A postcard from Malta

I've never been to Malta but when I think of the island, brightly coloured fishing boats float across my conscious and then bob about in the harbour of my imagination.

So that's what I painted on my postcard this week. I took myself and my dreams off to the harbourside of Valetta and we sketched this little craft. See the eyes of Osiris on the bow. They protect her from evil, keeping her crew safe and the fish plentiful.

I used some text in Maltese to add some texture to the waves. You know me... I just can't resist adding a few words into my art, even if I can't remember what they said. I just threw some words about the island into Google Translate!

This postcard follows the adventures of my would-be lovers X and Y. Last week in Denmark, Y threw down the gauntlet and suggested they meet. I wonder what her reaction will be?

Read the whole story here.

Join in the adventures of all here at Darcy's blog.

A postcard from Denmark

"Wonderful Wonderful Co-pen-hagen..."

I used to visit this vibrant city when I worked for a certain brewery. In fact, as soon as I saw that Darcy had posted Denmark as our country in the Postcard Challenge this week I knew that something connected with hops, malt and water might be making its way onto my card!

Some digital play for you this week.

You might well wonder what on earth an elephant has to do with beer. Well, there are actually four of them holding up part of the brewery, so pretty important actually!

So, we return to the saga of our travelling strangers and their postcard trail. Looks like Y is getting a bit fed up with keeping an air of mystery about him. I wonder if they will meet?

Back story here.

A postcard from India

Who knows what's going on in this postcard? Well, I mean the picture is easy to explain. It's a face covered in the multitude of coloured powder that is the brilliantly delightful Holi festival in India.

It's the back that's more mysterious. I mean these two used to correspond weekly, then there was a long hiatus, followed by that 'almost' meeting in the Isle of Man and now this?

Do they know something we don't?


For The Postcard Challenge by Darcy. Back story here!

PS: I'm kind of bored of them not talking to each other. I wish they'd tell me their story again so I didn't have to keep being all enigmatic!

Postcards from the Isle of Man

It has been so long since we heard from our mysterious correspondents X and Y (back story here). I wondered what had become of them both. Had they stopped travelling, or just tired of each other and the mystery hanging over them that neither seemed happy to divulge?

Well, I can tell you that things have taken an interesting turn. It seems the wee folk have taken a hand in this friendship. Did you know that the Isle of Man is chock full of the Fae? It's true. I read a book about it!

It looks like they have both visited the magic isle, the same postcard shop and are thinking the same thoughts... But did they actually meet?

The mystery thickens like treacle on a cold day.

For Darcy's postcard challenge. I said I'd be back!

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Here's the book I read... Fairies do exist!

A postcard from The Gambia

You might think a photograph is cheating as this is my entry for the Postcard Challenge. However, I did take the picture - albeit 20+ years ago. I was hoping to draw one of these faces this week, but time got the better of me. I thought it would be a shame not to share this image though. It actually won a prize back in the day...

I studied Georgraphy at University and was lucky enough to visit this tiny corner of West Africa on a field trip. While I was there we spent most of our time away from the tourist beaches having a wake up call on 'how the other half live.'

I wonder if much has changed for these children who will now be around 30 years old. I doubt that suddenly every home has clean running water and a toilet. A generator was a rare commodity - you can't imagine the joy us Western travellers felt when we came across a shack in the middle of nowhere selling Sprite chilled by a fridge.

Well, back to the point of this exercise. It is of course for the postcard challenge. Remember our last correspondence - when the ink 'spill' covered up X's true identity....

Back story here.

A postcard from New Zealand

My how X and Y do travel the world. Apparently X was supposed to be in Norway last week, but she got called to New Zealand last minute... If only we could find out what exactly it is she does...

I thought we were nearly there this week, but it seems as if some slight inky mishap blighted the back of the card and both our and Y's chances of learning more about her mysterious travels...

As the text is a bit under the weather (aren't we all this week), I'll rewrite for you...

The 'Lesser Spotted' Kiwi

South Island, New Zealand

Do you remember the black & white parrot you sent me from Brazil?

When I saw the rainbow kiwi I knew you'd love it!"

Stop being so coy about who you are and what you do... It's time

to tell you that I work in...

Alas... we may never know....

What on earth will Y think when he gets this card?

Posting for the Postcard Challenge. Full back story can be found here (it's getting kind of long now...)

A postcard from Romania

It turns out that Romania has these nesting dolls as well as Russia, which is just as well because I was having a hard time coming up with a postcard design this week that didn't involve vampires in capes in Gothic castles.

