Only Originals

Experimenting is good

Received this morning from Carien van Hest, a beautiful hand-made card in a recycled envelope which included a packet of bright pink hollyhock seeds--and a packet of tiny paper napoleon hats (which brought a big smile, & gave me a great idea of what to send in return! Thank you, Carien!

Oh I like that reminder, Susan -- and can use it about now --

très belle surprise dans mon mailbox ;-) Merci beaucoup Luis Filipe!

du bois ... boîte recyclé, allusion sympa. 

From Luís Filipe Gomez. Very handsome portrait.

All the way from Canada. I love what you did with the hats, Awyn!

I do not know the mail artist that sent me the postcard I posted on tuesday. I would like to send mail art in return. Please let me know if you sent it.

Thank you Susan Gnaedinger for the beautiful drawing and illustrated envelope with work of your mermaid-serie!

I received awesome mixed media artwork and envelooe from Sil

I still have not figured out the sender of the mailart, but this us the front of the card i posted earlier in the week. It has a lot of depth. 

I began  mailart   more than  25 years,  and always only Originals !!! ....I sent  more than  3 to 4000  mailarts  and  always to enjoy  my friends ! 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I often make linocuts or letterpress prints; do these count as 'originals', or can I only make one print?

@Alan: Each fresh print is an original. As you know in graphics it is customary to add the edition - like 8/50, 1/10, and so on. But I don't think that - if any - is required in mail art. 

   From Coco Muchmore -- Faces with a little story

From Jan van de Pol, the Netherlands came this typographic piece:

RECEIVED from Rome Smith--It's always such a treat to receive a handmade original... the LIGHT is just POURING out of this one. 

THANK YOU so much!!

Received this from Sil a couple of days ago. It is quite wonderful. Some actual plants combined with her drawing.

The photo needs a counter clock wise turn

Received mixed media postcard from Jan Hoffman yesterday.

Received mixed media original zine from A. Becerra

Received from awyn--

I just LOVE this!!

A bundle of joy from Amanda Becerra. Thank you!

Received from PM Wilson--another great composition!! Oh, to peek in on this studio! :)

Awesome originals from Susan Weisberg from the U.S.A. Very inspirational, thank you! (last picture with assistance of my husband)

Ahh the time and love in this one! Thank you so much for the Mermaid, Susan Gnaedinger! I feel that I should make a wish from seeing her! Thank you so much! A return is on the way :)

Original art from Thea Hollister--love this thought-provoking creation!!

Original art from Coco Muchmore. Autumn Leaves Series. For World Postcard Day. I am so excited to get one of Coco's oil pastel postcards! 

I received an envelope with good stuff and a oil pastel postcard from coco

Received today from Carien van Hest.  And when you lift the little white lattice up, you are greeted with a smiling face!   Thank you, Carien!

I recieved mail art from Susan Gnaedinger. Thank you Susan, lovely surprise!

Received from Cheryl Roeske--Awesome abstract with wonderful texture!

Glad you received it, surprised it took this long!

RECEIVED -- From Susan Gnaedinger--Look who swam ashore! Thank you so much, Susan, for such a sweet treasure!

Received a few days ago from Jan Hodgman

Received création originale ATC 528 from Richard Baudet. Magnifique! Merci. Art postale on it's way to you in return, Monsieur Baudet.

And so wonderfully presented, too, Rome.

Inspiring! Thank you Carien for you art. I can imagine the excitement of discovering just the right book at a thrift store for making your unique art envelopes. I have never thought to check thrift stores. Now I'm excited about the creative prospects. Also, I've never seen a photograph weaved into intriguing art. Thank you so much for making these and sharing with me.

Received from MOMKAT Nikoltson in Greece-- This juxtaposition of dolphins and lemons is so compelling... wonderful work. Just wonderful. Thank you!

Received two awesome linoleum prints from Sabrina

Received fabric collage and wonderful envelope from coco.

Good discussion point, Melanie. As long as it is not expressly stated, I do not use other people's mail art as a basis for my own work. 

 I frequently incorporate the "bits and pieces" that people include with their mail art work; I assume that's why they're there. I don't rework a complete piece unless I've been invited to do that, but I may occasionally have been guilty of taking bits off a piece and using them in the new piece I send back to the original artist. I never send these things on to other people. I like the idea of mail art as being a dialog, and I've always been done this with good will, but maybe I've crossed a line I shouldn't have.

I sometimes incorporate things that look like "bits and pieces" too, but I wouldn't remove part of an original piece to use in a new piece. Sometimes there are gray areas. I like the idea of signing pieces to indicate that they are finished and shouldn't be further changed.

Received from Susan Gnaedinger--a joyful fairy to keep me company in my studio! Thank you so much, Susan!

I received a beautiful hand-painted "Neurographic" card from Coco Muchmore, in a coffee-themed envelope made from a donut bag, along with its namesake's historical origins.  Thanks also, Coco, for the delightful ephemera, including the mini handmade envelope with a list of "lucky numbers", one of which, coincidentally, is actually my perceived lucky number!  How did you know!?  :)