Swap Happy

Time again for another iHanna DIY Postcard Swap.  

I've just resigned myself to the fact that

if it's all the art I do twice a year,

it's the art I will blog about.

I could vow to blog more, make more art, etc., but right now, I'm going to

give myself credit for making art and sharing it...making it and just

sending it away, to others who are making art

and sending it away.

It all started with a binge of making foam stamps, in faith, 

knowing one day I would use them to make art.

(I was inspired by Traci Bautista's printmaking lesson on Strathmore's website

where they have free workshops.  Sign up for a student account!)

So I made a bunch of prints on watercolor paper that I had colored-up with 

goache...a long time ago...just playing with the goache...going nowhere...until...

...these goache-painted papers got printed up with my hand-made foam stamps!

Playing with these foam stamps is a messy business...pure joy!

Then, I decided the postcards I cut from these papers needed more art.

And the doodling began.  The papers were bright and inspired a swirly doodle...

But I was a bit impatient, I learned,
because the different paint surfaces (not thoroughly dry)
had a disturbing effect on my various black ink pens.
One by one, the Sharpies (brand new!) stopped working
on the different paint finishes.

I switched from pen to pen to finish all the postcards.
Fortunately, I had just hit a sale at Staples on Sharpies sets!
It was meant to be!

The last component, inspired by what I had made,
I started thinking about the word "psychedelic"
and decided to look up the definition.

I created my own "dictionary" entry and printed it out, knowing
I would do an adhesive transfer to get it onto each card.

Packing tape would not do...but I had these self-adhesive laminating sheets.
Perfect!
It's important to have your copies laser/heat printed...no inkjet prints will do!

I cut the adhesive transfers a little bigger than the cards
and wrapped the edges around, then glued on a postcard back.

Everything safe and secure for the journey to my swappers!

I hope you enjoy your cards, my friends!

Thank you for visiting!

XO

Sarah

Greetings from 92007

Once again, ihanna is giving me a reason to make art.  I love her for that! Her spring DIY Postcard Swap is in full swing and I am receiving mail art every day.  That is a real treat.  It is also a wonderful excuse to drop everything and make 10 postcards to send out in the mail.  

I decided to create a series inspired by the California beach town that I call home.  

Everyone who lives here is grateful everyday for the beauty, atmosphere and community we share.  

I wanted to share it with some fellow artists that live far away.

[photo by Tess Gardner]

I started with a State Parks of California map, 

and wrote all over it with a big Sharpie, 

all the words and phrases I could think of 

that describe our amazing life here.  

It was a big map and there were a lot of words! 

 Over that, I brushed a coat of gesso

and then scraped on some blue hues of Golden Fluid Acrylics:  

Cerulean Blue Deep, Teal, and Manganese Blue Hue, 

the colors of the ocean and sky in Cardiff by the Sea.  

I took this photo with my iphone today, no filter!

Then, I set to work making packing tape transfers using my Gelli Arts gel plate, 

following this tutorial video.  So much fun!  

These I layered on top of the painted map pieces, added some hand drawn palms with black Copic marker and rubbed on the letters.  

Thanks for visiting!