SerendipityArt

I just have to say this, especially after the email you just sent me. I am new to altered books and journalling and was excited about contributing to your book for 2 reasons. The first, was the conect with other artists with a common thread, the second was to see what other artists did in the journal, I wanted some ideas for techniques, etc. I really didn't know what to expect, but was very disappointed when I received your journal. So disappointed, that I was tempted to just send it back to you without working in it.

Your lack of effort put into the journal was shocking. I don't know if you just don't have time, or maybe you have too many journals out there to care. Maybe you are just collecting everyone else's work and not contributing yourself. These are your journals, so do as you please. It took a lot for me to bite my tongue when you announced to the group that you had journals to work in and anyone who wanted one sent to them, to email you...Gee, everyone, send me your free artwork too!

I put some effort into what I did for you, and even wrote some words of encouragement to you in it, and yet no comment from you as to what I did, and you just send this heartless, crap for an email. Thanks for nothing. Be careful posting the invite on the group again because I just might be tempted to speak my mind.

For someone who writes about having such a big heart to care for so many children and who supposedly went throught traumatic times in the past, you sure don't come across as a loving person. Entertain strangers, because you just might be entertaining angels.

We have a misunderstanding.

Each journal is worked in by strangers -- not me. The work you saw isn't mine. The point of the journals is to get a glimpse into other peoples lives and artwork. I give people a chance to do whatever they "do" in the book without judgement or evaluation...assessment. Some people are beginners in this process/project...that's why folks work in more than one journal...to see a range of skill and to experience multiple approaches to the project.

My note was short because I was pretty sure I'd written before...and this was just to say the book is here. I don't feel comfortable saying much about peoples work anymore because most artist don't like it...I mean, don't like my "assessing" or praising or not praising their work. I am not trying to be cold, just receptive....open.

I also don't get to look at the books very closely sometimes...I try to get them in, photographed and back out because artists are waiting and they get angry when I don't turn the journals around quickly...plus, I have had some bad personal stuff going on and so many of the journals are about great families and wonderful marriages...something I don't have right now. (No. That's not me asking for your sympathy, just me saying I've been distancing myself from the artwork because I'm not able to digest some of it right now.)

You are not the first person to mention the whole, "give me your art" thing. I'm not selling the books, or auctioning them. I am not asking people to pay to work them...I'm not asking people to work in them when they don't want to...It's an open call...just want to share the art. Let people see book art up close...to touch it and hold it and see if they can do it. I'm not a bad person trying to get something for nothing. I spend a lot of money on this and I enjoy it and want other people to enjoy it too. I don't ever imply that I'm working in every book and I don't make promises about the amount of work in each book or the quality of that work.

I'm sorry that I was not more effusive about your work. I appreciate the time you spent on the journal and plan on going back through the journals when I'm in a better place...when I can really see the work.

I am sorry you were disappointed with the work done by the person before you. I found her pages stark but they seemed to be a clear statement about her current life situation...her's are an interesting contrast to the pages you created and together, I find them to be beautiful. Two different lives, but lived fully...expressed honestly and openly. I am glad you didn't send the book back unworked in...but if you'd like, I can remove your pages and send them back. I don't want you to contribute to a project you have such obvious contempt for.

That's not what I want to do...but your email is very clear about your thoughts.

I will do whatever you want me to do with your pages, just let me know.

Thanks.

First of all, thank you for explaining things a little better.

When I first requested a journal from you, I couldn't wait to get it. I love the idea of swaps, round robins, etc. but like I said, had never done it before. I am very passionate about simple things that bring the world together. I was confused when I saw the journal because it wasn't very artistic - by that I just mean that it was mostly writing, like an every day journal. I thought that woman was you, and I thought that either you simply didn't put the time in to it, or that was your ideal journal, and for a few days I couldn't decide wether to do similar pages, or my own thing - I chose my own thing.

I'm sorry I went off like that, but I was actually hurt that you didn't even take a moment to say thank you. I understand now that you thought you had already, and it would've be silly if you said it again!

I know what it's like to be in a bad space, and you don't want to hear about anyone else crap - or happiness.

Anyway, like I said, thank you for letting me know how you feel, please don't take the pages out, I made them for you, and the others artists of that journal to see, and hopefully enjoy.

I'm guilty of writing things in the heat of the moment, without cooling down first - I get myself into trouble that way!

Take care,

Just one more thing - I'm sorry for accusing you of just wanting free art.