I started making little paintings when the Covid craziness started, back in the middle of March. Originally I thought I was going to send a card to someone each day, in the hopes that it would make them smile amidst what felt like panic and fear. Then I realized I’d have to go to a store to buy cards. And they were expensive.
I don’t exactly remember the first time I googled ‘easy water color pictures,’ but there were a bunch of ideas. I started saving ideas into a folder, not anything specific for people, just little things I thought I could replicate. And I had some old, dried up watercolors on a pallet from years ago…and some paper somewhere in a bin in the basement.
So what the heck, I hand cut some rectangles the size that would fit into a small envelope and started out. I’d paint something and if it wasn’t too awful I think about who in my address book might like it. And then I’d send it off.
One a day, a little bit of a smile, sent through the post office, to someone who might be surprised and happy to get mail that wasn’t advertising or a bill.
Eventually I started looking for specific things for people I knew. A crane for someone who always has a family of cranes she watches each year. Musical instruments for musicians I know. A black cat for a friend that has three of them at home. Another black kitty for someone who’s black furbaby just died.
I started watching youtube tutorials and trying to recreate the fun things I saw there. A lot of that is abstract, filled with doodles and color. Those are so fun, but harder to place in good homes.
I’m still doing this, though now I don’t mail one every day. It’s taking me longer to get them done, some of them are getting more complicated and have required more than one attempt.
I haven’t shown you the failures yet.
Still, I’m plugging along. I posted on Facebook a week or more ago that I had completed a few, and now I have a list of people hoping to find smiles in their mailboxes someday. I’m working through the list…but I’m also just doing stuff for fun.
My biggest challenges are those for people where I have a specific idea and I’m having trouble executing what’s in my head. Some of you may fall in this category. At this stage if you haven’t seen a smile it’s because I’m stuck on something that isn’t working and I’m still trying to figure it out.
Sometimes I get in my own way, you know?
And, of course, if I don’t have your address, well, it’s hard to mail you a smile. I just sent some to our family in Norway, and I have one ready to go to Canada, but I’m not showing you that one because it hasn’t left yet and I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.
Anyway, this is a rambling post just to share with you all the fun stuff I’ve been doing. The pictures in this post are the latest pieces, done since my last post about all of this. I’ve sent 80 so far, but I’m definitely slowing down.
If you’ve received one of my smiles I hope it worked and you’re smiling still. If you haven’t, and you would like to, well, message me on FB or email me, and I’ll add you to the list.
Be patient though…you just never know when a smile will strike!
June 28, 2020 at 6:27 am
I love all your cards and I want to say that you are very talented with your drawing and painting. I am doing the same as you but mine are not as detailed as yours. I had ordered a 100 pack of loose sheets of watercolor paper and just ordered some large envelopes. These would be cute to sale in sets of 8 with envelopes and tied with a ribbon. Give etsy a shot it might surprise you how well you do.
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June 28, 2020 at 4:29 pm
Maybe I will check it out. So far I’m enjoying no pressure to complete anything.
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June 28, 2020 at 7:01 am
Your card is STILL sitting out among other precious items. It’s so cool that you do this and that you’re such a talented artist.
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June 28, 2020 at 4:30 pm
I’m glad you’re still enjoying it. It was one of the very first I did. They have gotten progressively more complicated. But I liked your forget-me-nots a lot.
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June 28, 2020 at 7:30 am
You and your artistic talent! Music, photography, painting, blog writing. Katie has a very talented Mom!
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June 28, 2020 at 4:30 pm
I’d send you something wild and crazy like your life, but I need an address.
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June 28, 2020 at 8:24 am
These are fantastic. I see just as good, and lots that are way worse at art shows. I’m sure it’s good for your soul too.
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June 28, 2020 at 4:31 pm
These are definitely good for my soul!
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June 28, 2020 at 8:46 am
I think you are very talented!!
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June 28, 2020 at 4:31 pm
I’m learning more and more the further I go. So much to see and learn on YouTube!
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June 28, 2020 at 6:56 pm
I am gonna have to take a look, cause your work is pretty great, Dawn.
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June 28, 2020 at 10:19 am
You are so talented!! And your post made me SMILE!! Love all, and I wish I had time to try my hand at water color. I Love how you can enjoy some beautiful water color paint crafting and share smiles too! So FUN! 😀❤️
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June 28, 2020 at 4:32 pm
This has been a really fun project. I’m slowing down now, not pressuring myself to mail one a day now, but still getting a few out a week. I’m glad they made you smile!
