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5/10/2013

Liberate Your Art Blog Hop

The month of April, I participated in the Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap 2013 over at Kat Eye Studios.  Over 1200 pieces of art were sent out all over the world.  I was so thrilled to be included in this event and plan to not miss it next year.  This was my first year and so fun!  We were to take a picture of our art in any form and make it into a postcard.  We sent five postcards and received 6 back.
They arrived once a week for 6 weeks and made mail time the highlight of the week!
 
   Here they are in a group. I have to find a special place in my studio to display them and am still working on a plan for that.

This is the postcard I sent out.  I took this picture with my Nikon DX5100 using my 300 lens and set on continuous release mode.  I used the quote "life is the flower,  for which love is the honey" by Victor Hugo.
 



The first postcard I received was from Gail at OXOX in Rhode Island. She took this after stacking this cairn.  I was able to contact Gail and love this picture. A quote on the back says " Always be on the look out for the presence of wonder." by E. B. White.  I love this author and have some of her books.  It also spoke to me, because one of our sons-in-law stacks cairns whereever he is...Hi Jason.


This post card flew in on a very cold gloomy wet day and just made me smile.  It is from Janice  from jmeyersforemanphotography. 

  Thank you janice--this just makes me feel like I am out in this field watching the bird in person. It was taken in the fields in Canada....................


When this arrived I was having a very difficult time with my surgery recovery and it was so cold and wet and I love Tulips.  It gave me hope that spring was really just around the corner.  I love the details in the petals and leaves and the varigated colors.    The way we are looking down on the buds let us to see how they are starting to open.  This quote says,"with each bloom comes an openness unknown- bloom, my love.   Thank you Michelle. I am not sure where you are located but suspect the UK?  I promise to get an email to you right away.

Caroline sent this from Illinois.  She is a professional photographer where I am a beginner. It was interesting the day this arrived.  I had a best friend visiting from out of town and we were actually sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee and having a great gab fest.  Caroline included this message on the back." Find the Miracle in simple things. Rid the excess and rejoice in the freedom of lightness. We thought this was such an approriate picture and says it all.  Caroline I have never thought of such a simple, every day picture.  It speaks volumes to me.  I even love cream in my coffee....sigh
Helen sent this from England.  I am still mesmerized by the techniques here and have lots of questions.  I can't wait to go to her site and read more about it. At first glance, I thought it was a picture scratched out on black paper then I realized she must be taking a picture of the shadows in the tall grass?  I have so much to learn about photography and am so inspired by this.

 
This last post card is from Kat the mastermind behind this art liberation. So impressive.  I need to see what she says about the techniques she used her. The more I study it, the more details pop out that I didn't see on first glance.
 I cannot thank you enough Kat for letting me participate in this wonderful event.  You really inspired me to put myself out there and do something I truly love.  I have always been self critical about my art and am so new to photography that I don't show much because I don't want any one to laugh, you know how that goes?

But this was a first step for me and a HUGE one.  I am so excited to push myself to learn as much as I can.  I might even be brave enough to send out my real art  in the form of drawings or my mixed media next year!
For those of you I haven't contacted yet about your personal post cards, look for my emails soon.



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31 comments:

Snap said...

This was my first year to participate. Wasn't the video wonderful? I'm enjoying the hop to see what treasures everyone found in their mail. Lovely post.

Katie said...

Lovely cards! Everyone's days were brightened!

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed seeing your postcards and reading about your reactions to them. What a wonderful experience Kat has facilitated for all of us!

JansArtyJunk said...

Wonderful post...Love your postcard.. Fab photo and great quote...and what wonderful art you got in return!.. I'm enjoying hopping around all the blogs to see what lovelies everyone else got in their mail :)

Anonymous said...

The photograph you sent out is stunning! And I love all the pieces you received. Looking forward already to next year's swap!

twil123123 said...

Great post, both the work you received and that you sent are all remarkable.

Anonymous said...

I remember being scared to death the first year I participated (this is my third). I still get butterflies over choosing, printing, and sending out my own work. Your card was really wonderful - I love that photo. You got a lovely collection of art in return.

DianeSchuller.com said...

I LOVE how you truly tell a story about the cards! One of my favourite posts so far in visiting the blog hop.

The Mann Fam said...

Nice post. The swap was such fun and now seeing and reading how the the art was received is a treat.

Helen said...

This has been such fun - I do hope you continue to spread your art! So glad you liked my card - it's very special to me - my son and I standing on a bridge overlooking a bed of reeds - just captured a 'moment!!

Suzette Rothlisberger said...

This was my first year to participate! I had so much fun...didn't you? I love your postcard and I'm sure those who received it loved it too. And the postcards you received...priceless. See you next year!

lynn cockrell said...

Catie An, all of the postcards you posted are wonderful. Your postcard definitely does not look like the work of an amateur or beginner. It is gorgeous!

Sinderella's Studio said...

AMAZING collection!

Kat Sloma said...

Yay! I'm so glad that this helped you share your art. It was a positive experience, wasn't it? I already can't wait to see what you share next year. Thank you so much for participating!

Ahayes1225 said...

Your cards are wonderful!

M said...

The cairne is my favorite. (stacked rocks)
Also, you header is dreamy. I love it!

Anonymous said...

I love your bee! And the cards you received are beautiful. So glad it was such a meaningful experience for you.

craftingwithstyle said...

It's really nice to read your thoughtful notes about each entry.

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed reading your post, what beautiful cards! It has been a wonderful experience, hasn't it!! Looking forward to next year!

Anonymous said...

Really great collection of cards that you received! Love the one you sent out - bees are amazing when you can capture them on candid camera :-)

Joanna said...

Wonderful postcards, they look super together!

Michele Matucheski said...

Lovely cards. What a great way to connect with fellow creatives!

Karen said...

Beautiful photography sent out, and lovely cards in return! I really love this project!

Jo Murray said...

As always, a great and inspiring swap.

Anonymous said...

So glad you decided to come out and share your wonderful photography! There are no judges here...only admirers :) Cheers to you! Sheila

Lovely art you received in return too!

GailO said...

I didn't get a chance to participate in the blog hop but it is fun to look through everyone else's posts! It is fun to see my postcard here and I am glad you liked it:) you got six beauties!

Unknown said...

Beautiful work and a lovely collection in return.

Becs said...

Beautiful cards both sent and received. Love seeing all this inspiring art. :)

GalleryJuana said...

Wow, amazing bee photo. And the bee's shadow on the petals gives it another dimension. Cool quote that you chose.

I remember taking photos of bees for an hour at my parent's place. I didn't have the zoom lens strength like yours, so I was literally in the orange tree, surrounded by all the bees humming around me flitting from one orange blossom to another. I loved the whole sound and fragrance of that day.

Marrianna said...

Hi C,

I loved this from Caroline who sent you a postcard: "Find the Miracle in simple things. Rid the excess and rejoice in the freedom of lightness." I feel like it was just the message I needed to read today. I just wrote about this in my email. You'll recognize it when you see it. Anyway, I copied it and will print it up and put it somewhere I can see it often.
M

Marrianna said...

Hi again,
If I miss Kat's sign up for the 2014 postcard swap, would you remind me, please? I'm going to put a not in my Google calendar to pay attention to Kat's newsletters. I'm already subscribed so now I need to read them. What a concept.
M