Seren
I’m surprised at how few people have signed up for the swap.
My book is ready to go, but the list is only 5 people thus far. I thought the holiday time might be a nice time to get these moving because people have time off…and get fed up with family. What a perfect time to journal, right?
The process really is easy…just keep each book 15 days and work in it at least 10 days. When your days are up, send to the next person on the list. Your book should have several pages complete in it when you mail it for the first time…and each book should arrive with self stamped and addressed post cards to the owner. When you mail someone’s book to the next person on the list, you should send a post card to the owner to let them know.
Easy huh?
So, send your information soon…and get to work on your pages…I’d like to have 10 people for the first list by November 4, 2007!
Email me at Serendipityartist@yahoo.com I need your:Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Email Address
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I really enjoy working with alcohol ink because it’s a challenge to control how the colors will mix and to find a foundation that’s interesting and unexpected. So…I was thinking about how the colors are so vibrant, but can be softened by smudging and thinning them; then I began to think about non-porous surfaces that would be on the other end of the spectrum from soft and airy. At first I wanted glass but glass is fragile and I want to send these to some of my mail art friends.
I knew I wanted metal of some sort, but I was worried about finding something that would be easy to handle -- 
meaning, not needing to be cut. I have metal nips in my studio in Minneapolis, but nothing here in Cali that would do that job. So, I went to Home Depot. I was looking for magnetic paint, and got sidetracked when I stumbled across 5x7 sheets of metal (steel not tin)…just larger than a post card! I bought singles on my first trip -- $.44 each…and I bought five. I was worried that maybe they’d be coated with something that would repel the ink so I started small. Well, the first five were wonderful fun. I created 5 very distinct pieces of work…and I immediately fell in love…so what’s the down side? Well, the edges are extremely sharp. My first concern is that someone will cut themselves. I’ve contemplated covering the edges with duct tape…yes, silver duct tape. Why? Because it connects the flashing to its roots, while framing the art in a new and interesting way. Then I thought, I like the sharp edges. I like the Do Not Touch element it give each piece. These are purely for looking at…and I like that message. It works with the way I’ve been feeling of late.
Pretty to look at, but be careful if you’re going to touch.
I plan to mail these in cardboard mailers with magnets in each corner, front and back, to keep the packaging doesn’t push against the paint AND when the work arrives…the new owner will have a way to display the work immediately. For now they are on my work boards…Ikea metal message boards ($13.99) hanging in my Living Room. They look good displayed like this…the two small ones are from my first batch of 5 singles.
The larger piece is my favorite and may stay displayed just like this! These sheets are 8x12 and cost $.97. These 
are hard to photograph because they have a lot of metallic ink in them, which freaks out my flash…and I’m not a good photographer! The larger one shown here is on its side because this is the only way I could get a decent close up. FYI: The 5x7 size comes in singles and bundles of 25. I went back the next day and bought a bundle for less than $5 and I’m in heaven!
1 Reference
Months and months ago a lovely woman named Julie worked in one of my 10 day Collaborative Journals. When she sent the book back to me, she asked that I work in one of her books and then send it along to some of my artsy friends. Well, I did that...kinda. I sent it out and it got stuck for a few months when someone took ill. Which was OK, but now I want to get the book moving again. I'm sure Julie thinks the book is lost forever, but I really want to surprise her. I don't know if she looks at my blog...but either way, I really want to art up this book and get it back to her.
I've had a few people work in it...and the art is wonderful! Colorful, creative, funny...thoughtful...and wise...but I really want to send the 
book back full and I need some more people to work in it. You can keep this journal for 15 days just like the other books and because of the size and binding of the book, it's really important that you are extra careful with wet techniques. Also, you can't remove any pages and things really need to be more flat than not. Since I want to be sure not to lose this book, I'd prefer to send it to artists I've worked with in the past. If you worked one of the collaborative journals...we've swapped art...and you want to work in this book, please send your name and address letting me know you want this book. I will post pictures of the book each time it comes back...if you don't respond quick, you'll have to wait until the book comes back. I will keep sending it out until its full...I hope to send Good or Evil back to Julie by New Years...so please, sign up soon!
Send your email to serendipityartist@yahoo.com with your address and mention the Good or Evil Journal so I know which list to put you on. Oh! And you should know, the pages of this book are lined so if that's not good for you, this isn't the project for you. Most people are using opaque acrylic paint just fine...but it is food for thought! You can see more pictures of this journal in the Mail Art Swap section of this blog. By the way, I call this the Good or Evil book because the saying on the cover is, "she has not yet decided whether to use her power for good...or for evil." Interesting...isn't it?
