Snail Mail, Vintage Post, ... and Thou

(pen work by Charles Dana Gibson)

For the past decade rekindled interest in fountain pens has been steadily growing. People who have grown weary of the high speed, never stopping - never pausing, race toward the Future that is the 21st century pace of things just might be robbing them of something: the experience of the beauty and wonder of the Here and Now, the experience of Life.

if you can't think of enough to say, a favorite verse,  

... a sketch, or an inspirational quote may be just the thing

Some artists who have felt a disconnect with the impersonal digital word of the machine have found limitations in the world of pixel-based images and have renewed their acquaintance with old, almost forgotten, friends -- pens, pencils, and paper.

you can't put a ribbon around a bundle of emails 
(I also bought my wife a large, decorated German tin for her cards & letters) 

Some who have recently renewed their acquaintance with fountain pens -- not being satisfied to merely collect them as relics of another time, or as commodities -- have discovered that they can be invaluable allies in Slow Living -- a philosophy that grew out of the Slow Food movement in Europe that builds on the premise that we can do less and experience more (very much like the Arts and Crafts Movement's emphasis of Quality over Quantity). Snail mail has made a comeback and devotees are once again taking pen in hand to reconnect with friends, relatives, and (through groups like the Fountain Pen Network) with new pen pals in faraway places. Concerned you can't think of enough to fill a letter? Start out with postcards; they're fast and easy. Groups like Postcrossing will be happy to match you up with postcard pen pals from around the world (free of charge).

Russia, Poland, Thailand, Australia, Croatia, the Philippines, Argentina, 
Indonesia, the UK -- less than two months worth of postal globetrotting (fun!)

And another interesting phenomena has arisen; A) someone discovered that (at least in the United States) unused postage stamps never expire, and B) there are enough vintage postage stamps on the market that they can actually be had for a reasonable price (sometimes for little more than their original face value).

vintage stamps can be found in various sizes, colors and themes 

these sets, and others, are available from Etsy vendors, such as Verde Studio

a hand-written letter like this in my mailbox wins hands down over my digital inbox anytime

So, if you have a fountain pen (or maybe even a dip pen) with an expressive, nice-writing nib -- And if you have the skill to address the envelope in a fine Spenserian or Copperplate hand -- why not indulge yourself in some pen-friendly stationary, dust off your old address book, sit down and write to that best friend from high school or college you haven't seen in years. (Or your mom -- when is the last time you wrote your mom?) Add a few reasonably priced vintage stamps. Seal the envelope with sealing wax and your old signet ring. (There are even new polymer sealing waxes that are "postal proof".) And let Ben Franklin's postal service do the rest. The results could very well be magical!

this year I even took time to renew the acquaintance of ol' Saint Nick

(everyone likes to receive a hand-written letter!)

Postscript, if vintage stamps aren't available in your area and those available on Etsy are a bit too pricy, just visit your local post office. They're certain to have a selection of new and commemorative stamps (my current favorites are Miles Davis, Edith Piaf, and -- my wife's favorite -- a very dashing Gregory Peck) for you to choose from.

_____________________________________________________

Giveaway #4:
You say your handwriting is atrocious? You say you were born in the 90s and have no idea how snail mail works? Well, that sounds like an excuse for another grand prize giveaway to me! This time our lucky winner will receive a copy of  Diane Maurer-Mathison's beautifully illustrated how-to book, The Handcrafted Letter. So, sign up by clicking the blue "join this site" button on the right (if you haven't already done so), and leave a comment including the words "Handcrafted Letter" below between now and Friday, 11 January. The winner will be selected at random and notified via personal message on Saturday, 12 January. And the results will be posted here Sunday, 13 January.

not quite new, but gently used

Giveaway #5:
You say you'd love to send hand-written letters to friends and relatives but you don't have a fountain pen? You say your discretionary funds are too depleted to indulge yourself? Well, Santa just may have left a little something under my tree with your name on it! In the spirit of the Santa Season I've got a Burmese Ruby red Noodler's Ahab that will be forwarded to one lucky would-be penman (or woman). So, to enter the drawing be sure to join this site (see instructions for Giveaway #4 above) and leave a brief comment about why you would like to win this pen. Dates are the same as for Giveaway #4.

Please note: participants are welcome to leave a separate comment for each of the giveaway prizes, but a separate winner will be selected for each prize.

Good luck!

Parting words (a little visual reminder from the cast, and director, of one of my favorite feel-good films that not so long ago everyone wrote beautifully...)

(...and everyone carried a fountain pen)

Let's Talk!

post fresh of the mail boat

If you've been following my blog for awhile you may remember  an article entitled "How Art Helped Save A Post Office" and, if you were a follower of my earlier blog you may remember my posts from the tiny hamlet of Stehekin, Washington, during my spring and fall 2011 residencies with the North Cascades National Park Service. If you have only recently joined us at "Drawn to Life" then you might not be familiar with the little town in central Washington state and may be unaware that there is no outside road access to the community, or that this time of year the ferry/mail boat only makes the 50-mile trip from the "outside world" 3 times a week, or that Stehekin is gateway to hundreds of square miles of some of the most beautiful, pristine mountain wilderness anywhere in the world.

the view (springtime) from just off Stehekin Landing (morning commutes can be such a drag)

But that's not why I'm writing this week's article. Last year about this time artists from all around the world (mostly human -- plus one pachyderm in Thailand) mailed in art as part of a concerted effort to save the local post office from closure (a pretty big deal to a community with no TV, radio or cell phone reception, no landline telephone service, and that even receives its library books via snail mail from the county library over 50 miles away). Two things came of the effort: the post office stayed open; and the town's artist community made 140+ new friends around the world.

the Lady Express mailboat (shown here in summer) will deliver all entries

Well, this year the Stehekin artist community would like to renew their snail mail dialog with artists in the outside world. (FYI, to the folks in Stehekin everyone outside their valley lives "down lake".) They have installed their own winter exhibition at the Golden West Visitor Center Gallery, are posting two pieces from the show each week to a website (with a little biographical information about each of the artists), and are inviting artists and writers/calligraphers from around the world to join them in a visual and/or written dialog. There are no entry fees and no expenses (other than the cost of postage) but please note that submitted works (which will be posted in the gallery AND on the groups website) cannot be returned.

the Golden West Visitor Center and gallery (built 1927)

So, if you're interested, take a look at the Stehekin site (don't forget to revisit from time to time as newly submitted work will be posted regularly on their "Stehekin in the World" page), and drop your work in the mail. If new works inspire a response feel free to submit multiple works.

Cheers!

Sakura Brush Pen Update: Well folks, this a first for me -- a giveaway prize has actually been declined. So, I've done another drawing for the brush pen and accessories kit, contacted our new winner, and the gift package from Sakura is now on its way to Newnan, GA. Please join me in congratulating Janet B. (And watch for another giveaway very soon!)

Blue, Week #1: OK, it's been one week since I put the blue lightfastness color chart in my north-facing window and the "control strip" in a dark drawer of my taboret. (Reminder -- I will be posting updates weekly for 6 weeks.)

week #1 -- no observable change