I’m in Rurutu for a wedding, hence the tardy newsletter. No wifi, no phone reception, just beautiful views and lots of traditional celebrations. I’ve barely had time to look around the island let alone sit down to draw and write, so this week I’m doing a roundup of postcards I’ve made and sent to friends (one or two may be awaiting a trip to the post office!).
You’ve got mail
I’ve previously written about the slow post here. If you’re sending me something, don’t expect it to arrive within the month.
Same as Tahiti to Australia. I’ve had friends tell me they’ve received a postcard so many months later that I’ve forgotten I even sent it.
Still, I enjoy the process of coming up with ideas for postcards, sitting down and writing in them, sending them off to their destination. I have postcards and letters I’ve received in the past as some of my treasured possessions.
Here are some that have found their way to Australia and overseas!
I draw inspiration from the garden, the lagoon, and experiences with Polynesian culture.
I’d picked up a few packs of watercolour cards a few years back. They are very enjoyable to paint on. When these run out, I’ll have to start chopping up watercolour paper instead.
I’m using a combo of pen, watercolour and gouache to make them and trying to work fairly quickly (so as to not agonise over every detail!).
When writing in them, I tend to be a bit stream-of-consciousness and I don’t plan in advance what I’m going to say. So they all turn out a bit rambling.
I then buy a stamp whenever I’m close to the post office, pop them in an envelope and off they go!
I feel like the art of letter writing is a lost one these days. I used to have penpals when I was younger, nowadays the only mail I seem to get are bills.
So it makes me happy to think that I have the opportunity to brighten someone else’s day with a surprise postcard.
I just wish I had time to make more of them!
Reading, watching, thinking about…
Thinking about this after staying in a rather ugly Air B’n’B in Papeete.
Aurelie is back! Her video shows what a lot of my days look like, from showering under the avocado tree to eating all the good fruit and veg.
J'adore ces jolies cartes postales de nos îles éloignées...