58 Comments

You're an inspiration !

About a year ago I discarded the "how ya doing..." greeting and instead I ask (on the rare occasions I ask) "Has anything made you smile today ?" It throws most people off. No one really cares how anyone else is "doing." My answer to that question is almost always "I'm vertical..." It almost always get some sort of response outside the norm, a double take or a laugh.

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I love your comment!!! I do a version of that too!! Instead of "how ya doing?" I ask "did you have anything good for breakfast/lunch?" - I've gotten some good restaurant recommendations that way too 🤣

When someone asks me "how are you doing?" like you do I often say "I'm still in the upright position! Thank you!" And yes - the shared laughter is the best!!!! 💚💚💚💚

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My dad's answer to the question was "Sitting up and taking nourishment." I've always liked "Fair to middlin''" myself.

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Oooh I like both of your responses!!! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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Thank you! 🥰

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Mar 2Liked by Sue Clancy

That’s awesome!

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💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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SUCH a wonderful post - it's gold dust!!! I've never heard of 'SOCK' questions - what a great approach - thank you!

The hedgehog pages are adorable. We have regular hedgehog visitors to our garden - not at the moment, though, because they're still all asleep (and with the weather the way it is right now, I wouldn't blame them for extending their hibernation for a long time yet)!

Such a treat for my Substack inbox, Sue - thank you so much. 😊

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I'm delighted to hear that you found the SOCK questions interesting! Thank you!!

You have hedgehog visitors?! Wow!! Lucky you!!! 🦔🦔🦔

And I'm so glad you liked my newsletter!!! Thank you!!! 💚💚💚

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They're such cuties, Sue! 🦔 We have a wildlife rescue centre near us, and a couple of times I've found a poorly hedgehog in the garden and rung them for advice. Twice hedgehogs were picked up and taken to 'hedgespital' - and one of them, once it had recovered, was even returned to us! 😊

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Wow!!! That's amazing!! Love and hugs from me to you and any hedgehogs or other wildlife nearby to you!! 💚💚💚💚💚

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I love the hedgehogs!

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Awww thank you!! I'm so glad!! 💚💚💚💚

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I love this. Especially the hedgehogs.

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Oh thank you so much!!! 💚💚💚

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This is my favourite post. I like the SOCK technique to capture morning thoughts and will try it straight away. I also like a a number of sketches, particularly the hedgehog ones and the cat with broken leg. Get Well Soon, Sue.

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Thank you so much for your kind get well wishes!! And I'm glad you liked my post. I hope you'll enjoy SOCK questions too... I find them more engaging artistically than vague questions. I wish you the best!! And thank you again for your kind comment!!! 💚💚💚💚

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I do. It is saved in my Idea journal. I will get to it in due time. Thank you for sharing.

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You're so welcome!! All the best to you!!! 💚💚💚💚

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There is something about your hedgehogs that is just irresistible.

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Awww Thank you!!! 💚💚💚💚💚

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You're welcome!

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"Thought-watch" sounds like the "mood-monitoring" I was told to do years ago.

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Yes!!!! It is the same!! A checking of the mental and emotional weather.

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Thought-watch! The perfect name for that misty morning falling awake time.

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💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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I have heard of SOCK questions in different forms, but I love the way you use it with your art. It sounds like a fun way to approach your inner child.

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Thank you so much!! 💚

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Happy sigh. Gorgeous little hedgehog arting away. Just like you. And I adore the pets. Take it easy my dear. All the best. 🤗🤗😘

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Thank you so very much!!!! All the best to you too!!! 🤗🤗😊😘💚💚

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You are so talented, and your adorable notebook is an inspiration to this lazy artist. Thank you so much for all of these posts. I want one of those little blank page books. Can you share where one can be purchased online?

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Thanks for asking! I use the 5.5 x 3.5 inch Royal Talens sketchbook and they have other sizes too. It works well with ink, watercolor, gouache, color pencils... here's a link: https://www.dickblick.com/items/talens-art-creations-sketchbook-black-5.5-x-3.5

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Thank you. Blick is out of that size, but I will be patient, which will allow me to continue being lazy. ;-)

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💚💚💚💚

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Ashamed to say I found one on Amazon (free shipping), but only in red. Thanks again for the recommendation.

