Postmarks and Pens

"Schoolhouse"
Pen and Pencil drawing on 1905 envelope

I have another Open Gallery Night coming up this Friday, and I've been thinking hard about how I can make my little wall stand out amongst all the other studios full of beautiful paintings. I want to offer something special and unique that can only be found in my little space. At the same time, I don't want to compromise my own inspirations and my own vision about my art, just to appeal to potential buyers. It's a fine line. (No pun intended)
But several unrelated ideas in my head suddenly came together this past week, and I'm sort of excited about the outcome.  I was browsing around at the local flea market, looking for cool jars or yarn balls, or other things to draw, and I saw a box of antique envelopes. I was totally mesmerized by them; the handwriting, the places, the dates... and some of them had letters inside them still! My imagination just soared as I thought of the stories that these envelopes held. I had to have them! 
I decided to draw something that was befitting to the date or place on each envelope. I also bought some antique newspapers, sheet music,  and a few old documents to draw on. Then I drove around town taking photos of a few old buildings that I loved to use for reference photos. (The baseball scene is from a photo I took at the Reds' playoff game, but I changed the uniforms to the vintage Cincinnati Red Stockings.)

 A long time ago, l did pen drawings for the Sketchbook Project, if you remember. I forgot how much I enjoyed the quickness and ease of working with a pen, and the challenge of not being able to erase or paint over. I think the pen also invites me to be more spontaneous and take more risks with the drawing. You'll notice the background foliage is very free and impressionistic. That's not typical of me, but it was fun, and I didn't worry about ruining the drawing, since I had only spent one day on it, rather than my usual two or three months.

"Chester Station"
Pen and Pencil drawing on 1908 

I'm hoping that I'll have something unique and special to offer that sets my work apart from other artists. Something to make people remember my work, but I can stay true to my own style and my own inspirations. 

Making my art has to bring me personal joy and satisfaction, first and foremost. Selling it, showing it, and reaping accolades are just extra little pleasures. The bottom line is that we do it because it's fun. Remember that!