handwritten notes?

Do people still write handwritten notes to each one another, they'd better because this stationery is the most wonderful and tasteful I have seen in a long time.
Here is what the designer says:

My work is designed to be something that one person gives to another. I'm lucky to have a craft that has a personal role in people's lives, and that can so easily become a part of the story of people's lives together. Gifts are imbued with all sorts of symbolic significance in every culture, and I'm always interested in the stories that people tell me about how they've used my cards -- who it was for, why they picked that particular card, why it touches them in some special way. Giving a handmade card is an act of intimacy since it is touched by very few hands-- the hands of the maker, the sender, the recipient. Being its creator allows me a role in a beautiful ritual.

It feels good to be the recipient of hand-written correspondence: no matter what the occasion -- there's a strong emotional connection during the moments of anticipation, and when it is held and read; the mystery of what's inside the envelope, wondering what prompted someone to stop everything else in their life and focus for a few minutes on writing this note. Your full attention for a few minutes is a very special kind of gift to another person, in a hand-written note that moment becomes frozen in time.

A handwritten note and its words can be touched by both sender and receiver and is always intimate; a handcrafted card is one that is created with these things in mind, and it is very likely the only one of its kind. Its maker sculpts the card from paper and other elements into a montage that is simultaneously an act of self-expression awaiting an act of overlaying it with new meaning in the giving from sender to receiver and used for one, specific moment in time.

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Wonderful Sunflowers, just like Van Gogh

Let's meet George McKim a talented artist, who is virtusoes in many media.

Wonderful Sunflowers, just like Van Gogh

Where are you from?

I was born and grew up in Wilmington, NC, USA. For the past 15 years I have lived in Raleigh, NC with my wife Betty, my two adult children Edward and Devin who are twins, our golden retriever Sophie and our cat with a 'tude, Woodstock.

How did yo get into arts?

I studied art in college and have a Masters Degree in Painting and Drawing. My artwork has been shown in galleries and museums in my region. My day job is working as a pre-press graphic artist for a printing company and I make my art in my "spare time".

Since I was a kid I have always drawn pictures and painted. I like the freedom of expression of art and have always enjoyed painting.

This shop features paintings and collages that are mostly abstract, which George has been doing for the past two years and a range of realist artworks in the form of Linoleum Cut Prints. If you want something at a really affordable price , I would suggest his wonderful little note cards.

The artist accepts commissions also.

Here are some blog articles featuring his artworks:

http://backwoodscreations.blogspot.com/2007/12/george-mckim-printer-painter-visionary.html
http://coconutpalmdesigns.blogspot.com/2007/12/featured-artist-george-mckim.html

Sincerly Yours

Vanessa Kimball is the creative graphic designer behind lovely digital works.

- How did you get started ?
• I one day realized that this would be a wonderful outlet for my talent. I love the art community.

- Where are you from?
• Minnesota

- Are your creations limited editions or unique?
• Right now my creations are limited editions. I just started designing for my etsy shop, and since it was around the holiday season, I only have holiday stationery. I do also create etsy banners for anyone that is interested.

- How long have you been doing it?
• I've started designing for etsy in October, however I've been doing graphic design work for about 3 years, and I've been an artist my whole life.

- What inspires you?
• Other designers inspire me. Design tv shows or magazines inspire me. Trends inspire me as well as vintage. Some times a day of shopping can inspire me, when you see what's going on in the graphic world. As a graphic designer I can never look at items that surround me as they are, I have to analyse them and look at them in a graphic manner. I can't even open a menu at a restaurant without critiquing it or getting graphic design ideas from it.

- Are you a professional artist or is this a hobby?
• I'm a professional Graphic Designer

- What is your favorite piece and why?
• My favorite piece in my store is my reindeer card. I really like how it's put together and how the envelope compliments it so well. I also love the patterned paper that I found to complete the piece.

- How do you promote your work?
• The best way I can promote my work is by networking the best I can.

- What is your favorite material?
• My favorite material to work with is my mac computer. :)

- What advice you wish someone had told you when you started?
• I'm not sure what advice I wish I knew when I got started. Everything is a learning experience, and I'm ok with trial and error.

- Do you have any advice for fellow artists?
• My advice to fellow artists is work together the best you can to promote each other. Collaboration is powerful.

http://vanessakimball.etsy.com/
http://vanessakimball.blogspot.com/