Make someone's day, send real mail

Times are different now. Certainly harder. We are home most of the time. Either maybe alone or with the kids.

After our online yoga class and cleaning out the drawers in the bathroom we still have a lot of time on our hands. I am a big fan of real mail. It is so exciting to get something good in the mail. Now more than ever.

I have been sending postcards to people for years. I thought I’d share how easy it can be.

People seem to get stuck by not having stamps. Easy, just go to https://www.usps.com/ and order them.

Postcard stamps are 35 cents. Not to be confused by first class stamps for cards that are 55 cents. I finally bought a roll of stamps.

Most of those cute postcards came from Amazon.

It is an easy way to spread some love. Write on!

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 #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.