Nancy Bell Scott's Blog – August 2011 Archive (22)

Or just "minimal," or just "abstraction": Helen said that she is studying abstraction, when she answered my (very) appreciative comments to her posting of photos showing her abstract explorations from the same series as above.  In my view this is "advanced" abstraction, meaning it looks to me as if it came from an artist who has been through many phases of abstraction.  In any…

I think this is wild and wonderful:

Guido titles this "The Firebird" on the front, saying that it was "inspired by the music of Igor Stravinsky."  I can see that, and am extra delighted that this envelope painting is big: 9" x 12 1/8".  I appreciate all of Guido's work, and the size really doesn't matter to me, but he had to paint on a large envelope this time because…

Orrin & Sadie's 1963 Christmas card:

Sadie wrote a bit more of a greeting to the recipient on the back.

Nadine wrote to me on the back, "Was this the best picture Orrin & Sadie had for their card??"  I have to wonder that along with ya, Nadine.

As a fan of Nadine's funny envelopes and fantastic handwriting, I'm including both sides:…

First we have the caterpillar climbing asemic writing and a branch:

Then we have the ultimate butterfly on the back:

I love the composition and subjects, and don't know how Svenja knew that I'm a wildlife creature lover, but another one graces the…

Aug 14 Baltimore Sun article titled "Unsettled Scores":

Wow!!!  Others may know of Will Redman, but I'd never heard of him before and was…

Katerina's work is always graceful:

The scanner doesn't quite do the blues justice, but they're beautiful, as are the asemics. We are still hoping that an earlier one she sent with olive pits stuck on it will turn up! And because it is hard not to post envelopes and Katerina's is so pleasing, here it is:…

... including Theresa's truly wonderful epistolary poem on the back:

I find Theresa's epistolary poetry awe-inspiring -- have become a big fan -- and this may be the best yet. In very few words, she paints a picture that allows you to see the real Emily…

She was obsessed with sex and appearance the day she sent these:

They're everywhere in these delightful pieces. My favorite tip appears…

Starting with the envelope Patricio Duprat sent them in: Patricio promised me three treasures, and he included the three special items below.  But the envelope is very much a fourth treasure.  The tiny printing/writing around the edge of it just amazed me -- how is it possible someone can use a pen that small? -- and then a reading of it revealed that he had taken quotes from…

Here is the art (but not the poem):

This is such a thought-provoking, mysterious, and visually appealing piece, by itself;  and here is a postcard she included that is related to the art and its concerns (and also to the epistolary poem I'm not at liberty to post because Theresa is having some accepted and some still considered for publication):

Front of pc:…

Alicia sent this piece that fascinates me: The ragged edges along with the hints of rulers, punch cards, hole punch -- favored office supplies of not long ago -- make an intriguing combination. And it's all brought up to date with her wonderfully loose asemic writing.  I see punch cards because those little horizontal marks in varying rows remind me of the stacks of punch cards…

... in that I whooped and hollered, I'm so thrilled with it:

To me this is a really fine work that includes elegance, contemporaneity + history, and mystery. The red and black/brown giving the face its soft-tissue structure and expression are a bold move, one that I find very successful.  The eyes are fascinating and enigmatic -- sometimes I see them as spookily blank,…

What a nice guy:

It was Angie&Snooky, I believe, who received this recently, and I commented very covetously about it.  Voila, Carl sends me one of my own!  Of course one of the best parts is this, on the back of the envelope:

There…

Don't you love it!  "Primitive mail artist found 2011."  I love it, Nadine.  Second smaller card is "Los Angeles Subway," 2008, done by Nadine.  The people's expressions are priceless, as are the ads, especially Call a Date.

Nadine, because we both have a thing for antique ephemera, included a quite-out-there "My Diary" paper written by a woman in 1933.  As Nadine…

I love these:

It's a wonderful talent you have, Georgia, and I'm very happy to have these.  I can send you more cards -- am loaded with them -- keep any for your collection that you like too much to use.  The face I painted for you was my very first, and it was rather sad, wasn't it!  Next time, a happy face for you.  Thank you very much…

One inside, one on the envelope:

Lynda Jo's drawing style gives us very expressive subjects -- look at the eyes! -- yet with a beguiling looseness in her hand.  Not easy to accomplish, but it looks like it comes naturally to her.  I'm very happy to have these -- thank you so much, Lynda Jo…

This could be read so many different ways:

I love the asemic writing, and the cut-off poetic text at the top right.  And the shape of the piece itself!

Here is the inside, which you see after flipping the front page up vertically:

More…

Received from Mim Golub Scalin, "Minimal 3 + graphite": Shortly before this arrived, I was admiring Mim's photos section, which at the moment was carrying what appeared to be a series of which this is a part.  Big surprise when the postman showed up!  Very appealing collage, and my scanner is sorry that it doesn't do orange well, damn thing. Thank you so much, Mim!

and…

Seeing and touching these in person is amazing:

Her style is purely unique, unlike any other.  The next piece has the attached anchor, which can be placed anywhere depending on your mood due to its movable string.  I know the anchor is black, but I am also taken with the collaged text on its back side, so I'm showing that side first:…