Traveling Sketchbook

In my most recent mail art package from Jessica she sent along the traveling sketchbook from Valeria. It had been quite a while since I signed up for the collaborative project and when I began I couldn't quite remember if there had been a clear theme or not. I gathered from the previous entries and a few posts that it was along the lines of travel and returning. This made me think of the time that my husband traveled to another city for work each week and our weekly routine.

Using coloured pencils, I drew two suitcases. One was zipped up tight in the same way that it would be resting by the front door shortly before the cab would arrive. The second suitcase is slightly open, exactly the way it would sit on a chair in our bedroom for the weekend before being filled again.

I liked the way 'from there to here and back again' was written on a previous panel as it reminded me of the eager anticipation of his return rather than focusing on missing him so much. In the background of the panel I used a marker and quickly wrote a familiar conversation we would have by telephone, skype or email. Little bits about being in a cab, a plane leaving on time, what we should do on the weekend how each of us slept and how our day was going.

I am always delighted to participate in a collaborative effort because I have opportunity to gaze at the previous work in person. I think the book is coming together so well with such diverse pages and talented artists. Valeria is in for a real treat when it returns home to her!

The closest individual to me on the mailing list is Kimi, so I thought I'd send the journal straight south on its next journey. I'll be tucking in a few extra mail art goodies for good measure.

I enjoyed the subject matter of my panel so much that I will be applying it to my Limited Edition Sketchbook project in the coming months.

... J