I consciously went into business, was to license my art so that many people could be inspired.  With licensing, since a company would pay me a usage fee, that company would deal with all the printing and distribution and I could get some income from that.   In my mind, the best way to do that would be to get my creations on calendars, cards and items like that.

The industry has totally changed since then - POD (Print on Demand) has turned everything upside down.  This way I myself could put my work on things and get them out to people.  Instead of my having to buy 50 or 100 mugs to have my art on mugs, instead I can put my creations on mugs online and then when someone orders it, the company prints, ships, deals with problems and I get my markup.  The variety of items I can create blows me away!! Shower curtains and skateboards (and I have sold both).  This has given me my goals and dream in a different way.

There are lots of POD sites, like CafePress and Zazzle, out there now where the artist puts their work on merchandise and the rest is done - besides marketing.  There are also sites like Etsy where one sells directly to the customer, so all the preparing the work, shipping and returns is done by the artist - and again also the marketing.  Sometimes I sell directly from Facebook or my blog and I love that!

There are tons of places to network and market our work and products as artists.  One upside is that it is much easier to reach a real worldwide audience of potential buyers and collectors.  Another upside is that is thrilling to see my art out there, appreciated, liked and purchased.  Some of my art on merchandise is now in Japan, Sweden, France and the U.K. among other places.

One downside is that there are now millions of pieces of art easily available on the web.  Another downside for me as an artist is the relentlessness of all I can do for promotion and marketing.  I am very excited by the networking and marketing - I think it is thrilling to see my creations in the real world and have people buy them.  I know I could walk from any marketing I choose not to do (and I do walk away from a lot).   But it is still a lot and a large portion of where most of our time as artists goes.

For me as an artist with a disability, the online marketing has given me freedom.  I meet a lot of other artists online who also have been so happy with being able to participate on an even playing ground.  I still do some selling offline in shows, stores or privately, but the POD selling has given me a lot of ability to connect with my buyers.  Even though the networking and marketing can be just too too much, I am still overall totally delighted to be an artist selling online!

Dawn of Time Wall Clock

MBS:  Any advice for those who (seriously) wish to pursue an artistic path.

Diane:  Nowadays the art field is very different from even 10 years ago.  I would encourage someone to think about exactly what they wanted out of an artistic path.  There is many ways one can be an artist.  One basic question is how much one is going to connect making one's livelihood directly from one's own art.  Many wonderful artists paint and create while having full-time or part-time jobs.  That is a time honored path and a smart one in my opinion.

Other artists make their living working in arts related fields.  There can be a lot of connections made that way and it could be a way to break into an often elusive field.  It is important to be honest with one's self about what one really and truly wants to do - from one's heart, not just out of form's sake.

Whether full-time or part-time, it is important to decide how one is going to position oneself.  Some artists I know would never sell their work on prints because they feel it cheapens their work.  And certainly they wouldn't put it on POD (Print on Demand) merchandise.  They want to be artists who sell original paintings and only original paintings.  Very valid.

I want to get my work out in the world to be accessible to a vast amount of people.  So I choose to get my work out in prints, cards and lots of POD merchandise.  This is another valid position.  Still other artists I know, who create beautiful work, don't feel they can do much of that.  Many of them are full-time PODs sellers who figure out the trends and design for the trends.  Many of them create a lot of slogans, and what I would call cute work - very different from their artistic work.  They do this to make a living.

Speaking of livelihoods, obviously many folks who create ads are extremely artistic people.  Some of the ads are awesome in the artwork (I said some).  That is an example of working for hire in a field that can be creative and still give you a decent wage.  Speaking of money, one of the best ways to become richer is to lower what you need to live.  I know there are basic necessities, but for many people, lowering one's financial desires can translate into more artistic freedom.

I would recommend studying and analyzing where the art field is today.  I would look at the possibilities and use one's mind, heart and soul for direction to where to go.  If one is going to do art as a business (which most of us need to do), then studying business is good - maybe taking a business planning class at a local Community Development Corporation. There are also a lot of resources out there to teach artists the Business of Art.  Having that kind of perspective can really help in being an artist making a living.  There are a lot of internet resources and newsletters that share that kind of information.

One other tip - if one gets into creating POD merchandise, one can also affiliate one's own and others' products.  This gives a little bigger slice of the sale to the person who affiliated the product.  Some people make a lot, a whole lot, of money through promoting other artists' and designers' work.  A lot of these people work very hard but also make quite a bit of money.  It's a thought.

