Art Therapy #21

Art Therapy is where Rae & Nancy make postcards and send them to each other. Yes, we get real mail.

This postcard sat on my desk for weeks, waiting to be finished. Until I figured out it was finished. I tend to overwork things so it felt good to not add any more. That little card with the girl would also surface in my desk mess endlessly. I love her energy and it seems like you as a little girl, Nancy.

I am less pleased with this illustration. But this, for me, is also an exercise of not remaking something 5 times until perfect. I used colored pencils and watercolor pencils. I really like the drawing until I overworked it. The black lines in the flower seem too harsh and I should have done something else with the handwriting. But I learned things, so that was good.

I think this postcard of Nancy’s tells it own story. And knowing Nancy as I do I see this card as where she is in her life.

Nancy’s comment with this illustration was… trying out a new style or maybe same old style just different paper and pencils.

I think it is a little of both.

Mail is good. I am always excited to see an oversized kraft envelope in the mail from Nancy.

Make someone’s day, send some real mail.

Art Therapy #17

This is where Rae and Nancy make postcards and send them to each other, more or less weekly. Frankly I am surprised we have continued to do this for so long. We started this after the last election to bring something happy into our lives. I am always excited when I see a craft envelope in the mail.

I made a series of these lake watercolours because I got new art supplies. Arteza all lead watercolour pencils. I like these pencils but because they are all lead and no wood they break like crayons which I always hated. Some strokes were made with Derwent Inktense Blocks. These are very strong colors. I also like working with them. And they also break. I like pristine art supplies.

This one was made because I am thinking about abstract painting and composition. I was making this while watching an online Illustrator class. And, of course, made from scraps in my tiny office. No wonder I am always living in paper mess.

Quick sketch from Nancy... Winter acknowledges Spring.

Another card from Nancy. It explains itself.

Happy Monday. And see you next week with more Art Therapy!

Art Therapy #16

Yes, it is postcard post time again! This is where Nancy and I exchange postcards that we make and send them through the mail.

Samsara: In Hinduism, the cycle of death + rebirth to which life in the material world is bound.

It appears that we started the new year with New Year's cards. Look carefully to see Nancy's wishes in the above shot. Nancy's is a collage and mine was made while cleaning my office. My rule is that I have to make my cards with what I have in my studio area. And to work quickly.

Another thoughtful one from Nancy, meant to be a sort of New Year's resolution. She puts so much into her cards.

This is the view from my desk. Well, not today. Today it is all white and shades of grey and snowing. I want to paint again and want to do something abstract and quick looking. So these were some quick scribbles. And then I did 4 more. That is often my process. Although I think this was the first one.

New paint brushes, new watercolor pencils. Arteza 24 woodless watercolor pencils. I do like these. First I drew with these and then used a watercolor brush to soften some of the lines.

I also love these. You can get intense color with these. Derwent Inktense Blocks. They are ink sticks. I know I did the red line with one of these. I waited until the paper was damp, not wet. When the paper was dry I went in again with a blue colored pencil and added some black lines for the waves too. These are great fun. Make some art today. You know you want to.

Art Therapy #15

Here we are again. This is where Rae and Nancy make art postcards and mail them to each other. My guess is that we exchanged our cards 30 weeks last year. So 30 times I went to the mail box and there was a slightly oversized kraft envelope from Nancy with something thoughtful or silly or fun.

My goal is always to do something quick because in all the other art things I do I think too much. I did a series of these Black Haired Girls. They were fun.

Inspiration came from this shot of 3 vintage mannequins. I am awaiting mine which is the first one. If anyone knows the age of these plz leave a comment. I am guessing they are from the 40s or 50s.

I have endless art supplies in my tiny office. I ran across a couple boxes of these silver and gold metal stars. In fact I glued them on everything, packages, cards etc.

Nancy and I seem to both be trying our hand at watercolour again. I particularly like the white space behind the flower. A reminder to me to leave some white space. Also like how she painted her leaves. Nice one!

Another bit of Spring just as the North has gotten cold and snowy. Thanks Nancy for that.

Back again in a couple weeks with more postcard art. In the mean time plz send some real mail to someone. It really does mean a lot. I have 3 friends in their 90s who I send a postcard to every week. It means a lot to them. And they tell me so.

Art Therapy #12

I wrote this post and then lost it. So here goes again. This is where Nancy and I make postcards and send them to each other.

This is a piece of art that I did for a Minted Challenge. I seem to do things 3 times before I get what I want. I did submit another one that I liked better. But still like this piece.

I took this picture and then altered it on my iPad. I wish I could remember the app. I like the creepy Halloween look.

I love Nancy's more complex cards. She said: "Just making up stories in my head and then thought I would try the blackout poetry that Austin Kleon does. Nice.

In closing plz send someone a piece of real mail. You have no idea how it can brighten their day. Just do it, it takes less time than you think.

Art Therapy #10

I think I am out of order here on postcards. But I've done some desk cleaning and these have surfaced. These baby bears are a fabric design for Minted's fabric contest that ends today. Couldn't you see sweet bedding with these little bears on it?

In the same Fabric Frenzy Challenge I did 3 Man Cave fabric designs. This one comes with a coordinating check fabric.

A place I feel like I have been to, but know I have not. The sepia photo makes me think of my grandparent's day... of rustic cabins 'up north'. Lakes without vacation homes. Quiet. Where men went to hunt, and maybe some women too.

Background shot is the modern day lake front in sunny bright color. not far down our shore.

It appears Nancy and I are both trying to get back to watercolor again. Such a difficult medium. I am really looking forward to my watercolor class next month.