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Glad you found one!! Happy sketching!! 💚

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Mar 2Liked by Sue Clancy

I saw you mention that brand before but thought they were super expensive so never actually looked. Guess I had the name confused. Is the paper smooth (or semi)? I’ve also wanted to try a dip pen but never know which kind to try. (Of course, I want to try everything!)

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Lol!! I don't use expensive gear! The sketchbooks run around 8 to 10 dollars. Sometimes I'll even find a sale and get them for 6 dollars! Even my beloved fountain pens are only 20 dollars or so. But the refillable aspect of the pens makes the cost quite cheap in the long run.

The paper in these Royal Talens books is smooth. It accepts ink and watercolor nicely and as long as I don't get it super wet it doesn't bleed through to the other side of the ppage.I write/draw/paint on both sides of every page.

Dip pens are lovely too in the Royal Talens sketchbook. Hope you'll try it!! 💚💚💚

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Here's one of my favorite fountain pens.. costs around 18 dollars. If you can get a "converter" for it you can fill it with any bottled fountain pen ink. The Sailor ink cartridges are nice too. https://shop.stlartsupply.com/products/fude-de-mannen-fountain-pen-navy-40?_pos=1&_sid=8b000312e&_ss=r

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Mar 2Liked by Sue Clancy

Thanks! Sakura also has some that come with empty ‘cartridges’ and a few inks so you can choose your colors (or mix to make your own). I’d love to be able to get certain things that are nicer but use what I can right now. If I can, I will pay more for a tool or something that will last…but things like paper and paint that you can’t reuse are harder to justify.

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I hear you. My modus operandi has been to use whatever material is available to me. There's been times when I just used ballpoint pens on printed newspapers or cardboard. I've used cabinet door panels someone was discarding. It's the regular exercise of ones creativity that matters most not the materials. Quality materials are nice to have but the point of the creative life is the using of whatever materials there are available and trying to make something to feed one's spirit. I wish you the best.

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Mar 2Liked by Sue Clancy

Exactly. I finally ordered some gesso yesterday at least. I’ve been saving some food boxes. 😂

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About the dip pen---- this is my favorite dip pen nib plus holder. This at around 28 dollars is probably my most expensive gear. But I've used the same nib and holder for a decade... so very economical in the long run. https://shop.stlartsupply.com/products/kakimori-pen-nib?_pos=1&_sid=ed7ce0238&_ss=r

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Mar 1Liked by Sue Clancy

Seriously! I’ve spent so much time looking for the ‘right’ one I probably could have made 100 myself.

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I hear you!! I looked for a long time to find a good sketchbook. Now I use the 5.5 x 3.5 inch Royal Talens sketchbook and they have

many other sizes too. It works well with ink, watercolor, gouache, color pencils... here's a link: https://www.dickblick.com/items/talens-art-creations-sketchbook-black-5.5-x-3.5

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So good.🌱

Hi Rusty 🐾

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Thank you!! Rusty says hello to you too (wagging tail)!!

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Mar 1Liked by Sue Clancy

LOVE the SOCK questions. I’ve been thinking a lot about how I communicate with others (and ways improve/broaden) and though she expresses it as a way to connect with children, feel it is just as relevant to adults. It is a great way to spark open communication and approach with genuine curiosity (not to say we aren’t genuine by asking general questions, but it truly evokes that). I’m all about making things work for us so like how you altered the questions to fit for you. Thank you for sharing.

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Yes!!! I use SOCK questions with my adult friends too. Instead of asking "how was your vacation" I'll ask "did you have any food/drink that surprised you?". Like you said in your wonderful comment- the questions intended for kids are easily adapted for us grownups!! Thank you for your comment!! 💚

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That cat!! Those hedgehogs!! You have such a gift. I love your posts and your art. They make me smile.

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I'm delighted to hear that!! Thank you!!!! 💚💚

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Thank you for sharing your art and SOCK question process. Love what you say about coping, listening and how the arts help with that. I do hope you get well soon.

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So kind your comment is!!! Thank you so much!!! I'm trying to do a better job of resting...🤞💚

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