Whatever direction one chooses to go, networking is likely to be crucial.  If one chooses to do art online in any way, networking is the lifeblood of the web.  There are tons of kind artists who will help another artist on the way - even if they are helping to develop their competition.  Marketing is also the other key that makes a difference for one's work to stand out among all the other pieces.  Expect to spend a substantial amount of time marketing or expect to pay someone in one way or another. They say that now developing personal relationships with potential buyers and collectors is very important - and I agree.  They are collecting us the artist besides our art.

So, stop, think, ask your whole self which direction is for you.  Being honest to one's self is key to being a successful artist, whether you only create occasionally for yourself or decide to go full force into jumping in full-time art, no holding back!  Be true to you, create, ask for help, network, market and have fun!

Thank you Diane!
















Diane Clancy's Art
http://www.DianeClancy.com
http://www.DianeClancy.com/blog
http://facebook.com/DianeClancyArt
http://DianeClancy.etsy.com
http://cafepress.com/DianeClancy
http://zazzle.com/DianeClancyArt*

Links to other interviews in the Mind Body Spirit Artist Series.

         

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Tragic Events - Be Mindful About What You Are Viewing

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those involved or connected to the recent tragic
 events in Boston and Texas.  Just a gentle reminder, as horrific as the tragic events are...and as much as we would like to be constantly informed about updates...if there is one thing we all 
should have learned from 911 - it's NOT healthy to sit glued to the TV or in front of the computer or Twitter all day, absorbing all the trauma and fear. It's not good for your mental health.
 Check back to the news several times a day to keep yourself informed, but don't become a victim to the mass media. Don't allow yourself to be put in that position...and please do not
 let yourself keep absorbing all those vibrations.

 Prayers and silence work much better then allowing yourself to view a
 constant barrage of negative imagery ~

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photo - diane fergurson

Enlightenment and Empowering Others

The following excerpts were taken from the book Spiritual Growth by Sanaya Roman.

  Wise words, and good food for thought.

Numinous Reflection

"Shifting consciousness is an important aspect of your world service.  You shift consciousness by empowering people.  People make changes when they have new insights and perceptions.  They make changes when someone reaches them at the deepest part of their being and touches them with love.

True service comes in moments when there is openness, love, and a lack of boundaries between you and another.  It comes when you feel your equality, recognize the other person's divinity, and act in a way that empowers him or her.  It comes when you link with a higher power and, through your alignment, allow a greater good to come to both of you.  You connect with the other person's Higher Self, and each of you comes away expanded.  In those moments you have become the teacher as well as the student.

Empowerment is different then simply helping people.  If people are hungry, you give them food and help them temporarily.  They are empowered when you teach them to get food for themselves and they can eat on an ongoing basis.  If you are a healer, you can keep "fixing" people's problems, or you can teach them how to solve their own problems.  Empowerment means teaching people skills they can use to take charge of their own lives rather them out of recurring problems....

When you assist people, perhaps helping them find solutions to problems, they either remain the same or make positive changes in their lives.  If they make the changes, you have shifted their consciousness and made a true contribution to them.  Then they will have more choices and higher visions of themselves, which they can use to create better lives.

To shift consciousness you need to recognize where you can truly make a difference.  It requires knowing when people are open to growing and giving them assistance only if they are ready.  This way, you will gain much energy from your contact, and your time with this person will contribute to your spiritual growth.....

Consciousness can be shifted in simple ways.  When you are with children or friends, focus on what you can do that will create a shift for them.  When you meet people, think of what you can contribute to them, not what you will get from them....

It is important to know when to assist people and when not to.

It takes a certain amount of energy to shift someone's consciousness to a higher level.  It is important to learn how much energy to put out to create the shift.  You may have experienced helping someone with just a few words of advice.  He or she made changes and solved the problem.  You probably felt good and energized by the exchange.

You may have had other exchanges with friends in which you poured a lot of energy into assisting them, but the recurring problem never got solved.  You probably felt drained, for the energy you put out didn't create any lasting changes in their lives.  If you choose the wrong time to help or if the person is not open to growing, you will put out much energy with little result. You also need to learn how much energy you are capable of shifting so that you do not take on more than you can handle.

The higher your consciousness, the more of a penalty you pay for putting your energy where it doesn't create a shift.  You may feel tired or drained, or even get sick.  When you create a shift, you feel charged with energy and your radiance increases.  As you grow, you will want to be increasingly alert to whom and what you are putting your time and energy into and the results you are or aren't creating.

If people feel like burdens, it is a sign that "carrying" them is not for their higher good.  You may be taking away their lessons and slowing down their growth.  They may become dependent on you and stop taking responsibility for making their own lives work.  People who are growing rapidly from your assistance will not feel like burdens....