Several people have asked if I would host a collaborative journal project where people would end up with a book of their own. I have been kicking it around and I like the idea very much. So many of you have done incredible work in “my” books, it only makes sense that you’d ant a book too. So here’s the plan:
Each person needs a book. I suggest the Border’s sewn bound, hardcover Sketch Book. The pages are blank, but thick…and the size is awesome! That is the journal of choice for me…though I have tried many, many, many! Put your name and address in both the front and back cover…be sure whatever you use to do that is as permanent as possible. Then work in your book for 15 days…at the end of 15 days send me your name and address.
I will send you a list of other people that have sent me an email…and the fun will begin. You will print out your list and send your book to the
first person on the list along with 15 post cards addressed to you with postage. Every time you mail a book out send the owner of the book a post card with the delivery confirmation number and information on when you mailed it and to whom you mailed it. Each participant will keep the book for 15 days and then send it to the next person on the list, and so on and so on. The last person on the list sends to the first person on the list.
The rules are simple…try to keep all work flat, be careful with wet techniques/adhesives, send the book to the name under yours on the list,
always send the book with delivery confirmation and send the update post card the same day you send the journal to the next artist. So…this swap starts in 15 days from today. Don’t send the email until you’ve gotten your book and worked in it for 15 days. I will keep making
lists until the requests to participate trickle off. However, I will not track these books. I’m just facilitating the connection between artists.
Here’s the information I need for each participant:
Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Email Address
Phone Number (yes…a phone number!)
US and Canadian participants will be on one list…international participants will have a separate list…unless you say you want to be on an internationally diverse list and are willing to pay the additional postage to send to someone overseas. If books are not being received, please feel free to notify me…but I can’t do much more than to try to make sure that person isn’t placed on another list. If I find that someone is PURPOSEFULLY keeping books, I will post all your information on the blog. I have no tolerance for people keeping other people’s art. Sound bitchy? Sorry…I just can’t take anymore of that!
Now, I'm NOT talking about posting someone home address on my blog if they are late sending back a book. I'm talking about people who openly state they like the book and won't send it back...or say they won't send it back because they want this one instead of their book...you know the people, the ones that take because THEY want and have no interest in what OTHERS want.
I'll be interested to see how many people want to try this....so I guess we'll see in 15 days. I will post a reminder in a week or so...I hope people will really work in their books...my intent is that people NOT receive blank books to start. Blank pages are daunting, to say the least!
I have been blocked for awhile now.
Losing Quincy was hard and I just didn’t feel good. See, Q was my studio partner and I was struggling to create here in California anyway, but when we had to put him down everything seemed to just slip away. I couldn’t write, I could barely journal and creating visual art was absolutely out of the question.
And instead of fighting it, I just slid into it the abyss.
I stopped worrying about updating my blogs, I stopped working on the book and although the mini-zine did get done that was by the grace of God because NOTHING else was getting done. I know, I know. I’m talking about a DOG…but he was my very best friend and letting go wasn’t an option, so I held on. The problem is, when you hold on to something that you need to let go of… you can’t hold on to anything else.
If you’ve never been severely blocked, you can’t know what I mean…but for those of you that know this pain…it’s enduring and hateful. It seeped into my "real life" and left me restless and speechless. I moped, I cried, I ate too much then too little, I drank beer for breakfast on Saturday mornings and watched more TV than any human should – especially one that doesn’t watch TV. Then fear took over.
I became afraid that my art wouldn’t be able to find its way back to me if I didn’t let Q go…and I still wouldn’t have Q! So…I forced myself to get my studio here in Cali. set up. I ordered a printer, shedder, floor mat and a work chair (which hasn’t arrived yet, but that’s OK). I bought some incredible new paint at Michael’s (and it was cheap/on sale). A trip to Ikea yielded magnetic work boards for $13! I love having a place to put stuff I need to look at and think about -- I’d been putting them off for months, but they are now up and look pretty cool in my funny little bungalow. I also cut my hair (yes, I cut my own hair…because my hubby isn’t here…he usually does that sort of thing. The upside of marrying an engineer is if you show him a diagram on how to do something…he can get it done! He even relaxes my hair…and no one does it better…he just follows the directions and Poof! It’s gorgeous every single time).