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June 28, 2020 at 10:54 am
Every day I look at the card you sent. And I surely do smile. Dawn, you truly have a flair for watercolor, not an easy medium. What a fabulous, creative way to deal with this pandemic. Kudos to you!
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June 28, 2020 at 4:33 pm
Watercolor is definitely not easy, it has a mind of it’s own. I watch tutorials and it looks like it just flows, but mine always looks heavier than what they do. I’m working on that. I loved that little picture that I sent you. So simple and sweet.
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June 29, 2020 at 11:26 am
Many, many thanks!
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June 28, 2020 at 10:56 am
These are wonderful!
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June 28, 2020 at 4:33 pm
Thank you Michelle!
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June 28, 2020 at 10:57 am
Beautiful- I’d buy them! (instead of store-bought “Greetings”)
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June 28, 2020 at 4:33 pm
I don’t think they’re worth purchasing…but they definitely are worth a smile!
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June 28, 2020 at 1:09 pm
You just made me smile. Ok, story time for the little bird, k?
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June 28, 2020 at 2:25 pm
I’ll try to remember to post it next.
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July 3, 2020 at 11:20 am
The little bird story is up now!
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June 28, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Love the purple and blue owl — and I’m glad you’re still doing this. Lots of smiles coming to folks in the mail, as well as smiles on your face when you’re creating. A win-win! (I don’t see any Shelties in that mix — guess they’re pretty hard to do, huh??!)
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June 28, 2020 at 4:34 pm
Oops, thought I responded to you, but instead I made a new comment. See below. LOL
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June 28, 2020 at 2:24 pm
In my “purple and blue ” image there’s a sheltie shape that I doodled on. Sent it to a young lady who plays clarinet with me in our band. She has a sheltie named Violet so I put a violet on at the bottom. That’s as close as I’ve come to doing a sheltie. So far.
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June 28, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Dawn your cards are just too beautiful for words. Every one of them. You are so talented.
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June 28, 2020 at 4:35 pm
I think anyone can learn some of these techniques from YouTube. And then it’s just a matter of trying until you get something you like.
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June 28, 2020 at 11:58 pm
Hi, Dawn – Not only is this an incredibly thoughtful and generous thing to do, your cards are very beautiful. You have talent! I saw a post from Laurie Graves about the card that she received. You defiitely brought a smile to her face, and to all of our faces just thinking about the kindness and what we can do to show extra kindness to others. It needed now more than ever!
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June 29, 2020 at 10:43 am
I think, as someone said, it’s a win/win. I love doing them and I also love sending them off to people. I’m glad Laurie liked the sweet little painting she received.
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June 29, 2020 at 6:01 am
You brought a smile to my face with this blog post.
Nicely done!
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June 29, 2020 at 10:43 am
I’m glad! 🙂 See, now I’m smiling too!
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June 29, 2020 at 12:16 pm
What a fantastic gift, spreading smiles and heartfelt warmth. And those postcards are so beautiful!
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June 29, 2020 at 12:23 pm
Thank you Otto! I have so much fun doing them!
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June 29, 2020 at 8:31 pm
That is some pawsome painting. Perhaps Katie could do some pawprint painting.
Gemini
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June 30, 2020 at 9:03 am
Katie says she is a princess, and princesses don’t get paint on their feet. Unless they want to of course. She’ll consider the idea.
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June 29, 2020 at 8:40 pm
You’re doing beautiful work! I’ll bet even the “failures” look good.
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June 30, 2020 at 9:03 am
Well, parts of them are good, but overall, not so great.
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June 29, 2020 at 9:54 pm
Dawn, Your cards are beautiful and your generosity to personalize the cards to the recipients is amazing. Thank you for sharing some of your artwork on your blog. Have a great week ahead!
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June 30, 2020 at 9:03 am
Thank you Natalie. You have a great week too!
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July 1, 2020 at 12:27 am
Love your artwork, who ever gets a card is truly blessed:)
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July 1, 2020 at 4:49 pm
I sure love making them!
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July 2, 2020 at 7:44 am
Wow – very impressive, and kind, you’re doing great! That’s a wonderful way to spend time during this pandemic. I bet you’ve created many smiling faces in the process!
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July 2, 2020 at 5:09 pm
Wow Dawn these are amazing. Works of art
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July 2, 2020 at 5:23 pm
Thank you Arbie!
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July 7, 2020 at 7:59 pm
Dawn, you art watercolors are so full of joy. I love them so much. Thank you for the card and thinking of me. I have it up in my kitchen and makes me happy each time I see it so I put them on a little vessel for you. I hope you got it in one piece. You are such a talented and special lady!
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