To serve others you will need compassion and the ability to detach.  Compassion is helping people understand what they are learning and empowering them to see their gifts in what they are experiencing.  It is watching others go through their lessons the way they have chosen to experience them, knowing that though they may be suffering at the personality level, their suffering will help them give birth to a new, stronger self.  Assist them by focusing on all the gifts their problems are offering them, such as teaching them about self love, compassion, patience, inner strength, and other positive qualities."

 Numinous Reflection courtesy of Karen Casey-Smith.

Prints are available through her shop on Etsy

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Positive Affirmation

Every day, be full of awareness

of the beauty around you.

Be full of gratitude

for friends and family,

for the goodness you find in others,

for your health and all you're capable of.

Be full of acceptance

of yourself and others -

without conditions or judging,

knowing that differences and changes

make life interesting.

Appreciate the gifts of laughter

and fun in your life,

and find contentment in knowing

that you can always control

your ability to look on the bright side.

                                  ~ Barbara Cage

"Daisy Do" -  courtesy of Jude McConkey Photography

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The Bunny Incident - Things Aren't Always As They Seem

Probably one of my earliest childhood memories of Easter, I was around 2 or 3 yrs old, was standing at the front door of my parent's house, looking through the glass, watching a giant Easter Bunny 
walk down the street.  My mouth must have dropped to my toes, and by the time 

I finally pulled my mother from the kitchen back to the front door, the Easter Bunny was gone.

  Of course, no one believed me.  

My mother chalked it up to my "overactive imagination" - a curse, or actually a gift - that would continue to cause me numerous mishaps and adventures over the ensuing years.

But was it my imagination? 

About 40 years later, I found out that there had been a florist in town who would dress up every year in a full length bunny suit at Easter and deliver flowers to people's homes.  

Ha! Vindicated!  

I had obviously told the truth - but when I relayed this information to my mother about what had actually happened so many years ago, she didn't even remember the incident.

Moral of the story.  

Humm, quite a few possibilities actually.

~ kids are are smarter then you think. 

~ don't automatically discount what a child tells you, no matter how far fetched it may seem.

~ thinks aren't always quite what they seem

~ people hold on to the strangest memories from their childhood

Take your pick, but whatever conclusion you reach, I'll tell you one thing - ever since that incident as a young child, I have not been so quick to discount the stories and beliefs of others.

Yes, I saw a man dressed in a bunny suit - who I thought really was the Easter Bunny - but how many people are out there who really 'do' have visitations by angels, spirit guides, aliens... and no one believes them and there never is a rational explanation for what they have seen or experienced?

Looking back, I think the Bunny incident helped instill in me a level of compassion for others 

that I still feel to this day.  It helped me over the years when I worked with mentally ill 

populations, and even when I read or studied the stories, dreams, visions, folklore and 

eyewitness accounts of others who have 

had experiences that, 'to most', would be considered somewhat out of the norm.

I'm not saying you should automatically believe everything people tell you or that there is even always a concrete explanation for incidents that may seem strange or unusual. 

Just learn to open your heart a bit more to others. 

Things aren't always the way you think they are, and one way or another, most people have an

element of truth to what they say they have experienced and why 
they believe as they do.

To those celebrating Easter, enjoy!

~ diane fergurson

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Mind Body Spirit Artist Series - Holly Sierra

One of the things I continually find fascinating about different types of artwork, is the variety of ways that an artist can impact the life of the viewer through their use particular colors, style, imagery or inherent message.  Are you having a bad day?  Do you need to smile?  Would you like to see a body of work that will reach right down into your soul and infuse it with a jolt of positive energy that will warm your heart to the core?  Well then welcome to the vibrant, enchanting world of Holly Sierra! 
                  
                                                                                               ~ diane fergurson

Wolf Spirit

MBS:  Can you tell us a little about your background?  How did you get started in art?

Holly:  As I reflect back on my childhood, I find that artistic expression was a natural outcropping of my youth. Both of my parents were artists (although entirely different from one another in style) and discussions of the arts and artist’s lives, be they ancient or present day, made up a great part of our family’s ‘everyday’! My crayons were always on hand, as was the paper, glue and scissors I used on a daily basis. I expressed myself visually, as best I could, from earliest youth, with much parental encouragement.

From within our old ‘turn of the century’ brownstone in Manhattan, one could hear the strains of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto, Herb Alpert or Madame Butterfly emanating from the windows and find the bookcases crammed with fascinating tomes on all manner of art, artists and creative ethnic expressions from all around the world.

