Post Card 11 Sleeping Cat to Netherlands

I have another postcard to the Netherlands.  Netherlands and USA are my main destinations.

• Topic Alexandra listed her main likes for postcards as fairy tales and cats.  I decided on cats again, but I did not want to do another realistic one like the Coon Cat, while that was very popular.  I decided to do a sleeping cat.  The way cats curl up to sleep fascinates me and I found a great picture of one curled around almost upside down.  I started to outline the picture with a few lines so I could get the proportion right on the postcard, then stopped.  I liked it just as it was.  10 lines was all it needed, loose, free and a bit abstract.
• Medium  Having got the lines on paper, I simply went over them in black pen and that was it.  Hopefully less is more.
• Outcome  I like, but I know what it is, showed others and they got it finally.  So not sure how it will go down, but I love the flowing lines and its enigma, maybe it is just like cats?

So enough of the cats, I need to give dogs equal time.  Where are the dog lovers on Postcrossing?

Post Card 10 Melbourne Tram to USA

It has taken me some time to get back to the Postcards, I have been throughly emersed in doing the larger pieces that they got put to  one side.  But is was nice to get back to smaller quick works again, so a couple of days in bed with the flu has given me the chance to do a few more postcards and I have enjoyed the work.

• Topic  I was also stuck in what to do for this card as Jason main interest was in maps, including train routes.  So as I was not ready to draw maps I thought on the transport theme and decided to do the iconic Melbourne tram.
• Medium  As a break from the heavily saturated colour work I have been doing I decided to do a black and white drawing and used black markers.  It was great fun, so nice to work so immediately and in such a graphic way.
• Outcome  Apart from a couple of woopses it worked really well.  My flu mazed mind made a few mistakes but the overall drawing achieves my desired outcome.

Post Card 9 Bathing Boxes to Poland

I have to admit that the postcards have slowed down as the art work has increased.  I may be turning from the occasional artist to the obsessed artist, but I have squeezed this postcard in.

• Topic  Kate in Poland prefered postcards that showed views of the country that they came from.  Wasn’t sure to do an Australian scene or something more local.  Since we have finally had our usual lovely autumn weather of warm still days with cool evenings and we have all been outdoors lapping up the last of summer, I decided to do a drawing of our local beach and the iconic bathing boxes there.  When researching the image I came across photos that showed the city center in the background.  That is such a typical view of Port Phillip Bay on which Melbourne is situated and the greater city of Melbourne wraps itself right around the bay and you get great views back over the water to the city.
• Decided to keep it colourful and simple, coloured pencils again, but by themselves to give the colours the washed out look you get under our harsh Australian sun.
• Fairly happy with the outcome, pretty much got the perspective right, had a couple of revamps of the sky, but it has the feel I wanted and love the composition.

Hope Kate likes it and now back to the art work, Grevillea coming along well.

Painting in Return

Yesterday I received a fabulous surprise.  Not only had a postcard arrived for me, (this is the third), but it was a beautiful painting done especially for me!!!

This was so special and for a couple of reasons.  The first was because someone had taken the time and effort to not only paint me a picture but chose a topic close to my heart, cooking.  I love the softness of the watercolour and the choice of colours are beautiful.  Such a nice contract to the high intensity colour I like to use.

The scan has not done it justice, the background is a soft wash of that lovely teal colour and there is much more detail that hasn’t come out.  Magrietha covered the painting in contact so it could be sent as a postcard without damage which is a great idea, but I think it has affected the scan.

I also love this postcard as now I know what it is like to get a hand painted card made especially for you.  I do hope that my postcards have given/will give a small amount of the happiness to their recipients as this one has given to me.

Thank you Magrietha from Rotterdam, your card has put a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.

Love Postcrossing

Post Card 8 Lighthouse to Barcelona

This was an interesting postcard.  Jordi has been a Postcrossing member for five years and had a great profile.  There were many areas of interest and I had a lot of ideas but Lighthouses were one of his favourites so I went with that.

• Topic  I decided to do a drawing of Cape Schank Lighthouse which is not only one of the closest lighthouses to were I live, but I also have a been in it.  A friend of mine knew one of the last light house keepers of Cape Schank, and we went to stay a weekend with the lighthouse keeper and his wife.  Had a great time, but my best memory is of sitting up in the tower, watching the sun go down and being told stories of what it is like to be a lighthouse keeper around Australia.  What an amazing experience!
• Decided to keep it colourful and simple.  Acrylic and coloured pencils.  Simple shapes and high wide horizons.
• Happy with the outcome, I don’t do a lot of architectural drawings, but a lighthouse is nice and simple.  I love the white against the blue of the ocean and sky.

Hurray!  Jordi loved his card and replied

“Hola Karen!
Thanks a lot for your wonderful Cape Schank Lighthouse postcard, without doubt the most beautiful lighthouse postcard I ever received, i looove it, you´re a BIG artist!!
Please, you can send me your address? I´m really happy if i can send you a Barcelona thank you card in return. 😉
Your card put a big smile in my face, you make my day happy, THANKS!!!
All the best, Jordi”