BRUSHSTROKES

JOURNAL LAUNCH: CALL

2007-04-22T20:42:00.000+05:45

AN IDEA IN PROGRESS

Ready to send out another journal into the world to witness and holdthe marks made on it by artists, writers, be-ers everywhere.
Its a blank journal.
You may do what you like in it.
Save destroy it.
Or someone else's contribution to it.
If you would like to work on it, leave me a comment here or email me. I'll add you to the list to send out the journal.
* UPDATE

I have to say this:
Part of the aim of this project is to build a group of artists/writier/thinkers who connect deeply, explore ideas or concepts, P.L.A.Y. so please commit to this if you would like that. Lets not surfacely scan each others work. Lets try and understand.
Maybe emails often or. promts and responses. or choose a theme for the entire journal.
you choose.

** UPDATE

Once I have the lst complete, I'll post the group you'll be working with (i've got 2 journals going out now, because there are several people and I want to keep fairly small groups.) meaning you'll know the people involved in the same journal as you intimately.

I'll draw two sets o lots for this.

First one will assign a person to each participant for whom you have to make an art shrine in the journal when you receive it.

Art shrines are basically tributes to a person or object. Its can be as elaborate or simple as you like.

You'll get a name and you'll spend the time till you receive your journal discovering more about them, visiting their website, trying to understand them better and then make them a shrine in the journal when you get it.

So each person will have a layout dedicated to them in the journal.

The other draw will give each participant a diferent name. This is the person to whom you have to pass on the journal after you're done.

Keep the journals for no more than 2 weeks, please.

However, within this time frame feel free to create as much in the journal as you like.

Also, "things happen" to us all and we are unable to fulfill commitments we've made. Should this happen, and should you find at any time that you are unable to work on the journals please pass it on to the person after you even if you have not worked on it. At the end of the list (don't worry, there are very few people per journal) I can send it back to you to fill if you are free then.

Thanks.

***UPDATE: please email me at mahimashresthaATgmailDOTcom with your email and postal address so I can get the lst started and get everybody in touch!!

Cafe Journal, the first draft

2007-04-12T19:10:00.000+05:45

Ok, this is still an idea in infancy.

Its a journal- an art journal, but ot necessarily for extensive art.
It can be just mine or be travelling, in that it will be mailed to people in other parts of the world and they will contribute.
The essential idea is this:

it will necessarily have journal and art entries done in cafes.
sketch people around you.
include overheard conversation.
draw the logo of the cafe, include a picture if you like, the address of the cafe.
rate what you ordered and what you liked best about the place.
take it to one cafe or as many as you like.
maybe set aside 2hours a week to visit a new cafe and do the entry. or visit the same one several times.

when i have more on this, i will post. meanwhile, if you have anything to say, do say it! :)

doodle page II, november

2006-11-24T17:11:00.000+05:45

doodle page, november

2006-11-24T17:08:00.000+05:45

2006-11-24T15:38:00.000+05:45

THIS IS OUR CURRENT PROJECT: MAKING THE FACE FOR THE PRODUCTION. THIS IS AN OPTION WITH CHAMKI'S HAND

ATC for TRADE

2006-11-02T17:42:00.000+05:45

This is part of my series of
RULES FOR LIFE
ATC's. Also ongoing.

ATC for TRADE

2006-11-02T17:41:00.000+05:45

This one is part of a series called:
1001 WAYS TO RELAX

This is an ongoing swap.

ATC for TRADE

2006-11-02T17:37:00.000+05:45

This one is a trade for the theme "Hearts". Its a set of three.

PIG, ATCs

2006-10-31T18:20:00.000+05:45

ATCs for the 3 ATC series on PIGS

ATC SWAP- OPEN

2006-10-31T18:18:00.000+05:45

FACES, KATHMANDU

My current ATC swap is

HAIR SALONS AROUND THE WORLD.

There are just a few hints and guidelines.

Firstly, this is an ATC swap, so all entries have to be 2.5*3.5inches.
Besides that, the idea, medium, etc is all free.

So visit your salon. Pick something- or several things- that strike you and create away! It could be a hairstyle, a model, a product, the logo…

Let me know when you're ready to swap :)

HAIR SALON AROUND THE WORLD, ATCS

2006-10-31T18:17:00.000+05:45

THESE WERE BOTH DONE IN FACES SALON IN KATHMANDU.