La Paloma - The Yogi Goddess of Peace

My father took me frequently in hand and we would visit the city’s great museums. Even as a small child, I was deeply touched and forever altered by the grand display I saw in these hallowed halls. I sought to create drawings that would touch people’s souls and recreate what I had experienced in face of such powerful visual offerings.

In particular, I developed a fondness for the Ancient Egyptians. I admired their amazing art, but more than that, I admired their passion for life, their quest for immortality and their incredible penchant, as a culture, for recording the details of everyday life. This early love has stayed with me and I feel it often makes itself known in the slightly stylized paintings of the Goddesses I create today!

My environment and surroundings play a very key role in my artistic well-being. Though we lived in Manhattan when I was a child, we also enjoyed weekends at the cabin my dad built in upstate NY.  I recall being happiest in this countryside setting where the air was filled with bird’s songs and the gentle hum of bees and insects at their work. I wiled away the hours in the woods and meadows, examining all the magic of the natural world. I marveled at the wildflowers, animals, birds, stones, grasses, fungi and lichen ~ my very own decorative natural world! As I sketched by a stonewall or the garden stile, I could hear my parent’s voices as they worked in the garden or from the tool shed off in the distance and I found this very comforting. I also recall my mother’s terrible dismay whenever we were due to return to our apartment in Manhattan! Her love of the ‘countryside’ must have left its mark on me, for I still feel anxiety when I am too long in a city setting.
I have lived in many different places since my youth but
 my present home in Vermont brings back 
all those childhood delights with its pastoral atmosphere.
I believe that the combination of my parent’s love of art, the city’s museums and the beauty of nature I found at our country cottage have forever nurtured my artistic soul. It was only natural then, that as a young person, I sought a Fine Art school in lieu of college and have enjoyed working and living as an artist ever since.

The Celtic Green Man

MBS:  Did you study illustration in art school?  How did your work evolve into what you are creating now?

Holly:  A good deal of the knowledge I use today in creating my artwork, I must credit to my high school art teachers. They really provided a wonderful groundwork upon which I flourished and grew as an artist.  And later, there were many fascinating experiences in college at SUNY Purchase Fine Arts, too. I experimented with paper-making, molds, oil paints and acrylics. But I recall, I was beginning to feel a bit conflicted as my artistic path seemed miles away from the other students. They were more interested in traditional landscape and still life, while I was infatuated with the likes of Gustav Klimt, Adrienne Segur, Edouard Vuillard and decorative, mystical subject matter.

At the same time, my father’s input influenced me greatly. He worked all his life as an ‘Art Rep’ in the Commercial Art Business in New York City. I was very inspired by his stories and enamored of the art he sold to various prestigious clients. Robert Heindel is a prime example of an illustrator my father represented, whose paintings were mystical, moody and atmospheric. I recall once he added a tiny dried frog he’d found to a painting he was working on… It reminded me there should be no boundaries in imagination. Eventually, Heindel’s journey took him from illustration to fine art where he achieved great honors; I was much impressed!

Honey Bee Cottage An Antique Bee Skep

Most of my early painting was done in oils. I would often drive to some scenic spot and set up an easel and begin work. Later, during the years when I lived in Asia, I focused on portrait painting. And then, upon my return to America, I became a Children’s Book Illustrator and this allowed me to work at home and raise my children while still being creative, although much of the work was educational in nature. The above-mentioned forays into the art-world didn’t culminate in an end result but they certainly helped immeasurably with my basic training.

I believe a tiny shop near my home called Uriah Heep, in Chappaqua NY held the key and planted some of the first visual seeds for my future Mystical, Magical work. It was one of the early Asian Buddha gift shops to sprout up in our vicinity. I began to see that what I loved. The shop was filled with exotic sculptures, amulets, fabric patterns, vibrant colors and the ‘stuff’ of legends and mythology. Here in this little haven, I came face to face with a variety of Goddesses, the Green Man, Buddha statues and Fairies galore! I found my passions staring back at me! I was reminded of my youth and my love of the artifacts in the museum. Another inspiration was the discovery of an old Italian Tarot Card deck in my parent’s attic! The possibility of illustrating of a Tarot Deck became a long-term goal at that point.

In my mind, I began to borrow from a myriad of cultures to create my first Goddess series. I wanted to express the magic I felt when I stood in the exquisite Alhambra for the first time, or when I scurried across the English Moors or explored the Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong. The aspect that thwarted me in the beginning was how to define myself as an artist if my interests were so varied. I loved Southwestern Art, Asian Art, Celtic Art and Mystical Art. In the end, I decided to embrace ALL that I loved and make it my own!

