Clown alert! Another scary post card

I know some of you freak out over pictures of clowns.   Well, don't peek then.    BTW he is not vicious, he's profoundly sad.    

Boo.

It's time to get scary stuff out in the mail or to display.      Here are a some post cards I made years ago.    These are altered photos from a book.     I think they have a story to tell.        I d on't know what it is, but I like to ponder.....   I think I've shown them here before, but why not again?    

Autumn post card swap

It's that time, when the CA Art Girls swap post cards.   Seasonal.   Fall.     Which  this year sped into winter in a blink.    We didn't have nearly enough time to enjoy the beautiful leaves and the light coming in at such a beautiful angle making long shadows on the streets.        Here are a couple of the lovely post cards I received.

 The frist one is from Margaret who used the image of the fall leaves as inspiration.

 This was done by Terri with alcohol inks over an image she printed on a metallic paper.   











This is a Thanksgiving card from Phyllis, who cut out
leaf shapes from some painting experiments.  


 

 This one with dried leaves from a Japanese Maple is from Beth.    

 I should have posted this last month, it is a Halloween card from Nancy.
It's never too late to show a guy in a chicken costume.  





















Here are two I scanned together.   The upper one is a painting of leaves by Roberta with alight metallic glazed over them.


Paris in the Fall is from Debbie.    



Thanks gals, I love each card, and they way you all interpreted the season differently in your art.








This last picture is the ones I made to send out.  I used a
beautiful fabric that had gold artichokes and writing on it.  

First thing I did was to free style stitched leaves on each one then went back and painted the leaves with metallic paints.  Finally, I handstitched to the cards.   I had the fabric for several years and never found the right place to use it.     This seemed like a good time.

post cards coming and going

here are some of the delightful post cards I've received lately.     

The beach scene done in watercolor is by Debbie for the California Art Girl summer swap.     it's delicate and precious with the tiny little footprints behind the people.






This charming bicycle post card was stamped over a map and then hand colored by Beth.   The addition of the stamps makes it pop.  

 You may recognize this next one from Roberta, who painted the face over a piece of something recycled.  some paint, some scribbles with pencils and crayons, and here it is.     i suspect it is on a grocery shopping bag.     Good for you, girl.  

The armadillo is from Suzanne Denker from the Carving Consortium summer swap.    The only parameter is to use a hand carved rubber stamp.     I love her little armadillo.   Using it in a repeat pattern makes such a good design. 

These next two are ones I've done to send for the Carving consortium summer swap, and the second one is for the Mail Me Some Art monoprint swap.    We were asked to use the gelli plate if we have one, or any other printing surface.    I have the 6 x 6 inch gelli plate which works well for post cards.     I pressed my chicken stamp into the paint on the surface of the gelli plate and then pressed it onto a recycled post card.     On the right side, I used a stencil and three colors of paint on the gelli plate.    Printed several layers.




Here is the last one using only stencil and paints on another recycled card.   The gelli plate is fun to play with, cleans up easily and is a big favorite tool now with many artists.   There are all kinds of you tube demos and web sites which show videos of how to use them.  I only used craft paints and a little gesso .  I'll send them with mail labels on the other side with the postage and return address label.     soon as I get to the post office for more stamps.     

if you want to play with a gelli plate and don't want to invest in a commercial one, there are a number of good videos on you tube with recipes and demos of how to make your own.    A few of my friends tried them and had varying degrees of success.    For me, I like the commercial plate with it's container to hold it safely.    I've had it for several years.   It has not deteriorated in any way.   Some of my friends have the larger sizes which are awesome, but also quite expensive.   The small size fits my studio and the type of work I do with it.   But some day I may find I need the larger one..... you never know.          

Post cards k- incoming

My mail box has been delightful lately with post cards from art friends.      Here are some of my favorites.

This first artsy one is from Beth, made on the back of a vintage Bingo card. Beth is one of the CA ARTGIRLS.

This one is from Jennie Hinchcliff.     I'ts always a delight to see what she sends.

 This stylish spring card is from CA ARTGIRL Margaret.

 This cutie came from my friend Norma in Florida.

 This came from CAARTGIRL Peggy.   Remember these sweet little girls?

 This collaged card came from Punwit in New Hampshire, using a recycled box for base..

 This one came back to me with changes from Susanne in Sacrament.    The bird was not there when I sent it to her earlier.    

This card is from CA ARTGIRL Terrie.  On the back is a  photo of her beautiful, loving dog Jack who just passed away.      I'm so sorry to hear that because he was just a gentle soul and a fine animal friend.

This is another Spring card from Beth. She is the one who kickstarts our post card swaps in the CA ARTGIRL group.      

This last one is from Roberta.     She has been painting in styles of different artists so it's fun to see how she adapts some of their styles into her own.  Visit her blog by clicking on her name, and even pop over to her Etsy shop to see more of her work.  



You can see why I look forward to mail time here.   It's not all bills and political things, or requests for donations.   LOL    Sometimes it's ART.


Thanks for the mail art, my friends.

