The postcard art group

        

                        

                                                                   the postcard art group

So I have been carrying out this plan for a little concept I have been thinking about for a while. Finding myself in this the age of digital media and social networking I would like to create a little antithesis of such, I find it full of too much virtual sentiment, it's too easy and I have an issue with that, I'm looking for some integrity, however I like the idea of sharing and creating so want to try to do it in a different way.

I like to create some small pieces of art, drawing, painting and collages and what have you on watercolour postcards and use the traditional method of sharing, old fashioned mail, as in the postal service.

I want to do so for number of reasons, I have an affinity with post, I like it, it strikes a chords like no other thing, it is still kind of magical that I can put something in a red box fifty meters from my house and it can go anywhere in the whole world for pence.... My dad also was a postman for fifty years so I guess it's in my blood. I get a bit tired of only seeing things on a screen too. There is a deep joy in receiving and sending mail, a commitment and sense of intimacy. The idea of sharing real things is refreshing and then sending on or not is also perhaps becoming a real rarity. My post is now so boring as well, I used to love writing and getting letters from friends and family all over and like to share it with others. Also physical things moving around and the risk and transient nature of a piece of actual artwork however small also appeals to me.

The group now has about one hundred like minded individuals round the world who are exchanging and sending, creative people open to sharing and all who I know have integrity, passion and creativity they would like to show, I hope more join in, the idea is to use watercolour postcards as a base for your work, they are cheap, standard size and very cheap to post. I get mine on amazon for about 3 quid for fifteen. Then to the art, whatever you want, spend as little or as long as you like on it, drawing, painting, thin collage, designs weaving, sewing, inks whatever. Can be a five minute doodle a painting, print...whatever... it's the physical act of sharing it that counts. I think maybe doing about 5 or 10 a month to share is a good start, too much and it might become a chore or ineffective...it might be more if you want but that seems a good place to start.

The individuality of it is what I like. Then you can just write maybe a title of the piece on it and in small script your address, this means that people can see who sent it and can respond to it if they want, also they can re post it to someone else who they think might like it, just a way of sharing. I understand some might have reservations about sharing address and if this is the case don't worry, you can send them to me without it and I will forward and receive and send 

At best it could be the start of an amazing , beautiful, creative experience and a way of seeing making and sharing some art first hand, at worst you might get some nice post once in a while....
Let me know by simple email if you like the idea, feel free to suggest improvements or ideas too, this is all in my confused jumble of a brain,

Yours in creative anticipation,

Michael M F X Rofe

Founder of the Postcard Art Group