It works both ways, Chuck. This all started about two years ago this Spring when I started doing what I always wanted to do - ART - as a second career. The full story behind the art work included on this piece of mail art is covered in my post in June of 2009 called First Cup Of Fascination. Chuck also covered it pretty well this AM on his blog - One A Day - Mostly Seattle.
I paid a visit to Seattle in late January two years ago to make a trip North into Canada to spend an afternoon with Author and Artist Extraordinaire, Nick Bantock. How it came to pass that I would spend an afternoon in his studio is a story in itself but not the subject of this post. The subject of this post is an artist with a camera lens who just happens to be my brother-in-law.
One of the first (if not the first) piece of old paper that I acquired was a 'book' of sheet music that contained four pieces of music for the Pianoforte - the forerunner of the Piano. Contained in the book were four songs about Venice, Italy, the first of which was entitled 'Dawn'. I knew that Chuck had made a trip to Italy several years ago and had taken many photographs of Venice. When I asked him if he had any photographs of Venice, he pointed me to his web site so that I could look at what he had available. I found a photograph which I knew would be perfect for a model - a cup of coffee.
As I mentioned earlier, Chuck posted a scan of this piece of mail art this AM on his blog. As a matter of fact, I grabbed the image from his post because this is the first time I've been able to show you what a piece actually looks like after it's traveled through the mail system.
I also would like to thank Jennie Hinchcliff, one of the co-authors of Good Mail Day for the idea of using an unthreaded sewing machine to create perforations for stamps of my own design.
I'm off next week for another trip to Seattle to: see Chuck and his wife (my sister) and to shop for old paper. And of course, I'll have to sip some coffee from Seattle's Best (AKA Photo Guy) and Starbucks while I'm there. And oh yes - I'll be looking at photographs for models for more mail and Old Paper Art while I'm there.
And please stop by Beth Niquette's The Best Hearts Are Crunchy, view some of the other participants blogs, and thank her for once again hosting Postcard Friendly Friday.
Hope your coming trip to Seattle is as successful! Happy hunting. Looking forward to seeing more of your marvelous mail art. Happy PFF!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I love old paper things, one of my passions. I love history, but not to the extent that you work with it. Thanks for posting. I never thought of putting something through the postal service that I have created to get the postal marks.
ReplyDeleteHappy PFF!
Hugs- Tete
it looks wonderful! I really hope you can join me for my new meme Sunday Stamps, which opens again late Saturday night. it is for featuring stamps but yours above would be perfect also.
ReplyDeleteThe stamps show that the unthreaded sewing machine works a treat. Wishing you good luck on the trail of old paper in Seattle.
ReplyDeleteHowdy Dave
ReplyDeleteHappy PFF to you .
What a really great post you shared
with us today.
May you have the best visit ever and enjoy discovering a super paper trail while you are there ! Enjoy your weekend .
Until next time
Happy Trails
Have a wonderful trip to Seattle! Hope you find lots of old paper!
ReplyDeleteI like your mail art. I got inspired from Bantock's books, but when I tried to make mail art I just got frustrated.
ReplyDeleteLove how the stamps have worked out. Enjoy your trip and the paper shopping. You will have to tell us about the Bntock experience. Ya know we are dying to hear now!
ReplyDeleteGreat story. Enjoy your trip and I look forward to hearing about your adventures.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Dave. It's hard to believe it has only been 2 years since you made the decision to go art full-time... Wow - thank god for Nick Bantock and your trip to Seattle aye!!
ReplyDeleteCool artwork. I haven't visited One a Day for a while. I'll have to look it up again. :-)
ReplyDeleteI know that Seattle's Best (love their coffee) and Starbuck's (not so much) are the places to go, but if there's either near where you are, check out Peet's and Batdorf & Bronson Coffee's if you get a chance. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou left me one of the truest, most wonderful comments ever on my BON/Saul and Pippah post, and I was touched. Then I strolled over to you blog and found a kindred letter-sender...and envelope artist. Saul and Pippah would certainly approve. I would be honored to be artsy pen pals, in the real world or just on the page.
ReplyDeleteI have been off the fire for a while but am feeling better now and getting some steam back up. Nice to read this post and go over to see Chuck's place. I thought of you several times but never got around.
ReplyDeleteI liked this post a lot and wondered if you ever considered getting some real parchment or vellum from London? I did a few years ago and got an old deed to several blocks of London. Which in itself is fascinating. I don't remember the routine used to buy it but found the links back then in a magazine. Snail mail days.
When it warms up some I plan on getting into the garage and looking for that deed.
ReplyDelete