How to keep busy - even when you have other things in your life

I've spent several days laying out and getting approvals for the new post cards for the Lodi Annual Small Works Show at the Lodi Community Art Center.     I'll try to post the pic here.    I had to copy it from the Vista Print site and then figure out how to use the new scanner to scan and send to this computer.   In the midst of my muddling attempts, I get a phone call from India's HP (I guess) service center telling me they know I'm having a problem and he can help me.  Then he rattle d on so fast, I could not tell if he was speaking English or even any recognizable language - so I told him I don't hear well, and could not understand, and hung up.   I can usually muddle through these things on my own.     I got really agitated that  someone out there is following my computer use (without my invitation).    Remind me to cover up the little camera at the top of my screen.      I don't want them watching me!   Seriously, this is way to invasive for my comfort level.      Poor guy that has to watch my activities.  Must be a pretty boring job.    hope he is paid well.       if they call again after I post this, I'll really be weirded out!

This is the scan I made of the front, back and invoice together to send for approval from Pres and Chairwoman.         I got approval so it's a done deal and I can get back to other things.     Like bathing the dogs.       LOL   

Mail Art - incoming

My goodness, I forgot to post some of my favorite mail art pieces that came in June and July.      The wine glass is from Maria Moesch.    I'm crazy about the combination of fabrics and paints and threads and ink.    The special lady is from  Roberta with her MailArt handcarved stamp placed strategically.    The thitd one is from Fast Eyes, whose collages are so wonderful. 

 This commercial card was from Pamela Vane who thinks I'd like the shop it is advertising.   I'd better check it out.

This little birdie is from Carroll Woods.  It is for the theme Put a Bird on it.

This last one is a commercial card from Pat, who was there when she mailed it.        Ahhhhh... 

Thanks friends.    

April post cards

I've been delighted to receive some really nice post cards lately but have been tied up working on and about the Spring Art Show in Lodi, the Tracy Grand Theater Art Show "Expressions! Selections" a show of 25 pieces of art by 20 invited artists, and getting ready for the Lathrop Mayors Art Show.

And keeping up with my beautiful garden by showing it off to a few friends at a little garden party on a rare perfect weather day.

  The Irish Spring card was accidentally  blown off the patio table, and fell into a potted geranium.     It has been watered a couple of times!   LOL  Whatever glue Beth Kelsey used, it works well because it is still intact, although a bit warped.

 The rabbit card is from Jennie Hichcliff. 

Reduce Waste card is from Linda Giese.   Some of these are follow ups to my mailing post cards promoting Artists for a Greener Planet. 

 The one with the can of veggies is from Punwit, a starter to which I added the bird head and the text and the man on lower right.  Now it goes back to him to see what he will do next.    I really look forward to these.   

America is from long time art friend, Joanna Taylor, who had just returned from a trip to Yosemite where a book she had done was being shown with her delightful hand carved stamped images.  

 The bright yellow card was  made with a onion bag by Norma Soulet of Florida, between tennis games.     Isn't this a clever use of a recycled piece of plastic that otherwise would have gone into the trash?  

Thanks for the cards, friends.   I've sent off a series this  month, but forgot to take pics.  I used pre printed post cards I purchased to get the box they came in.    So I collaged over the backs of them,  attached the mail labels onto the printed image and the stamp, and sent them off.     I'm hoping the gals that receive them will enjoy the latest mail art.

Mail art In box

I've had some nice things come into my mail box recently.   Some from swaps, some from friends.   Here are a few pics. The blue button is from Pam Crawford, the leaf is from Mary Szot, Halloween girl is from Nancy Sadoyama, Find Out is from MicheleAttaway, and the one with the little car is from Margaret.  Thanks gals.   I love the new additions to my collection.

October post cards

The map swap cards from the California Girls is not over yet.  Here is another one, from Diane in Novato.  It's an oversize one that took an 85 cent stamp.    I wonder if the post office told her that's what was needed.  I would have sent it straight first class mail.      Anyhow, I love it Diane, thanks.

Then to start of the Halloween season, I recieved the first seasonal card from Norma in Florida.  It's full of scary spooky images.  Very cool card.   Thanks Norma.

October is here - mail art

Here in California Central Valley, October came in with 100 degree weather.   Not the normal first week of October rain that I depend on.      But, the light is changing fast.   The angle of the sun is making longer shadows and shorter days.    I like the shadows, but don't like the short days.     I still try to work out in the garden in the evenings until it is too dark to see anything - but that's coming earlier each day.    So then I changed my routine to finishing off the evening in the studio.   

My mail box has been picking up speed again after a little lull.  Birthday cards mostly.    Like this one from Renee Rogers in OK.   Thanks Renee for this special treat.       

On the mail art front I have a few new things to share.   One from Linda McCallister, the pinkster.    And from another Linda (Giese) a card using the bubble paint technique for background.     I've tried this before and didn't get as interesting a background as she did.  And then her printing of the Townsend quote.   Very nice girls, thanks. 

Roberta sent a couple cards, one for the CA Girls map p/c swap, and one which she had printed with a self portrait.     I love them both, Roberta, thanks.

 

Last but not least is a sweet little poem from Marci, who sent this in response to the latest post card I send to her.    How sweet is this?