In Which Our Heroine Faces The Desire To Keep Art Destined For Others
I’ve finished Mailing #3! I am particularly pleased with this one, despite its many flaws.
I am not at all good at drawing architecture, so this was yet another excellent artistic challenge. I believe, however, that my need for more practice is rather glaringly obvious in this piece. I am pleased with the cat, so that is some consolation. I found my Prismacolor colored pencils and rediscovered the joys of working with quality art materials. The Coloriffic pencils I was using previously were a challenge in themselves.
“Guardian of the Portal” was done on my faithful 3.5 “Window” card (this time featuring an actual window!) in pencil, Sharpie pen, and Prismacolor colored pencils. Unfortunately, the photo does not show the metallic gold on the cat’s whiskers very well.
The Problem with being Pleased with One’s Art is that one is then Tempted to Keep It For One’s Self. After all, one could just draw something else for the Intended Recipient. But that would do nothing for my Character and would make me feel Guilty. The purpose of this project is to send things. I steeled myself, wrote a note on the back, slipped it into an envelope, sealed it, addressed it, stamped it, and gave it to my husband to mail. He has promised faithfully not to lose it, and I can ask no more of him. I can feel my Self-Discipline improving already.
Mailing #3 is going to a lovely lady whom I have never actually met in person. I hope she likes it.
What have you sent away that you might rather have kept?
A Well-Lettered Lady 
The way I see it, if you want keep the art you’re creating, then that means you’re doing a fantastic job and it just makes your gift all the sweeter. I always want to keep the things I make for my friends (particularly the crochet blanket I just made)!
Your crochet blanket is amazingly gorgeous. I can see why you would have wanted to keep it. Truly, we are generous people to give the physical results of our time and love away.
That’s really what this kind of gift represents–time.