The Divine Child

MBS:  I think that's interesting because for many artists it really is the trial and error of many different types of materials and experiences before it all culminates into what we love to do!  And I've also noticed that for many female artists in particular, it happens after they grow a bit older and have children of their own.  Do you have any thoughts about that?

Holly:  I find ‘trail and error’ a necessity in the art process! As a teen, I must have drawn over a thousand human faces. Again and again, I tried various techniques, fiddled with different lighting and features. During the time we experiment as budding artists we fine-tune our craft. Most recently the requirement of having to complete 78 paintings for The Chrysalis Tarot deck I’m creating has helped me to work more quickly, precisely and creatively. One hopes, when working on a project due for publication, that each piece will outshine the next. This may not always occur, but consistency of content must!

I have worked in watercolors, oils, pastels, colored pencil and finally acrylics. In the end, I’ve chosen acrylic paints because they handle well, clean with water and dry quickly. As well, they allow me to paint in a layered style that is forgiving!

There are moments along the artistic path when one feels they have found their calling or niche. Those are wonderful moments! I suppose the most important aspect is to realize that we are always growing and evolving. Each goal and niche is important. As an artist, I am usually so emotionally involved with whatever piece I’m presently working on, that I will set it up by my bed after the night’s work, so that when I arise the next morning I can gaze upon it with ‘fresh’ eyes. Fresh eyes reveal what I need to alter or what is perfect as it is…

I must admit that after having my children, I was more at home in my skin and felt more confident in my painting. I was always ‘desperate’ to have kids. In my case the creation of my family was as fascinating an adventure as any of my artistic quests! At the time it all began, I was living in Tokyo and was told I could not conceive. I felt quite powerless! Soon, upon our move to Hong Kong, I found a way to adopt an infant. My eldest daughter Gabrielle was adopted from the Philippines and as I didn’t work through an agency, it took me a full year to achieve success. I ‘received’ my baby girl right away…but the legal process was time consuming. Suffice to say, I bought lots of art supplies and drew whenever I could to pass the time in the Manila Hotel. Some years later I returned to the USA and DID conceive!!! My daughter Esme was born seven years after Gabi’s adoption.

Both of my girls are artistic and creative. I have learned from them and they from me. Having children helped me relax and grow as a person and as they became more independent I became more deeply involved in my painting!

The Storyteller - A Wise Old Sage

MBS:  When I look through your work, no matter what the subject matter, all of your art and illustrations seem to me to exude a very positive and sunny outlook.  What do you attribute that to?  Is it just how your style developed, or are you trying to project or portray something in particular through your work?

Holly:  I have often been told that when my paintings are viewed altogether, the effect is similar to that of a rainbow! I don’t intend to create exceedingly colorful work individually, but in the end it seems to be my ‘signature’. I expect one’s painting style is as reflective of one’s personality as is their wardrobe, handwriting or home décor. As a child I was always the family member who attempted to make everyone happy ~ Perhaps this aspect endures still! My father was a lovely man in many ways but he was often bad tempered and my mother was a worrier! (Perhaps due to my father’s condition) Whatever the case, I was the peacemaker!

By nature, I am very optimistic and enthusiastic and given your question, I guess this quality has emerged in my artwork. All I can say is GOOD! Much of my sunny temperament and optimism covers a very emotional, sensitive nature. Left to my own devices, I’d rescue all the lobsters in the supermarket and deliver them back to the ocean’s waves, I’d free all the animals who are abused and help all the needy children, etc. It takes me a long time to forget the pain I’ve seen in life. I like to think that the gentle Goddesses, Fairies and Green Men from my paintings add a little loveliness and gentleness to the world. I find beauty in the smallest things; like moss. And I believe it’s the artist’s job, through whatever means, to reveal these small beauties to others.

The Tarot Wheel of Fortune from the Chrysalis Tarot Deck

MBS:  I was going to ask you about the The Chrysalis Tarot Deck.  How did that all come about? Can you tell us a little bit more about it?  It's a very beautiful deck...the artwork is just amazing. Were you interested in and familiar with the tarot before you embarked on creating the deck?

Holly:  As I mentioned when I was a teen I came across an old Italian Tarot deck my parents had stashed away in their attic. I was fascinated with these extraordinary cards; they were both mysterious and beautiful. I keep them, to this day, on my bedside table along with my favorite, Aquarian Tarot Deck by David Palladini. I turn a card up almost everyday!

