Page 5 - POSTCARDEBOOK2020
P. 5
HOW THIS EBOOK WORKSHOP STARTED
The idea of Postcards to Myself came to me in 2013 when I taught a collage
composition workshop at my studio. Each student
started with an 11x14” substrate of archival
matboard. We added images and words to the
surface, and then previewed 5x7” sections with
a precut mat opening to see what made good
composition. Every section seemed to have a
different story that changed as we moved the mat
A 5x7” “Postcard” exper- around on the substrate.
iment (left) inspired the
larger work below It occurred to me that this would be a fantastic way
to create small works from risky experiments. We could see what worked and what
didn’t, and then save the smaller sections that had promise.
I took it one step further for myself and started taking notes on each process as
I worked. For example, on the top left is one of the “postcards” that you will see
in the videos. I took notes on how the cheesecloth reacted with the paint and
images, and it inspired me to use the same techniques on a larger piece that I
5x7” Postcard Inspiration piece loved (below).
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Maybe you have been discouraged by trying to paint in an abstract manner with
acrylics. This “postcard” method lets you play without stress just to see where it
takes you. You’re sure to find a section you like, something you can cut out, learn
from, and take forward. The big secret is to jot down notes – nothing fancy – and
attach the notes to the work. You’re writing a Postcard to Yourself to remind
yourself of where you were on that part of your creative journey.
JUST A NOTE
This is the most personal ebook workshop I’ve made so far. I filmed each video in
“real time” with no revision. I wanted you to be right there when something didn’t
go right, when a problem had to be solved. Amazingly enough, every experiment
16x16” Lyn Belisle, Mixed-media Fiber Piece, “Same Page” (2020) worked out and at least two wonderful “postcards” came from every workboard.
5
