Envelopes?

Today I had a new thought. I've always been one to cut up old calendars and turn them into envelopes. I have all these calendars saved up in my studio. Could I sell envelopes? So in an hour, I turned two wartime airplane calendars into envelopes. They're all huge, but I think someone out there could appreciate them.


What do you think? A dollar each? A set of 8 for $6? What would you pay for a set of envelopes of all different sizes but you could pick the theme? How many would you put in a set? Would you expect them to be lined, so the gridlines of the actual calendar wouldn't show?

Also today, I finished the piece I'll submit to the Art & Science Exhibition. The piece is entitled Anatomy of a Collage, using a scientific diagram to make it "science-y." The collage itself is called Fortune. Click on the photo for a closer-up look! I'll know by next Sunday whether I make it into the show. You'll be the first to hear. (And if I do get in, I'll share my "artist's statement" with you. Fancy!)


What I loved most about this was that I worked on it over a long period of time. A month full of Wednesdays? I like how the time allowed my brain to process it, and I came up with new ideas throughout. Also, I matted the collage myself, which was a great learning experience, and helped me to see how I can inexpensively frame my work! It produced a cleaner-looking collage, helpful for making it look less elementary, more sophisticated.

Please leave a comment with your take on the envelope questions!

Time For Cards

Here's the latest (unfinished) drawing from my art class, an exercise in contrasts. Absolutely no grays or shading.


I obviously have a ways to go (lots of black to color in), but at this stage I can tell you I think I've learned the lesson! The right side of the face was the most challenging, since the photograph is steeped in black. It was neat to see the face come together one shadow at a time.

In honor of this year's 6 Degrees of HLM International Card Swap, to which you are invited to participate, below is a photo of the card I made my mom for her birthday. I'm very excited about the design of this card, encompassing fabric, paper, pen & ink, and doodads!

Please email me at artbyhlm at gmail dot com by February 18 if you haven't received a personal invitation to my card swap already and you are interested in participating. This is the third year in a row and it is very fun!