In 1867 Edward Lear wrote a poem titled “The Owl and the Pussycat” which has inspired this series of artworks by Sue Clancy. She has hand lettered the poem and illustrated it using ink, gouache, acrylic and color pencil. Lear’s time period had economic problems as well as gender- based controversies somewhat like our current time. During his lifetime Lear never specified the genders of the Owl or Pussycat. Clancy is artistically inspired by nonsense literature because it playfully reminds us that we make meaning together using words and symbols. We can mutually seek the safety of gentle humor, the place beyond cruelty, where the Bong-tree of the heart grows.
Clancy’s series of paintings are for gallery exhibits in the Pacific Northwest. This art-album-storybook will be available as printed copies for her exhibits and as ebooks on Clancy's Substack, A.M. Sketching and for Storyberries.