Saturday, December 26, 2009

irene watts



Irene, who is known for her detailed and lusciously colored artwork, sent me this "minimalist" card in a salute to Etegami. The colorful artistamps on the addressed side are her creations too. (I'm afraid the card went though a bit of wear and tear on both sides by the time it reached me.)

talvikki lusa


What a wonderful surprise to receive Talvikki's beautiful etching from a random matching on Postcrossing. If you love receiving picture postcards from all over the world, and you haven't heard of Postcrossing, let this be the last day of your ignorance! Check out postcrossing.com

Monday, December 21, 2009

frips



Very cool deer print on the flap of a cardboard box. The Belgium bird stamps on the other side would love the Japanese bug stamps I often use to send mail art, don't you think? Best Wishes for 2010 to you too, frips! : )

Monday, December 14, 2009

katerina nikoltsou




Katerina sent me these apple prints she made in 2005. Two of them show the star in the center of an apple which is revealed when the apple is sliced crossways. On the back of the cards she quotes from Turkish author Orhan Pamuk's The Black Book: "I loved you when you showed me the perfect star in the heart of the apple..." (p.372)

jennlui




Jennlui's second mini-book is an interactive "shrine making kit" with empty shrine frames and a mini-envelope full of emblems and paper keys and things to use in "creating your own shrine."

cole imperi


Cole says she used a fountain pen and brown ink to make this image representing earth, water, and growth. Thanks for your submission to my gift/giving mail art call!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

marni zainodin


This piece of art is an etegami-style painting of a tropical flower and a colorful fish on a coarsely textured postcard. Beautiful colors. The pose of the the fish is particularly intriguing to me, and I like how it extends beyond the border of the box.

marnie blair


Silkscreen owl on paper made at the Banff Centre. This circle of very thin paper made it intact through overseas postal delivery. I am truly amazed! Besides, how could Marnie, whom I've never met, know that I am very fond of owls, and that I collect owl-themed artwork?

katerina nikoltsou


Katerina added her own painting of holly to a UNICEF card made with handmade paper from Nepal. Nice embellishment!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Thursday, December 3, 2009

janet azjanorama



This lovely Chinese-style brush painting of oranges comes with a haiku inscribed on the back: "Anticipation/ weighs down the limbs with green fruit/ on the orange tree." The envelope looks to be hand-decorated too. I LOVE the dragonfly stamp!!

Monday, November 30, 2009

boo cartledge


Another fabric collage from Boo's book deconstruction project. It amazes me how it came through the post with very little, if any, damage. Lovely, vibrant colors!

dr. brignone



A Christmas card from Italy. I can practically taste the rich flavors of the stew on the card. I have a weakness for pictures of food. ;p

Friday, November 27, 2009

david berube

David's October creation is a some kind of blood-sucking Halloween bug. It looks like it's doing its best to be horrid and chilling, but I doubt I'm the only one that thinks it's utterly adorable. (am I?)

katerina nikoltsou



A welcome response to my "gift/giving" mailart call, these etegami are painted on the washi-like paper towels that Katerina says she found at a hotel in Athens. The paper is white, but she glued it onto a bright green background to produce the soft green of the top card. The paper of the bottom card is folded around the back like a package would be folded-- a clever extension of the gift-theme.

boo cartledge



From Boo's book deconstruction series (see link to It's Only a Book). Fabric background glued to a cereal box cut-out and decorated with a row of fish-shaped dangly things. Makes me smile.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

katerina nikoltsou




From top to bottom: "Fruit of the Season," "From the Tree as Winter Comes," and "In the Beginning of Winter." Katerina says she found some interesting paper at a deluxe hotel in Athens that has many of the qualities of Japanese washi, and has been having a great time playing with it. These are all wonderful pieces, Katerina. Very much like traditional etegami, but unique in texture.

Friday, November 20, 2009

anu chathampally


A bumpy, raised orange spiral printed onto a smooth background of deep, rich colors. The scan doesn't do the colors justice.

piotr szreniawski


The very first response to my "gift/giving" mail art call! Simple and sweet. Thank you Piotr!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

jennlui



Wasn't sure how to display this delightful mini-book from Jennlui, and ended up spreading it out. It's actually one sheet of paper with the illustrated part all on one side (the other side is blank), and cleverly folded with the aid of a slit in the middle crease. The title page is the one that says "I heart MailArt." The items at the bottom were stuffed in the tiny manila envelope marked "Top Secret." This was my first exposure to a mailart mini book, and now I'm inspired to make one of my own!

Monday, November 16, 2009

patrizia (tictac)







(top) Adorable snail stamps that recall childhood play with paper dolls. (middle two) Front and back of ATC titled "All Together in Peace"

art tower



Art Tower's work is always colorful, from what I've seen so far. I love it.

ti ar raden


Precisely drawn tea pot and some of the curliest handwritten script I've ever seen. Thanks!

wackystuff



Wacky as always. :D

katerina nikoltsou




Nice images showing the shift from autumn to winter.

dewi


Test sketch from a recent trip to France. Thanks, Dewi!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

vvinni gagnepain




Awesomely Peculiar mailart from my nephew, the budding film director, whose name will someday be a household word.