Even this little lady nearly got fangs. What can I say, I've already told you I watch too much Vampire Diaries...

So, we're back on the Postcard challenge where the apparent Lothario Y has meandered across to Eastern Europe from Singapore on what appears to be a quest to find beautiful women in all four corners of the globe. I think we need to read between the lines though...

When will these two ever explain to each other who they are and what they are doing gallivanting about the place so much?

(Back story here)

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OK, couldn't resist one little Dracula reference... This is a digital play I did a couple of years ago. Silly Mina!

Original post here

A postcard from Iceland

I truly never realised the beauty of this country until I started researching it for the Postcard Challenge this week. I'm so in awe of the wild and wonderful spectacle that nature creates. I've even created a board on Pinterest - see if you can spot the picture I painted!

So, this week sees our intrepid heroine in the land of the Aurora Borealis (yes, I did have to check the spelling on that one!). I wonder if she got to see them, it's still the right time of the year. No wonder that the Icelandics believe in elves with such a magical show regularly on their doorstep!

I think X rather likes it when Y flirts with her. I get the impression she might be a little lonely. Perhaps that is why she is hinting at revealing some of her secrets!

Full back story of the mysterious correspondence is right here.

Worry no longer, for I have escaped the Turkish bathroom and headed North to Iceland - that's the country rather than the frozen food shop where "Mums shop".

I had never realised there would be such beauty and colour here. I am enjoying it in solitude - no flings (or indeed slings!) here!

One day I might tell you what carries me around the blog and ask the same of you. For now I'll retain my cloak of mystery....

Where next?

X

A postcard from Singapore...

A veil of moonlight on her lovely face...

I love reading between the lines when these two write to each other. Look at that... he writes so clearly until we get to the sling or is it fling? I fear Y's intentions are not too honorable, but then can we blame him. X is a bit of a tease and made him so jealous when she went to Cuba.

He taunts her with his dreams of an oriental princess, yet still reaches out a hand if she would but cross the oceans to him. I think he might be a terrible flirt!

This lady is a mixture of technique. She is watercolour drips, pencil sketch and PhotoShop texture. She oozes passion and temptation for our weary traveller. Will he succomb or does his heart already belong to the girl from the valleys?

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then please check out the Postcard Challenge and the full back story of the intriguing correspondece between X and Y.

Also posting for Paint Party Friday.

A postcard from Turkey

Text reads:

Dear Y

Have you missed my postcards? I confess I have been out of sorts since Cuba, though your postcard from Heidi did cheer me a little. I have been trapped in my Turkish hotel for a few days and amused myself by sketching this card of the pattern on the bathroom tiles. I thought it would be easy but it isn't quite the likeness. Funny how much you may try to follow a line, the end result doesn't always turn out as you wished... Where have you been? I dreamt of you beside a Windmill!

X

My poor characters X and Y have been left floundering on their global travels with no mysterious postcards to break the monotony of airport and hotel. I have been so busy launching my new business (very exciting - click to read all about it) that I'm afraid I had to let them amuse themselves.

X does not sound herself. Clearly the incident with the Cuban heel has left a scar. Now, why is she trapped inside the hotel. Is she a prisoner? Is someone stalking her? Is she just too polite to mention an unfortunate digestive problem... (she has spent an awful lot of time in the bathroom after all!).

Reading between the lines, our heroine is not happy with her lot. Can Y save her?

Posting for The Postcard Challenge - the full back story is here (with a couple of cards that seemingly got lost in the post....).

While I've got you here - this week as I say, I launched my new business - an eCourse where we'll working through inspirational techniques to create words and pictures that sing from your soul.

I've also launched a free book group working through Keri Smith's Mess: The Manual of Accidents and Mistakes. We're going to let rip with our creativity and have a great deal of fun - I'd love it if you joined us!

I'm also having a giveaway - don't miss out!

A postcard from Barry (in Wales... rather than Barry the singer... or indeed anyone else called Barry)

I love PhotoShop me.

See you gets to dress people up in silly hats and have fun with Barry and Barry in Barry.

Tidy.

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Well, that X and Y are still sending each other postcards from all over the place. Looks like Y is back where his heart is this week. Mam's making griddle cakes before they pop round to see Uncle Bryn.

Apologies to those visitors who hail from a land yet to be influenced by Gavin, Stacey, Nessa, Smithy & Co... you may find the joke a little hard to understand! However, I can assure you that there is a place called Barry in Wales.

Ooh I wonder if she's back from Belgium yet... Might she be tempted by a weekend at the seaside in February...?

PS - See that button on my sidebar... the one at the top... ?