Once all the set up was done…I sat down at my art desk, in my stand-in chair, and went to work. First I addressed the 1001journal that arrived a few days after Q left. I laid out the bones of three spreads…the Glossy paint I picked up at Michael’s is incredible. I love how smooth the surface is after I’m done and the colors blend beautifully. The pages don’t stick together either, which is always nice…though a non-event for me because I almost always put a permanent protective sheet between my pages in a swap project. I’ve learned it’s the smart thing to do if I want them to survive.
This is the first 1001journal that I’ve gotten and I feel awful for keeping it as long as I have, but they don’t have strict guidelines…thank God! I was going to do heavy artwork in there, but the reality is I feel like words are in order since it is a journal project…so I’m taking the book with me on the road this week along with a few supplies. Not bad, huh? I figure it will end up a 5-page spread and then I’ll send it on to the next person on the list. If you’re interested in reading more about that project, check out the website: www.1001journals.com
Anyway…being in the studio all weekend, I ended up exhausted…utterly drained, sitting at my desk. I cleaned up and felt awful. My stomach was upset and I had a headache. I also experienced a drain on my emotional well being. None of the work that I’d done looked good anymore, I was lonely and became weepy. I needed to do some work-work, but all I could think was how much I hated my new job and being so far from my Hubby. I was also crabby because I would be flying AGAIN on Sunday back to Washington DC.
My mood got worse until I ended up in bed crying and telling myself it was time to quit this fiasco and go home! I fell asleep…and the dream that came was so vivid I remember the colors and smells as if they were not only real, but also happen just yesterday.
It was a super bright Southern California day and I was in the ocean. Now, for those of you that know me, you know that this was a dream. Although I live one block from the Ocean, I’m deathly afraid of large bodies of water and every little (and big) thing that lives in water. Yet, here I am in this dream in the Ocean…and swimming/treading water, neither of which do I really know how to do anymore. I was at the base of a long hill that dropped into the water and Quincy was walking along the top edge of the hill. I called his name and he stopped and looked down. When he saw me, he started down the hill…and although it got steeper and steeper, but he kept coming. I told him to stop…to stay…that I would crawl up, but he kept coming. He hunkered into a low squat and the hill became more dirt than grass and he began to slide down. I knew in "real life" his back hips wouldn’t be able to stand that pressure, but in the dream, he was more than agile…he was graceful! At this point, I knew this was a dream…odd thing, to be dreaming and know that you’re dreaming, but not wake up. It was truly a first for me.
I started swimming toward him, but began to get very tired because I had some sort of backpack on all of the sudden, but I never stopped to take it off, I just kept swimming toward the shore/hill. The tide caught me and it was seemingly pushing me back more than I was moving forward, but I kept calling for Q and stroking for the shore as he slid down closer. Then, I just couldn’t swim anymore. I was tired and Q was only half way down at best. I stopped and watched him, but I was sinking; though not drowning…just sinking. From under the water I looked up and Q jumped into the water. I reached out and I could feel him. Even now, touching him was so real…he could be sitting here watching me eat Cheetos and work on this entry.
We swam together…him towing me along effortlessly…then he was wearing the backpack. He was like a dolphin…swimming fast, but never too fast for me to hold on. I woke up as we were flying through the water…and there was so much joy in me that I got out of bed because I couldn’t stay tangled in the bed sheets. I spoke to Q there in the dark and I felt better…the odd thing was, normally I would have tried to get back to the dream, but this time…I was totally OK being awake. It was 2:30 am…and I would be getting up shortly to catch a 6am cross-country flight, but I was content. I was happy again. I am happy again.
Now, Q is in my dreams waiting for me when I need him. I talk to him here in the studio because I know that although he’s not physically here, he is always with me in spirit. I didn’t lose my friend; I lost my confidence…I lost my hope. The dream didn’t give that back to me, I gave it back to me by letting go of all the guilt and anger for not being there when Q needed me…and I needed him. Those hateful emotions blocked my ability to get inside of me…to hear my true self…to share my true self…to be my true self…and, therefore, I could not find Q – even though he was waiting right where I’d asked him to…I was keeping myself from Q, not the other way around.
I’ve gotten several mini-books/zines. One of them is scrapbook/crafty, one is photocopy art …on is hand written and bound with staples, but they are all interesting…unique. My plan is to mix them up and send them out to each other...meaning Bev sent me one, I will send her the one I got from Seuss’s Cat and Seuss’s Cat will get someone elses…and so on and so on and so on. Everyone on the Swap Shop List will get my next mini zine. I’m looking forward to printing and binding them this weekend so I can mail them before I leave. (I’ll be on the road for the next two weeks.)