2*2 ART

2006-10-31T18:15:00.000+05:45

Art that is made of 2*2 inches of paper is another favourite for trades. These are part of a set i'm sending for the SMALL ART PROJECT.

[for more info on the SMALL ART PROJECT, visit www.mailart.org]

For me, 2*2 ART is basically like ATCs but smaller. So make anything in 2*2 and send it along for a swap!

DOODLE DIARY

2006-10-31T18:14:00.000+05:45

An entry for the DOODLE DIARY swap

T.R.A.V.E.L.

2006-10-31T18:12:00.000+05:45

ART JOURNAL SWAP

2006-10-31T18:11:00.000+05:45

A journal entry titled ME IS HAPPY BECAUSE

my entry for FACES

2006-10-31T18:10:00.000+05:45

RULES FOR LIFE

2006-10-31T17:34:00.000+05:45

an atc for the RULES FOR LIFE series. Titled
INDULGE IN LOVE.
Up for trade

TRADE-ABLE ART

2006-10-30T18:21:00.000+05:45

My new tradable art- ATC's, 2*2 art, etc. etc. will be posted at flickr, at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77948957@N00/sets/72157594350288076/
should you be interested in a swap and i haven't posted what you want here, you can either ask, or check this link to see if there's something you want.

several more ATC's, received

2006-10-25T15:51:00.000+05:45

PROJECT 8

2006-10-25T15:08:00.000+05:45

PROJECT 8

THE VICARIOUS TRAVEL PROJECT

This one is simple and lots of fun. Choose a place near where you live, or visit a place nearby that you haven’t visited yet. Take a few pictures. Write a little about it. Draw some maps, reflect, tell me what’s special or great about it. What’s there to see, eat, buy, look at? Compile it into a short, travel writing type article and send it to me with your name and address. I’ll do the same for you.

doodle II

2006-10-25T14:29:00.000+05:45

here's another example of a doodle page

PROJECT 7

2006-10-25T14:05:00.000+05:45

PROJECT 7

A MONTH’S DOODLE DIARY

This is from an old practice that many of us “journal artists” kept- and swapped. It’s a monthly Doodle Diary. Basically, you take a sheet of paper and divide it into 30 (or 31, depending on the month) grid squares. Number each one serially (that’s your date). Write the name of the month somewhere on the page and your name. Each day of the month, draw something in the box corresponding to that day- it could be a little drawing to highlight some aspect of that day, or just a random bit of doodling or musing. If you want to explain or add to something on your box for the day, feel free to include a write up with your doodle diary. At the end of the month, send the month’s page across to me and I’ll send mine to you. For this, of course, it’s best if we decide at the start of the month- it doesn’t have to be the calendar month. We can start whichever date we want so we can both have ours ready at the same time.

Here’s a picture of a doodle diary page. It can be as similar or as dissimilar to this as you like. :)

MAILART, ATC's

2006-10-25T11:42:00.000+05:45

This is part of the inside of my cupboard, full of mail art and ATC's from artists, creators. :) ATC's are basically 2.5inches by 3.5 inches in sizes and they're called ARTIST'S TRADING CARDS. you can create individual ones or create several based on a theme. and you swap just like everything else here. the small peices to the right of the picture are all ATC's. the larger postcard sized ones are mail art.
thank you to all the senders. :)

NEW MAIL ART CALLS

2006-10-23T16:35:00.000+05:45

here are 3 of the newer mail art topics, for those who want to respond to these. these, like all other mail art cals on this blog, are ongoing. so feel free to respond whenever you like and send it across! :)

NEW MAIL ART CALLS

For

FACES

THE VIEW FROM MY ROOM

SELF-PORTRAIT

PROJECT 6

2006-10-23T13:01:00.001+05:45

PROJECT 6:

THE COLLAGE SWAP

This is for lovers of collage (like me). Decide on a collage size (default for me is usually postcard size: about 4*6), and if you want a theme for your swap we can decide on a specific topic too. Otherwise, it’s freestyle. Just collage and send it over and you’ll have one from me asap. :)

This is ongoing too. This is usually one of my most frequent swaps and most fun too because there’s always so much variety!

This picture is of a collaged page of my friend, Hershini on the street behind my college.

