postcard art : part 2

This is part 2 , you can read part 1 here

I am a member of a Facebook group called “POSTCARD FABRIC ART – Quilt, Applique, FMQ Thread Sketch, Paint, Embellish+”
It is run by Ann Hillman Lamy, who describes it better than I ever could. She says..

“What’s small and colorful and can adorn the hearts of whoever receives one in the mail? POSTCARD FABRIC ART – that’s what!
Are you in love with all things FABRIC? I am! But who can do it all? Not me! Projects are often large and for some…cumbersome and a tad overwhelming (I’m speaking from experience!) However once I discovered POSTCARD FABRIC ART aka Fabric Postcards, Fiber Postcards, Quilted Postcards, Textile Postcards, Artist Postcards, etc….I realized I could make just about anything 4×6 or 5×7 size. Little waste if I flub up, small enough to not strain my back, quick enough (well, sometimes) to be quite doable.
So why this group?
LEARN – INSPIRE – SUPPORT –TEACH!!!
PFA (Postcard Fabric Art) is the GIFT that keeps on GIVING. When we create art – we are giving to ourselves. When we give it away by sharing it in the mail with someone we love (or even a stranger!) – we are giving to others. WIN-WIN!
POST your PFA creations – both new and old and even collected ones from swap/trades! Must share the process DETAILS so others can learn (techniques, unusual threads, fabrics, supplies used, etc.).
THIS . . . is our PFA HIT LIST:
LEARN together – by sharing details of your various techniques, products, supplies, helpful tutorials, links, websites, etc., everyone learns – including YOU!
INSPIRE members in our group – by sharing your PFA creations or anything that specifically relates. Tell us your story, share your creative process steps from start to finish!
SUPPORT one another – with positive feedback! Critiquing what we see in a positive affirming way is very beneficial.
TEACH others – how to make their first PFA, how to do various techniques, if you’re accomplished – this is a way to give back!
I’m hoping YOU will use this group to not only share photos of your POSTCARD FABRIC ART….but that you will also share what inspired you, whether it’s your first or one-thousandth POSTCARD. But IF YOU POST…I need you to also post THE DETAILS of how you created it, what fabric, thread, techniques and other textiles you used, methods, helpful tutorial type links, etc. – because this group is also about LEARNING. And although NOT mandatory – would especially love if you’d share any story that goes along with your creation. I love heartfelt creations….and have found many others love them, too.
I’m also hoping YOU will find encouragement and inspiration from the POSTCARD FABRIC ART creations that other’s share in this group.
The more you create – the more you can share and the more you share – the more we ALL can learn together!!! 🙂
Start small to learn it all.”

Phew! When I first joined and read all of that I was impressed by the aims, but a little overwhelmed by what I could contribute. I set about reading all of the files and was amazed by the work that Ann puts into each challenge.
Here, for example is the file for one of them :

“COLOR: RUBY . . . red / July Birthstone
ARTIST: Wassily Kandinsky’s “ Color Study. Squares with Concentric Circles”
QUOTE: “ To create a work of art is to create the world. ” ~ Wassily Kandinsky
THEME: CONCENTRIC CIRCLES . . . takes us back to the other basics. The dot. artist Kandinsky said, “Everything starts with the dot.” And so from squares to circles and round and round we go! Simple circles can be simply stunning . . . or they can be made into flowers or sunshine shapes or even fat lil’ round owls! I hope you check out the various links I’m providing . . . for they include wool circles and yoyo circles, too . . . plus even some Zentangle type circles. Circles are really amazingly beautiful so I encourage you to see just what you can create with circles and I hope YOU enjoy playing this game of PFA creating using simple patterns and I look forward to seeing how you design your artwork this month!
CHALLENGE: Something tried and true or something all brand new – it’s totally up to YOU! Make it out of wool or any fabric applique, or thread sketched, painted, sun printed, potato printed, crayon colored, machine or hand embroidered, confetti technique appliqued, or any fabric art technique you’d care to use. Bottom line – there is no wrong! GO FOR IT!
INSPIRATION: I’ve searched the net and have found various links to use or at the least for you to hopefully be inspired by.
Kandinsky’s CONCENTRIC CIRCLES (learn more): http://www.wassilykandinsky.net/work-370.php
10 FACTS about Artist Kandinsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaviUsz2r9M
CIRCLE ART to inspire: https://www.pinterest.com/TheresaWooley/circles-in-art/
PAINTED CIRCLES to inspire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZElWVwDZKgk&t=11s
PAINTED CIRCLES to inspire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpFi1kjpggY
CONCENTRIC PHOTO TUTORIAL: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/413134965812113100/
WOOL & YOYO FABRIC CIRCLES to inspire: Workshop Photos
ZENTANGLE CIRCLE ART to inspire: YouTube
MIXED MEDIA ART to inspire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh0ImVqBfnc
FMQ CONCENTRIC CIRCLES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IKFh7dxT5s

I spent a very happy few hours  following up all of the links that Ann gave, it was really interesting and by the end I thought, you know what I think I can do this. Circles and me go way back, so I knew I would have something suitable in my stash. Here is what I came up with…

I then had a go at Picasso …

and then Klimt …

and Degas

All of these themes came with the same amount of research, links and inspiration as the Kadinsky one did.
I could also have chosen from Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Henri Matisse, Ivailo Nikolov, Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Georgia O’Keeffe and Leonid Afremov !
Ann has put such a lot of time and effort into these challenges, and she leads you through each one with ideas, inspiration, tutorials and  techniques that allow even Philistines like me to produce artist inspired small works of art. I  thoroughly recommend the group to anyone wanting to take part in fun (and educational !) projects. However, I think there is a waiting list for acceptance into the group so you might have to be patient.
The popularity of the group has no doubt increased since Ann was featured in the SPRING 2019 issue of “ART QUILTING STUDIO” magazine which is published by Stampington & Company. The article entitled “The Wonders of Postcard Fabric Art” describes how Ann discovered Postcard Art, and features work from some of the members of the group, and even a quote by me.

By the way, that is a self portrait by Ann in the style of Frida Kahlo, which was one of the  groups challenges – I might give that a try myself one of these days.
Once I had completed 3 of the challenges I was able to join a swap group attached to the group, it is called the PFA Swap Group and I’ll talk about it in part 3, which I will post tomorrow.