Anyway, it was some time later, in the eighties, when I began to see beautifully done Tarot and Oracle Decks that featured full color paintings accompanying the card meanings. The earlier decks were rather more simplistic. I liked the idea that an artist could add his own flavor and take on the Tarot. I suppose at this point a seed was planted (I would have to illustrate a deck myself one day) The task was akin to illustrating one of the ‘classics’ and making it your own.

When I was 16 my friend Danny took a card-reading course with Tarot author Rolla Nordic. Danny shared each and every lesson with me. We would sit for hours in his room studying and experimenting with the cards. This began a life long passion for me. I soon discovered that many of the card’s meanings varied from deck to deck. Eventually, my own reading experiences, over time, would begin to dictate how I interpreted the cards rather than relying entirely on a particular book’s explanation. I probably have over a hundred Tarot Card decks in my collection!

One of the most memorable experiences for me came during the year before I had my baby. I had been told by doctors in the Orient that I would not be able to conceive a child, but all throughout 1994 whenever I read the Tarot cards for myself, I kept turning up the ‘Empress’ card, which in my experience meant creativity and  ‘fertility’. I remember thinking- ‘What can this mean for me?’ And lo and behold, I found myself pregnant that September! Over the years I have read for family and friends as well as the public.

As many of you may already know, I am presently illustrating a Tarot card deck called The Chrysalis Tarot, with Author Toney Brooks. The Chrysalis is a rather unique take on Tarot. I am happy to say, I feel our Major Arcana is very strong in both the written and illustrated sense ~ I took a long time mulling over each visual interpretation, in sketch form.  As well, one of my very favorite aspects occurs with the Court Cards. Instead of the usual King, Queen, Knight and Page ensemble, we have supplied the reader with a Troupe of Medieval Characters, male and female, who provide insights and guidance to the querent.

Lastly, we arrive at the forty Minor Arcana, or Pips, which make up the body of the deck. It’s here, at this point, where I began to feel the pressure of being only half finished. I wanted my Pips to be equal in quality to the Troupe and the Major Arcana! As a Tarot Card collector and there is nothing more disappointing than finding a beautiful illustrated Major Arcana and a slightly less stellar Minor Arcana! So, I tightened my belt and gave each and every card my best shot!

The Sun - from The Chrysalis Tarot Deck

MBS:  With the Tarot Deck, but also with illustration work in general, an artist has to be able to have the ability to collaborate with the writer pretty well.  Some artists are able to do this easily, other artists tend to be more single minded in their work.  How do you find this whole process?  I imagine with some projects the collaboration 'dance' is easier then others!

Holly:  The funny thing is Facebook is really the forum that brought us together. I was feeling the urge, very strongly, to finally embark on my Tarot Card Painting project and I had just met an author on line named Toney Brooks. Toney had posted some of my paintings, which he seemed to like and we began to correspond. It occurred to me one day that he would be the perfect person to ‘pen’ the Chrysalis Tarot Card deck! Toney is a retired broadcasting professional. In 2001, he published a book called ‘The Mystic Rose’ about the return of King Arthur in our time, so it seemed to me he would be well versed in the mystical and magical…. He is a wonderful writer, concise, clever, intuitive and imaginative.

Toney and I began our collaboration by emailing back and forth

Here below are Toney Brook’s own words describing our Tarot Deck…

The Harvest Goddess

"I had three goals when writing the Chrysalis schema:

1) To make our deck more relevant to the 21st century.  To this end, we renamed several of the traditional archetypes, most notably Empress and Emperor, and reinvented several others; we re-imagined the court cards as a Medieval Troupe of artisans who represent real people querents may know or meet on their journey, and we renamed the four suits to underscore the deck's uniqueness.  Our suits, called Stones, Mirrors, Spirals and Scrolls, represent progressions of conscious awareness from the physical to the emotional followed by the mental and spiritual.

2) Chrysalis emphasizes Universal Oneness and connectivity; the answers we seek are the answers we already have inside us. The archetypes, the synchronicity inspired by the Troupe, and the numbered "pip" cards connect the user's conscious and subconscious mind to what we call the Otherworld, a metaphor for Universal Consciousness or Carl Jung's Collective Unconscious.  A Chrysalis Tarot reading enlivens the imagination and assists our readers in increasing self-awareness.

3) We call Chrysalis Tarot, "Transformational Technology for Everyone."  This branding recognizes that all Tarot decks represent what mythology calls the Hero's Journey, or the Quest for the Holy Grail.  As our readers progress through the cards, they grow in self-awareness and self-completeness -- their souls transform. The questions brought to a reading are answered in the traditional manner by the card's meaning, but also by engendering greater understanding of how those answers relate to personal destiny."