PROJECT 5

2006-10-23T13:01:00.000+05:45

This here is one of my pages for the HAND PROJECT

PROJECT 5:

THE HANDS PROJECT

This is one of the oldest projects and still very much ongoing. Most people have, by now, about 6 or 7 entries to it and are still doing more!!

Here’s what it is:

Draw an outline of your hand and cut it into the shape of your hand. Draw, paint, collage, write, whatever you like, on ONE side. Write your name at the bottom and mail it.

If you have more than one idea, multiple entries are welcome :)

2006-10-23T00:19:00.000+05:45

PROJECT 4

LETTERS

Letters are another perpetual love for me. I write and speculate and dream on paper and I love to see other peoples thought processes, lives, dreams on paper. So write me a letter. Draw in it if you like. Colour in words you like. Try new fonts, colours, strokes- I’ll admire your creative boldness. There can be no mistakes. Tell me about anything you like- you. Your life. The smell of that tree you love. The rain. The view from your window.

I’ll tell you about me. What I think, love, believe.

2006-10-23T00:05:00.000+05:45

PROJECT 3

ART JOURNAL MAIL

Well, this one is for all those who journal in colour and illustrations- or those who would like to. It can be a journal entry of any kind- about anything: a regular day entry kind, or a reflective kind, or funny- anything. A page off your journal- or atleast something that could just as well be a page from your journal. :) create one- or two, or three:)- and mail it. I’ll mail you back a page from my art journal – since I regularly keep one, you’ll get the most recently done page off that. :)

So go on:
write, draw, confess, rant, rave, colour, tell…

PROJECT 2

2006-10-22T17:09:00.001+05:45

COLLAGE SWAP

This is another o.n.g.o.i.n.g. swap.

If you’re a creator of any kind, it may be likely that you’re also a collector. So, put together about (atleast)15 collage elements that someone else can use in their collages. This may include found objects, fabrics, cut outs of images and words from magazines, bits of coloured or printed paper, or swatches of cloth. Put them all in an envelope (this should fit into a regular office size mailing envelope) and mail it. You’ll get yours soon after :)

PROJECT 1-MAILART

2006-10-22T17:09:00.000+05:45

PROJECT:

MAILART

I’m a p.e.r.p.e.t.u.a.l.l.y. i.n.s.p.i.r.e.d. mail artist. Any mail art is welcome (don’t forget to include a return address!) but if you’re looking for a specific topic to respond to, have a look at my list of ongoing mailart topics:

DOORS

COLOUR

DREAMS

WORDS

write it. seal it. mail it.

the photograph is of some of the mailart i have received recently and which i'm n the process of responding to. thank you, to all those who sent these across. they made my day! :)

Introduction to Mailart

2006-10-22T16:53:00.001+05:45

Since I’m starting by listing my mail art projects first, I’ll just add a little intro to it…

Well, mailart, for me, o.v.e.r. t.i.m.e., has been basically art created and mailed somewhere far away. It has taken many forms- mailart envelopes, letters in mail art, mailed altered objects (like shoe soles and tree barks), journal pages. Essentially, it is an art of creation that is mailed. That’s all you need to know to get started…as you do more and meet more people, you’ll know more. :)

So create something- in any medium, any size. Choose a topic or create an independent piece. Paint, doodle, write, scribble. Get an envelope, address it, write your name and return address (Anonymous ones are great fun once you’ve know more mail artists –oh, you’ll be a mail artist too the day you mail your first piece…the word just sounds exclusive!). Drop it at the post office. and you’re done! :) now just wait to hear back from the receiver.

intro to BRUSHSTROKES

2006-10-22T16:53:00.000+05:45

This is my project and ideas blog.

[For my main blog, see My Blog in the links section.]

It will include all my (already ongoing) projects and ideas-in-action. Its being established about 4 years later than it should have been. All my mail art projects and idea projects actually started about four years ago (if not little longer!)and I forgot to ever blog it! So, here it is: a list of all the things you can do and write and create and respond to- and mail. You’re welcome to participate, even post your own list of topics (if you don’t already have one, you can make one up as you comment :)) here.

If you want to mail something, just email me to get my address, or leave a comment here and I’ll get back to you.

Guess that’ll do for now.

P.S.- Thank You, bloggers and artists- you know who you are- for getting these ideas on board the blogging route!