Artistamps are part of a larger art form called mailart. It’s been popular in different eras, most recently in the 1970s, then in the 1990s, and now – in the 21st century – it’s growing in popularity again. WHAT IS MAILART? Mailart (also called “mail art”) is art sent through the mail, and it’s visible…
Aisling’s Articles
Free Coloring Pages for Easter
Looking for free, Easter coloring pages for all ages? Here are five of my hand-drawn coloring pages – originally created and shared back in 2019 – with Easter Egg themes. They’re 8.5″ x 11″ PDFs you can download and print. All five are kind of retro – 1960s and 70s – as that’s what I…
Door Signs are Back!
My “door signs” are back. Here’s one of my most recent. You can click on the image to download a free, printable, 8.5″ x 11″ copy. (The original was near an open, hallway window during a mid-March blizzard, so it has some imperfections.) Here’s the backstory: In Orlando (Florida) during the peak Covid years, many…
1000 Journals Project
Recently, having misplaced my own copy of the 1000 Journals Project book, I ordered another. Seeing it again, after all these years, was astonishing. Even now, it feels like that being part of that art journal/project was a “right time, right place” moment. Even more bizarre, I received it at 9/11, and – a few…
Another Journey – Mixed Media Collage
Yesterday, when we arrived home after lots of errands, I felt like I needed to create another art journaling collage in my daily series. The problem was, I was tired and cranky, and in perfectionist mode as I worked. I think it turned out pretty well, despite how much I got in my own way….
Art Journaling Supplies – What’s on Your Desktop?
When I sit down (or work at my standing desk), I like all of my art journaling supplies tidy and well-organized. If I have to interrupt my creative flow to search for a particular brush, or paint, or adhesive, or collage element, it can take far too long to get back “in flow.” Here’s what’s…
The Journey – Mixed Media Art Journaling Collage
Earlier this week, I decided it’s time to resume daily art journaling. So, I created this collage: The next day, trying to work on another mixed media collage, I realized that the art/studio side of my home office was a mess. Okay, maybe not a total mess, but I needed to create order and space…
My New Favorite Art Desk – Review
I love-love-LOVE this table for working on art. The surface is huge. It’s especially good for art journaling, which I used to do on the floor, or sitting – hunched over – on my bed. Now, no more backache! And I can control the light, with a nearby standing lamp. As an artist with a…
Petallush Pencils… Wow!
I’ve never seen anything like these pencils. Really. In the graphic below, I used just ONE pencil to color everything. (Okay, I colored the yellow stars with a brush marker, but that’s the ONLY other coloring tool I used.) It’s not a mechanical pencil with lots of leads in it. It’s an actual, hard-lead pencil……
120 Colored Pencils by Kalour – Review
This week, I tested a set of 120 colored pencils, sent to me by Kalour (via Amazon). My initial impression was, “Wow! That’s a LOT of pencils in one small container.” I almost expected them to be skinny, tiny pencils. They weren’t. They’re full-sized, and come pre-sharpened. The range of colors is impressive. Warm colors,…