Morgan Le Fay

MBS:  Obviously spirituality plays a very important part in your artwork and life.  Do you choose the themes for your projects yourself, or do they tend to come to you?  What are your favorite images or themes to portray?

Holly:  Yes, spirituality does play a key role in my artwork and life. Nature is my religion and positive transformation is always my goal. In a lesser sense, mysticism, art and multicultural legends are the meat and potatoes upon which I dine!

I find myself inspired and wonderfully stimulated by almost everything around me…I’ll give you an example; if I happen in a book store and find a particularly lovely book on fiber art and dying wool, I am off and running. I think to myself about painting decorative sheep, felting and using their lovely raw wool as background material. I then begin to think of rams and sheep in legends and history, for example the infamous Golden Fleece in Greek mythology. This leads to thoughts of the Ancient Greeks and various lovely Goddesses and more and more fabulous visual material begins to reveal itself. I sometimes feel I live in a constant state of rapture when it comes to ‘inspiration’.

But back to the Spiritually aspect ~ I believe strongly in Karma and in intuition. And I try and live a life I will be proud of when I grow old. I try and share this with my children and husband. Another great belief of mine is that compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character. I attempt to help any creature in my path.

Having recently lost my parents to old age, I have become much more aware of all the marvelous ‘signs’ that crop up in the everyday ~  Signs that remind us all how our lives and paths are interwoven and how indeed we are all made up of the stars!

As to my favorite themes in art, I am passionately devoted to the reemergence of the feminine in the New Age Art world. I love painting Goddesses, all forms of nature and the stuff of mythology and legends. Rather than limit myself, I embrace all sorts of themes, among them: Southwestern Art, Celtic Art, Asian Art and Fantasy Art. One of my greatest passions is discovering all the little details that make one ethnic art form differ from another. I find that the glory of humanity lies in these little details.

Tajdar

MBS - When you create your paintings and illustrations, what format do you use?  Size, materials etc?

Holly:  At this point, all my paintings are done with acrylic paints and I use them much as one would watercolors. I actually started out using watercolors as a child, and then onto oils when I was in my teens and early landscape stage. Now and then, I will experiment with some colored pencils or pastels, in addition to the acrylics, for enhancements. I usually paint on 300 pound, Hot Press, Arches Watercolor Board or a fine weave canvas. As I am such a detail-oriented painter, I find the smoother surfaces give the best results.

As far as size is concerned, I work anywhere from the 6x9 inch Tarot Card paintings to a 24 x 48 inch canvas Goddess painting. I like working in differing sizes because it always feels like a fresh approach to the subject matter at hand!
I prefer Belgian Linen Canvas because it has a very fine weave. I am not a very highly ‘textured’ painter. I like to achieve the appearance of texture through design and mottling.

One of my favorite pursuits is achieving new ‘mottling techniques’. I experiment with everything; sponges, paper towels, saran wrap or rubber stamps. Most of what I use leaves a unique mark in the wet paint and thereby creates interesting patterning! The Arches Watercolor board is wonderful because it’s so durable, absorbent and resilient. I am very fond of the result when I paint with acrylics on the Arches board.

Fairy Song

MBS -  Do you work in a series, or more then one at a time?

Holly:  I have often found myself besotted with a certain vision and begun work immediately on a painting only to find myself similarly inspired in another direction, in a day or two ~ And so I would begin another new painting!!! I hate to lose a passing inspiration…. But a few years back my kids warned me that there were just too many unfinished canvases sitting around. I needed to ‘finish’ what I had started.

And so began a new philosophy- I would finish each and every painting I began and refrain from beginning a new one before the old one was completed. I could still, however, sketch in pencil and that’s how I keep a record of the passing visions.

I do love the idea of painting subjects in series form. It’s fascinating to me to note the differences and similarities as I move along. Take for example, Goddesses…I love adding details that represent the culture or legend from which they spring and noting the strengths and characteristics that those particular people admire. The fun for me is in the details!

MBS:  What is a typical work day like for you?

Holly:  I usually awake in the morning with whatever painting I’m actively working on visible from my bedside. That way I can look upon it with fresh eyes and see what needs altering. Luckily for me, I am a fairly upbeat person; so most mornings fill me with a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for the most part. Frankly it’s very joyful to be an artist! It may not be as financially rewarding as other careers but it certainly is a good for one’s spirit!