By the way….I totally get how the concepts of zines and artists’ books get mixed up! When you get my next mini, be sure to check out the pages about Artists’ Books.
In the meantime, I’m finishing the artists’ book I was working on over the last few days of Quincy’s life. He was hurting too much to move around, so he pretty much stayed upstairs with me in the studio all day. I am a dog talker, meaning it doesn’t matter that they don’t talk back…I talk to them anyway and believe there’s a discussion going on. Q and I talked about layout and color and this is what came out of it.
The pages are made from paper bags. They are sturdy and took color well. I also added 
some dyed paper, purposefully selected thesaurus pages and several lines I cut out of a book I bought for my sister Catherine (she snarked about how "mainstream" the book was and how she doesn’t read "that type of thing" so I am cannibalizing it for the sake of art…and there’s no more book buying for Catherine!). I added some dimension with shaped paper clips because I didn’t want to glue the text to the artwork, and used a glassine envelope so I could include a few art calls.
I am hoping to do a few more books tonight…or at least get started. I’ve noticed Artists’ Books take me a long time even though they feel so simple…basic…when I’m working on them. I’m working with about 3 sheets of paper for pages and a cover, and I prefer a small format. I like intricate backgrounds, limited text and at least a few multidimensional items. I also find that even if the book doesn’t start with a theme, it ends up with one anyway…and the theme is often driven by color. Whatever colorscape I chose leads me down an undeniable path.
The pages I just cut for my next book have been painted green and are drying on my desk right now. As I write this I’m thinking about what kinds of papers I want to use in my backgrounds. I’m thinking about some interesting marbled sheet music I bought several months back…along with some old advertising postcards I brought back from Paris a couple of years ago. I have already clipped some text, but I’m getting terribly ahead of myself.
For me, text is the last thing to add…after I have the flavor of the artwork. I hate my handwrwiting and am prone to mind wanderings, so writing directly on my artwork is out of the question, but there are lots of ways to add text. Rub-on words or letters are my favorite right now…though stencils and stickers are acceptable to me if they work with the over all project. Stickers can make a project look "crafty" in a minute…and I don’t usually want that…but every now and then, it’s exactly what I need.
On a side note, I have to post this picture. This is Kelly’s dog Murray. She sent me two pictures of her babies (as I requested) and when I opened this photo I laughed out loud. Something about him…the look on his face…he looks like he’s just about to say something profound and mind-numbing! I sooooo needed this pic…as a matter of fact, Murray is my screensaver for the weekend! Thanks Kelly…he’s wonderful and I really appreciate you sharing your dogs with me Sophie is cute as a button as well!!
I lost my baby, Quincy, today. He was a 4 year old Newfoundland. He was my due North, my studio partner, my long drive buddy, my friend. He was a good dog and a major part of my family. My husband and I always knew we would have to make a choice when to put him down, but we were not ready to do it today. I hold the breeder accountable for Q's over breeding...the terrible hips, the soft shoulders, the rashes, bad ears. Those damn breeders took our money and ran, offering to send us a new dog ...why would I want another over-bred, sick dog...if it's not my Baby!!!! I still hear her shitty little voice telling me to "...just send the critter back". Fuck you, you Bitch! (Sorry.)
Quince, if you can hear me...look for Uncle Larry. You never met him, but he loved big dogs and he loved me. There, I bet he's healthy and young again -- he looks like my Poppa, but super tall, more football player than wrestler like Pop. Larry will look after you until I can get there.
Keep chasing the rabbits, maybe where you are now...you'll be able to catch one or two -- I know you didn't want to hurt them, just play. Ha ha ha! Look for Shogun too. He's a big, long-haired Akita (black and white). He'll be into prowling in the woods and people watching...or Cimmaron, an extra long German Shepard Mix -- he was a lay-on-the-couch-in-the-sun kinda dog and will probably be swiping sandwiches there just like he did here. Momma loves all her dogs , though they left too soon as well. They will show you the ropes and keep you company. I know you'll be OK if you stick together.
Lastly...Quince, if you can find your way to my dreams, I'll be waiting for you.
I'm sorry I wasn't with you today; that I was here in LA and not with you and Daddy...but, if you can find your way back...if we could just 
spend one more day in the studio...laying on the floor, eating Cheese Puffs...it could be good again. Just you and me, pastel chalk dancing in the afternoon sunlight, two Puffs for you...two Puffs for me.
I miss you, Q.