Starting Mail Art

[Bruno Andrews]

So I just joined but I really don;t know how to start or what is acceptable to mail.  I have artwork that I would like to send on 6x6 and 8x8 canvas boards but where can I go so send my artwork?  Do I send to strangers, friends, family, etc?  

Please give me some insight.  I did check out the "New to IUOMA" page; while it was helpful, I still feel a bit lost.

Any advice or tips??

Thanks!!

[Gü]

...or support handmade and look at supplies sold on https://www.etsy.com/

[Linda Rogers]

I took a course some years ago that involved mail art and each project involved an idea, a word, a phrase to spark maileable art (postcards or regular letter-mail size only to send to a selection of addresses.  I enjoyed that activity, was speaking about it the other day and set out to look for a group doing something similar. 

[Chorianopoulou Maria]

Hi!It will be a real pleasure to receive your mail art for my Project THE POST!
https://resistmailartfestival.blogspot.gr/search/label/THE%20POST%2...
Maria from Greece!

[Human Artist Vending Machine LTD]

don't send mail art out of the blue..is what I found out on here..better to ask first.. most people are cool with art trades..but that one person..might freak

[Francis Lammé]

For stARTers, I would say: check the postal service website about sizes and weights you can send for how many stamps. Then, all thd creative things. Who are you? What are your quirks? What do you want to share? What materials do you have that are lightweight? What would you like to receive? What do you wsnt to experiment with? So basically, what do you want your art to be like? What kind of fun are you looking for? 

Then you can make something and send it to someone.  Or choose someone to send something to and use them as a muse, see how that is different from what you are inspired to send someone else. 

Some people don't like political mail or skulls or spiders. Usually those things are mentioned near the place where you can find their address. 

More random inspiration to get you started: wordsmithing, excerpts, snippets, mixed media, trash poetry, color combination, texture, passion, remix, absurdity, wonderful discovery, obscure and alternative,  intelligent juxtapositional puzzles, a stamp and a sticker, doodles on different surfaces. Whatever flows out of you, call it your style. °○•●°○•●°○•●~~》¤▪︎☆▪︎¤《~~●•○°●•○°●•○°

Hope this helps you on your w@y. It re@lly is @ll ok@y!

[servat c]

servat Carlos

calle 54 n 1193

1900 La plata 

Argentina

[James Chester]

Honestly, I think mail art should be more about sending than receiving.  However, I do keep close track of every piece of mail are I receive so everyone gets a piece of art in return, if a legible return address is included. Sometimes there is none. That said, it can sometimes take a year for me to get to it.  I use the "new members" list to find folks to send art to.  Most people send something back.  There are some folks I've been trading artwork with for nearly a decade now and I do have five shoeboxes full of artwork people have sent me at this point.

I think a good way to start is to get one of those water-color postcard packets from your local art or craft supply store. Make a dozen pieces, and send them to random folks you find here.  I'd do some new people, some who've replied to this post, and some who've posted artwork you like.  I'd save the larger pieces for later, after you've gotten some artwork back.  

Be sure to keep it fun.  If you're not having fun with mail art, you're probably doing it wrong.