A Favorite Quote

I'd like to share with you one of my favorite quotes. I don't remember where I found it or who said it, but I'm sure I read it somewhere. I think it relates to everything from missing car keys and socks to misplaced dreams and wayward souls. Think about it the next time you're frantically searching for your favorite sweater or when someone you know is feeling a little bit lost. With a little perspective and patience, whatever you're looking for is bound to show up.

IF - Magnify

This is what came to mind when I thought about this week's Illustration Friday theme of magnify. The phrase, Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, is a safety warning often engraved onto convex mirrors in motor vehicles. Despite its origin as a utilitarian safety warning, it has become a well known phrase that has been used for many other purposes. For me, it was just another opportunity to have a little fun with lettering in my watercolor Moleskine.

IF- Caution

My contribution to Illustration Friday this week is based on a Chinese proverb about caution. It was done with micron pens and watercolors in my watercolor Moleskine. Sounds like good advice to me!

Coming To A Mailbox Near You

A few posts ago I wrote about a mail art postcard that I sent out in 1997. Twelve years later the altered postcard finally found its way back to me. Part of the deal was that I would send something in return to anyone who included their name and address on the postcard.

In the spirit of mail art, I fulfilled my end of the bargain and sent these postcards to the three artists who contributed to the mail art project.

These were fun little doodles done with micron pens and watercolor pencils on watercolor paper. I hope the recipients will enjoy finding them in their mailboxes as much as I enjoyed making them.

IF - Wrapped

My rubber band ball seemed like an appropriate object to represent WRAPPED in this week's Illustration Friday challenge. The ball is made from hundreds of rubber bands wrapped around each other and created over the course of several months. Most of the bands are the standard brown variety, but occasionally a colored or unusual one finds its way in there like the one with a size printed on it. Rubber band balls are fun to make and a good way to liven things up in the office. If you can't have fun at work then what's the point?

IF - Impatience

Here is my submission for this week's Illustration Friday theme of impatience. I used a religious icon as my inspiration to portray Saint Patience who is the patron saint of impatience. Actually, I just made that up. But it works for me.

Long Lost Mail Art Finally Returns Home

Today's mail brought the most marvelous surprise I've had in a very long time. A postcard that I dropped into the mail art stream back in 1997 finally came back to me. There was a time when the daily trip to the mail box was one of grand anticipation and adventure. That's when I was a regular participant in the wild, wacky, wonderful world of mail art. Nearly every day, amazing creations arrived from artists with names like Lunar Daughter, Pag-Hat the Rat-Girl, Photo Posto, Shmuel, CornPuff, Walt Evans, and more.

Collaboration was a big part of mail art and pieces were often altered or added to during a postal journey.

Each mailing brought postmarks, postage, wrinkles, marks, bends, tears, and scratches that added to the aura and ambiance of every piece.

The best part about getting this postcard back is knowing that it passed through the hands of two of my favorite mail artists--Lunar Daughter and Photo Posto. Even after all these years I still have a connection with these two talented women who I have never actually met in person. They continue to inspire me through their blogs which just may be the modern day version of mail art. Both blogging and mail art involve the sharing of creativity and a sense of community that artists seem to crave.

Apparently back in 1997 I offered to send something in return to anyone who included their address on the wayward postcard. It looks like I'll get to be a mail artist once again. Watch your mailboxes ladies...and you too Shmuel...whoever you are!

IF - Modify

For the Illustration Friday challenge this week I decided to post a watercolor sketch that I did a few years back of a darling little plant affectionately known as "my buddy spuddy." Spuddy started off as an ordinary, garden variety sweet potato that was MODIFIED into the happy-go-lucky character seen here. First he was placed in a pot of water until he sprouted greenery and one tiny hair on the top of his head. Then he just cried out for a pair of googly eyes to really develop his humorous persona. Additional modifications included an oh-so-sweet pair of sunglasses and a bright yellow hand which were both found objects that fit him perfectly. Spuddy was the ideal office mate until we were forced to part ways when he got old, shriveled, and started to stink.

Luckily I captured his spirit in a couple of photos and the sketch above before his unfortunate demise. I've included a photo here just to prove I'm not making this stuff up.

Does anyone else out there besides me feel the need to modify inanimate objects with googly eyes or other accoutrements?

August Sketchcrawl

The sketchcrawl location this month was "Open Air at Market Square" and it was another absolutely beautiful day in Cleveland. Market Square is a little park directly across from the West Side Market which was the location of the January sketchcrawl. Every Saturday during the summer they host an urban outdoor market with live music and tables of handmade art, crafts, and flea market items that vary each week.

I chose to sketch a structure in the park that has always interested me. It's a small group of columns that are covered with ceramic tiles made by local school children. The columns are topped off with a large concrete slab that serves as a roof. I've always loved the mosaic quality of the structure and the variety of colors and images on the tiles. I only captured the top portion of the structure since it's quite tall and my watercolor moleskine is horizontal. I still haven't learned how to sketch something from a greater distance and seem to prefer a more close up view of whatever I'm sketching. I'm guessing it has something to do with my eyesight (which isn't what it used to be) plus my utter fear of perspective which I still haven't mastered. I'm not sure I'm happy with the sketch--I think I like the lettering part better. But I do enjoy participating in the sketchcrawl with Cathy and attempting to improve my drawing skills.