A postcard from Belgium

Well, they're at it again, this mysterious couple of correspondents. What a pair of globe trotters.

Reading between the lines, I sense something of a cooling off from our X. Did Y overplay the whole romantic Paris theme last week? Is their current proximity making her nervous? Mind you, the way these two jet from place to place I expect he's on another continent by now.

This is a strange portrait of Monsieur Poirot, the great Belgian detective.While the gold leaf seems to suit, the grunge and clown make-up most certainly does not! I can imagine his moustache is curling in extreme distaste at the very thought.

Well, it certainly looks like it has a story to tell, though we may need to perform our own detective work to discover what... And what's all this about the shopkeeper's facial hair? The mystery thickens.

I'm playing the Postcard Challenge again. My protagonists X and Y are teasing each other from worldwide locations. Who knows where they'll appear next. You can see where they've been on a special page I made.

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This postcard was created using image transfer technique. It is of course the marvellously talented David Suchet portraying the Belgian detective. When the ink ran I went with the flow and continued to colour him in until he resembled a clown, so I stopped and tried to convince myself he's just standing over a mysteriously murdered corpse under the lights of a Brussels theatre...

A postcard from France

The mood has shifted within the hero of this tale. No more the playful flirt, but perhaps a tired romantic? What mysterious forces are placing the cards within the hands of our two protagonists? Are they merely jet-lagged and short of attention, or is some enchantment pushing them together?

Some digital play for the Postcard challenge this week as X and Y continue their odd relationship... For postcards from the past, deliver yourself to this page.

A postcard from China

Well, we're four postcards in and still none the wiser as to quite who this mysterious X and Y are and why they are globe-trotting at such an alarming rate. How are they collecting their post from their mail boxes? Are they stopping off in between trips or do they have an accomplice forwarding their mail?

It seems that this week X finds herself in Shanghai, just in time for Chinese New Year. Coincidence or intentional? She doesn't so much as hint the little minx (or should that be Mingx?).

Y has been no help either. And what's with the way X keeps getting hold of these cards - ancient stores down back alleys and little boy artists giving them to her? There's more to this than meets the eye - I am sure of it.

I wonder what she's been dreaming about... Or shouldn't we ask?!

If you are entirely bemused yet still reading by this point, you may like to read the back story here, or pop over to Darcy's blog for another 50 or so postcards from China and their own unique stories.

I'm also posting to Paint Party Friday given that a) it's Friday; b) this is a painting; and c) I haven't had time to paint anything else this week!

A postcard from Brazil

Well, he's off on his travels again - this mysterious Y character. Somehow he's gone from Vienna to the wilds of the Amazon. What a crazy agenda this man has... What do you think he's doing there?

Well, X won't be finding out any time soon, if the contents of this card are anything to go by (and no, she can't speak Portuguese, but she can at least spell it!).

If all this is baffling you, you might like to check out the back story... such as it is...

Postcard 3 for the Postcard challenge.

A postcard from Spain

I would have liked to hop on a plane to Malaga then drive up into the Andalucian mountains and buy a real postcard from Ronda, but you know how it is... Real life does have this habit of getting in the way of art sometimes.

Besides, there's plenty of Spain to be had in England's green and pleasant (damp and dreary) land if you put your mind to it. Music is great transportation. I slipped on some flamenco passion and before I knew it I was peering over the shoulder of my character X as she wrote her first message to the equally mysterious Y while sitting in a window alcove of a 17th century hotel in Andalucia.

What was she writing and to whom?

If you missed the beginning of their journey last week then you can revisit their story here and on Darcy's blog where over fifty similar stories began their first chapters last week.

A postcard from Austria - and a mystery...

Don't you just love a good mystery? Well my friend certainly seems to attract them. I wanted to share with you the tale of a most delightful correspondence. It began on a rainy January in Vienna when said friend opened up the drawer of the bedside cabinet in his hotel bedroom to find this postcard waiting there. It had a very explicit instruction on it... And so the story begins...

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This is going to be such fun and so creative. The delicious Ms Darcy is organising a Nick Bantock-inspired year long challenge. We will write a correspondence between two people from locations across the globe. Who they are, what they are doing and what happens next is up to us. Darcy will just give us a country prompt every week.

Austria had me yodelling and trying on leder-hosen. I climbed every mountain and forded a few streams before I was reminded that a certain Mr Klimt (of whom I am rather fond) was Austrian. Kerching. We had our subject matter. I think that my X likes Klimt too, and probably purchased this postcard at an exhibition... What do you think? Follow this link to see all the other participants. It's not too late to join in...