Index Card a Day 2020

The Index-Card-a-Day Challenge is for

developing a creative habit, making art on an

Index Card every day, for 61 days...

(ICAD-June through July).

One of my art buddies said we all need a 

name tag like the one above.  Fair warning, I

guess, to folks who don't know about or understand

how all-encompassing our art habit can be!

(No offense intended toward anyone actually dealing with

a serious addiction, please take this in the light-hearted

manner in which it's intended)

You can jump in any time for the ICAD challenge,

 no need to "catch up."

Visit the DaisyYellow blog to find out more.

 I'm sharing a few of my cards so far...

The first week I went with a very loose

interpretation of the theme: typography, symbols,

found text and lists.  There are prompts each day

 for those who would like to use them, 

but they're not required.

I used watercolor backgrounds and collage.  On an

index card, you have to be careful not to get too 

much water involved.  I painted up several to start, and

after they dried, I put them under a stack of books

to flatten them out again.  Many art journalers 

prep their pages by painting background first, so

this is a similar idea.  Special thanks to 

Maia, an Instagram penpal who

sent some of the ephemera I used in collages.

Found text from a book, above. You'd be surprised what 

interesting combinations can result from cutting

phrases from an old book.  Most of my collages

include line drawings and details added with

a felt tip pen as the last step.

Above, cards 8-11.  The second week theme

suggested was: mark-making and organic

shapes.  Can you tell which card was inspired

by my spoon jade plant?  Cards 7-10 are

collaged. Card 11 didn't seem (to me) to need

any collage...I managed to stop before I 

went 'too far.' if that makes any sense.

I was delighted to receive some gorgeous

mail art recently from Kate Y.  She even

decorated the envelope with a mermaid's

tail! Just look at all the scrumptious layers

 and sparkly goodness! The postcard features 

dangling golden tags which can be

tucked into areas of the collage. I love it!

I sent a swap/return postcard to Kate decorated

 in Egyptian themed designs, 'cause I heard

she enjoyed them. Hope it arrives safely.

Throwing this in just for fun, 'cause it makes me 

SMILE!

and...

in order to participate in Elizabeth's T Party,

 I need to show something drink related.

So here's a hamster in a tea cup!

Visit Altered Book Lover blog to join us for

a beverage and a chat.

Pandemic Pages and Projects

The Hobonichi Challenge for April is

an Alice in Wonderland theme. Above,

white roses painted red, and the White Rabbit.

Some mail art postcards

and a bunny for Easter on an envelope.

A very three dimensional Easter card, hand

delivered to the In-Laws.  Haven't been to visit 

my own parents yet as they are isolating.  Hoping

the weather will warm up soon so we can go

over and sit in lawn chairs in the yard to

visit with them!

There are so many cute memes on the 

internet, and I just have to steal one

sometimes. 'Steal like an artist' as they say.

Sketched daffodils from my yard for a

card to send.

I really adore the original illustrations for Alice 

in Wonderland done by Sir John Tenniel.  But 

of course Disney's versions are pretty amazing too!

Did you spot the coffee cups that I include on my

pages?  They are my contribution to 'T for Tuesday'

over at Altered Book Lover's blog. It's always 

nice to share tea, coffee, and some conversation

with good friends!

Above, a few text pages that I've watercolored and

drawn on.  I will probably tear them up and

use for collage.  What creative projects 

have you been working on?

Follow me on IG:

dbcarey_2000

Mail Art

Mail art received from Kristine

in Denmark! Beautiful green leaves

stenciled onto cardboard, then green

duct tape to create a sturdy envelope.

Inside was this beautiful dried leaf

with white painted dots, and a quote:

"Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead

has never watched them dancing

on a windy day."

~ Shia Tamir

So pretty, and just what I needed on the

winter day that I received it! Thank you Kristine!

In return, I've sent...

...yes, two envelopes. One inside the other.

Inspired by the style of Nick Bantock's art work

 from the book series "Griffin and Sabine."

Includes stamping, drawing, labels,

colored pencil, reinforcement circles,

and a bird image from an old magazine.

Postcard inside the second envelope

I love Bantock's seemingly random, exotic images

juxtaposed with each other.  Since I had 

used watercolors on this postcard, I knew

it wasn't safe to send through the mail 

system 'naked.' And getting to decorate a second

 envelope was fun too! Across the bottom

 of the postcard I used some images from my Ohio petroglyphs research, done for a

Fake Journal in 2013.

It's really fun to get art in the mail!

 I recommend it!

Back of postcard with images and faux postage

Joining up for T Tuesday,

a beverage and a chat...

 

 

Happy Mail and Tea

Happy Mail from Diana Ryman

I received some delightful ATC's in the mail

this week from my friend Diana Ryman, of

Ravenna, Ohio.  I had requested the theme

of Dia de los Muertos.  I adore the pieces 

she created!  Oh, that bunny! Made my day...