Before I begin painting, I answer emails from folks and try and organize the orders that have come through the following evening. Packaging and mailing out orders is time consuming but I much appreciate the business and enjoy wrapping and personalizing each order; be they Prints, T-Shirts or Greeting cards. I am delighted that my art is gaining a following. I truly enjoy interacting with the public and I cherish the lovely letters people have written complimenting my art. One woman wrote me recently, telling me that if she’s having a bad day, she goes to my website and looks at my paintings and immediately feels calmer. That, to me, is what it’s all about; I love connecting and touching others through my work.

Anyway, the rest of the day is spent researching subject matter in my own rather large library or getting down to business and PAINTING!  I sit on a couch and work on a low, flat coffee table (A low table is best for my back and neck) and I'm not too fond of easels. I will usually watch something on television or listen to music while I work. I am a great fan of Loreena McKennitt’s music in particular and I guess I just like having informative or beautiful 'noise' on in the background; I find it inspirational!

To sum up my work philosophy, it’s fair to say that in between all the other aspects of life, children, husband, pets, bill paying, doctor appointments, hikes, cooking and shopping- I paint! I have always painted when ever a free moment arose...

Merlin - The Magical Mystical Wizard

MBS- I see that you sell your work online.  You mentioned your experience working with Toney Brooks up above, but in general, how has the online/social media experience been for you?

Holly:  Online social media has really been the ‘making’ of me! My husband encouraged me to get my paintings out there by creating me a website! I was hesitant at first but he forged right ahead; Steve is a Leo! Neither of us was extremely well versed in the graphic world then but we did the best we could and the results have been amazing!

Soon, Facebook came along and I joined up, creating a personal and an art page! Eventually too, I set up and ‘ordering’ aspect to my website and went on to make an ETSY Shop as well. Both have helped towards my making an income from my art. This is something I’m sure would never have occurred without the existence of social media. I have heard many complaints about Face book, and the like, but for me, it’s all been a wonderful experience. I did have a few troubling incidents, such as finding a woman in Russia who was selling my un-watermarked images as her small prints…And companies using my paintings without my permission. So I guess that is the unsettling side to social media. One must be vigilant and watermark or copyright everything!

On the brighter side, I find many of the images people post, very inspiring. Facebook has helped me discover new artists and photographers, who's work I greatly admire... And I have found old friends from across the world and stumbled onto hundreds of new ones!

MBS- Any advice for those who (seriously) wish to pursue an artistic path?

My advice to those who wish to pursue an artistic path is to jump right in! Paint, draw, sculpt, dance, compose, play, sew or act with abandon! Follow every lead and ask advice of those you admire. The more the novice works at his or her pursuit, the better. I have come to believe 'passion' is more of a requirement than pure talent. It is passion that enables one to sit and wile away the hours drawing or painting and to be fully engrossed with the result. And then, as another day dawns, so does the desire to begin painting anew! Being an artist is a very emotional experience. As well, it's inspiring and engaging; Both my daughters paint and draw...!

I believe art schools help a lot, especially for those who wish to teach or pursue a commercial or graphic arts career. One must consider their eventual goal first and see whether training in illustration or fine arts is called for.

The last little tidbit I have is trite, oft-repeated and apt. ‘Starving Artist’ is very often the sad truth, despite passion and talent. So, be sure an artistic path is what you desire…Because the joy and satisfaction in the artist's world really comes from the ‘doing’!

MBS:  Where can people find out more about your work?

Holly:  If you have more interest in seeing my artwork, please visit my website at  www.hollysierra.com as well as, my ETSY Shop at the following link- https://www.etsy.com/shop/HollySierraArt .

I carry Prints, Greeting Cards and T-Shirts on both pages. My email is hollysierra@yahoo.com and I love receiving letters, questions or comments!

Recently, I have begun creating LOGO’s for individuals and businesses…Most of them have been herbalists, doulas or healers and their LOGOs have been a veritable delight to create! As well, I have been licensing my paintings for use on people’s websites and blogs, too. It provides a small income for me and I’m delighted in the interest thus far!

And should you prefer a more intimate connection please join me on Facebook. My new work, especially the Chrysalis Tarot Card updates are found on my Holly Sierra Art Page and then for a more personal connection- Please join me at Holly Sierra! I look forward to meeting you…!

Thanks so much to Diane Fergurson for this lovely interview. I am honored to be interviewed for her 'Mind Body Spirit Odyssey' Artist Series!


Thank "you", Holly!

Links to other interviews in the Mind Body Spirit Artist Series.

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