A few days, or was it weeks ago, it’s so hard to keep track these days, I posted about mailing a letter to someone each day of this crisis. It was something to keep me busy and I hoped it would spread a few smiles around at the same time.
Well…it morphed into doing these little postcard-sized water colors and writing a note on the back of them. And that turned into such a fun thing that I look forward almost every day to sitting with my paints and snippets of paper. You never know what will emerge.
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, these are not original images. I googled ‘simple water colors’ and found most of them. Then I use the images as inspiration. I have to say that what I end up with isn’t entirely like what I see on my laptop.
But I like them anyway!
They are all like my children, and each morning I pick one and mail it off to someone, hoping it will find a good home. Some are harder than others to let go, but the idea that I can go find more to paint is motivation to send them on their way.
I think I’m getting more smiles out of this project than the people who receive them. After all, I get to see them all assembled together and I think they have more impact that way.
So I’m sharing them with you, because I can’t mail one to each of you, and this way you’ll get to see them all anyway!
I hope they made you smile!
April 7, 2020 at 10:14 am
They are lovely! Do a Sheltie one! 🙂
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April 7, 2020 at 1:50 pm
I’ve been thinking about it…but kind of would like to do Katie…don’t know if I can…but I’m gaining confidence with each one I do, so maybe…
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April 7, 2020 at 10:19 am
They’re great! It doesn’t matter where the inspiration came from, you painted them, so they are your originals 🙂 And I am sure they are appreciated in their new homes.
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April 7, 2020 at 1:51 pm
I think they are appreciated…I hear from most people when they get them in their mailboxes.
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April 7, 2020 at 10:33 am
Dawn these are all beautiful!! You are so talented. They will perk up whoever is the lucky receiver 🙂
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April 7, 2020 at 1:52 pm
I hope so, that’s what they’re meant to do. Lately I’ve been trying to do something that is specific to the person I mail them to. That takes more time, but has been fun. For instance the black cat is going, tomorrow, to a college friend of mine who has black cats. This one reminds me of one of hers who has crossed the rainbow bridge, so I hope she sees that too.
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April 7, 2020 at 10:44 am
These are fabulous! Way to be awesome! And they all brought a smile to my face and I’m sure they are bringing smiles to your loved ones.
Bravo!
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April 7, 2020 at 1:53 pm
Thank you very much, Nancy! They sure are fun to do. I ran out of water color paper and am now using acrylic paper, which isn’t really working well, but I consider it just another challenge. Water color paper has been ordered and is impatiently being waited for.
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April 7, 2020 at 1:56 pm
Looking forward to more!
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April 7, 2020 at 10:48 am
The cat card…! These are all wonderful, Dawn.
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April 7, 2020 at 1:53 pm
Thank you Lois! Thought you’d enjoy the cats!
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April 7, 2020 at 11:09 am
Thanks for the mail. I’ll take them all especially the cat 🐱. Doing art is now trending to calm minds.
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April 7, 2020 at 1:54 pm
I think it’s a good trend. Hopefully we can continue once things return to the old ways. If they ever truly do go back to the way they were. Might be better for all of us if we don’t go back to exactly the way things were…
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April 7, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Actually, this is the old way where we do things at home. I don’t want it to go back to “normal” before covid. Internet can stay tho.
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April 7, 2020 at 11:13 am
Dawn, you are sooo talented — I always wished I could draw, but I do good to do stick-people! This is a real win-win project, making you as happy as the receivers of these cards. Great idea! Who knows? Maybe after this crisis is past, you’ll want to continue doing your painted cards, perhaps to strangers in a hospital or nursing home … or maybe to schoolkids?!!
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April 7, 2020 at 1:57 pm
My mom used to teach art to my girl scout troop, and to other groups as well over many years. People used to say things like “I can’t draw a straight line.” to which she’d reply, “There aren’t any straight lines in nature.” I always think of that when I hear someone say they can’t draw. I can’t draw very well myself…but I’ve learned to see things in terms of shapes we can all draw, circles, triangles, rectangles and such. And you know, stick people can be very cute in water color. Hmmm….maybe I’ll try some of those too!
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April 7, 2020 at 2:26 pm
You know, it’s probably like a lot of otheer creative ventures: you get better by practicing. And rather than say I can’t draw, I probably ought to admit that drawing doesn’t satisfy me the way writing and music do. Just a difference in people! Your mom was very wise.
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April 7, 2020 at 11:21 am
These are all beautiful. What an inspiration to try this!
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April 7, 2020 at 1:58 pm
Yes, give it a shot, in whatever medium you like to play with!
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April 7, 2020 at 11:45 am
Cute cards! That Cat one made me smile! I am sending out cards in batches…about one a day but only mail once a week:) I think it makes people feel better:)
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April 7, 2020 at 1:58 pm
I think so too, at least that’s the purpose of them. Plus they make ME feel pretty good too! Love your cards, and the idea of them, which is the underlying idea for mine! Thank you for the inspiration!
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April 7, 2020 at 1:42 pm
Good choices for images! I particularly like the ones where part is not visible: The blue flower, the cat, the butterfly. I think it gives them more depth.
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April 7, 2020 at 2:00 pm
I like those too. I sent the butterfly and the dinosaur to two young kids in NYC, the grandchildren of our best man at our wedding. I hope they like them! Can’t imagine being cooped up in a small city apartment when you’re 5 and 7!
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April 7, 2020 at 1:44 pm
I think they are marvelous. Lucky recipients!
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April 7, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Thank you! I kind of like them too!
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April 7, 2020 at 2:01 pm
What an awesome idea and the watercolors are great too. Dinosaur wins my vote!
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April 7, 2020 at 2:04 pm
I sent that to a 5 year old boy who lives in NYC. I hope he likes it too!
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April 7, 2020 at 3:53 pm
These are delightful and they made me smile!
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April 7, 2020 at 8:33 pm
I’m glad!
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April 7, 2020 at 8:58 pm
What a lovely SMILE!! Made me smile and what a great idea! I agree with you, they are really fun to see altogether so thank you for sharing them all with us!! 🥰🤗❤️
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April 8, 2020 at 10:44 am
Well, thank YOU! Glad they made you smile!
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April 8, 2020 at 4:25 am
They are wonderful and definitely made me smile, but all that really matters is if they make you smile.
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April 8, 2020 at 10:44 am
They are so much fun to do, almost as much fun as taking pictures. Almost.
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April 8, 2020 at 8:02 am
I love them. Every single one but I think you’re right about seeing them all together. It’s a beautiful collection of your talent. 🙂
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April 8, 2020 at 10:45 am
Yes, I like the collage of them. And I have noted that I’ve gotten more vibrant than the very first batch…but I might work toward more translucent in my next batch. We’ll see.
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April 8, 2020 at 10:49 am
You are talented. Your cards are pretty and I just know that they’re being loved in their forever homes. Carry on, my dear.
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April 9, 2020 at 11:24 am
Thank you, so far I have mailed nineteen of them. I hope I can keep going until the stay at home orders are lifted. We’ll see. I need to get going, I am mailing my last one tomorrow. Time to get painting again!
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April 8, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Such a cute idea. Love the artwork.
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April 9, 2020 at 11:25 am
Thank you!
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