Ladybug ATC's that I sent to Diana for
the swap: pen and watercolor

Diana had requested ladybugs from me, so

I did a couple of watercolors from images online.

Hobonichi Challenge prompts: fern; hazelnut

I've switched to drinking tea lately...hard to

believe, I know. Tea bags make for interesting

collage materials, don't ya think?  Linking up

for T Tuesday over at Altered Book Lover's

blog. Stop by for a look-see!

Prompt: Brown bear

Drawings in my Hobonichi A6 daily journal...

usually no more than 3 1/2" wide, since 

the A6 is only about 4" x 6" in size. So if

you're viewing this on your computer 

monitor, the image is larger than the

original art work.

Prompt: Dragonfly

The theme for the challenge this month

is "A Walk in the Woods."

Prompt: Clouds

Prompt: Birch trees

Prompt: Moon

Prompts: fox; deer

To all those who celebrate Thanksgiving, have a

wonderful holiday!  Even if it isn't a holiday in 

your neck of the woods, it's a very positive 

thing to pause and be thankful each day...

blessings to you!

Mail Art from Denmark

Mail Art from Kristine in Denmark....

whom I met at a monthly art group when she

lived here in the U.S.  She's a very sweet lady,

and a talented artist.  When she and her

little family decided to move back to Denmark,

we knew we would miss her, but so glad

they are enjoying being near family and

we can stay in touch on-line. 

When Kristine offered to swap Mail Art, I

jumped at the chance.  I love the 

contrast of the stenciled white design on 

the brown craft paper.  A similar design is 

stenciled on the green card. 

Have you gotten any

artistic mail lately?

Bug Mail Art

Eric Bruth has been kind enough to send

a reply to the paper bag mail art I

sent to him.  He has colored some

lovely foliage to coordinate with the

wonderful stamps on the envelope.

Inside was a sweet post card...

and I couldn't agree more 

with the sentiment!  Eric posted

photos of the mail art I've sent him

on his blog My Mail Art World.

It's an entertaining look at the mail

art Eric has sent and received. 

Thanks Eric!

Valentines

Valentine for my grandson~

modeled on a popular video game Halo figure.

Sharpie pen and watercolor.

This was a challenge, but really liked 

the way it turned out!

Valentine for my granddaughter~

she is taking tap/jazz dance lessons

for the first time, and loves it.  Sharpie

pen and watercolor.  The dancer's outfit

is pale pink, but doesn't show

 up very well on my monitor. 

Hope you have a colorful,

Happy Valentine's Day!

♥   ♥   ♥

Mail Art

Chinese New Year

is celebrated in late January or early February,

based on a lunar calendar. I confess, I don't

comprehend the calculations, and I found

conflicting information on the internet as to

what date this year's celebration begins.

According to Wikipedia, it is January 31 this year.

2014 is the Year of the Horse.

Above, a post card created for mail art.

Gesso over scrap cardboard- 4" x 6".

  I drew on the dry gesso, then 

inked with Sharpie marker. Watercolor was

applied, then highlighter in pink and orange

(in the flower petals) along with colored pencil

and gold marker.  Red and gold are the colors

considered to be good luck...

T Tuesday: Tutorial

Black and white Halloween postcard

 collage on 4" x 6" cardboard.

Start by cutting scrap cardboard to 4" x 6".

Tear old book pages into strips.

Glue strips of text to the printed side of the cardboard.

I used Aileene's Tacky Glue, staggering the pages for

extra interest.

Trim around the edge of the postcard with scissors.

Paint over the text with gesso.  You can wipe off some

of the gesso with a paper napkin so more of the text

shows through. 

Use some paper scraps for the collage in colors that

you would like to use. I was going for a black and white

theme, so I used a limited palette. Scrapbook papers, 

painted papers, (as below) the inside of security envelopes,

and Dover clip art are all good choices for 

black and white designs.

The leaf on the right was from a Dover clip art book,

but you could draw or stamp one too.

I used a hair dryer to quickly dry the gesso.  I begin laying

out collage elements and moving them around to make

a pleasing arrangement.

I drew the vintage-style pumpkin myself.  These features

are pretty easy to imitate...

Notice the square of security envelope got moved up

to the top right corner, and more pieces of the painted 

paper were added to it.  It is usually a good idea to

repeat some motifs or shapes within the composition.

The leaf on the diagonal top left serves to lead your eye

into the composition.

Detail of the vintage style pumpkin, above.

"Jolly Halloween" was hand-written onto black

card stock in white gel pen.  You could certainly

stamp letters on strips of white paper and glue to 

black card stock, or even print them from

your computer.  To finish, I usually add some

pen work. Here I've added pen strokes behind

the pumpkin and behind the leaf.  I also added

an outline with a few curlicues around the 

outside edge of the card.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial with your 

tea (or beverage of choice) today.  Visit

Bluebeard and Elizabeth at 

Altered Book Lover, for Tuesday 'T.'

Stop by again soon for more

Halloween inspired fun!