just to animate a little bit our blog...

Hope I'm not the only one who continue to draw for our exchange?)))



So, my first steps in the Kelleys's moly, work in progress. It will be a fairy tale of a little folk group - dolgan - who lives in the North of Russia, between republics of Yakutia and of Sakha.





Here it is:

And best wishes for a happy New Year!

Moscow: first stop in the trip of Kelley's moly :)

Received from the post this evening - tomorrow I'll have Kelley’s moly! I was waiting for it :)

Recieved Poem theme moleskine

Received Azuregrackle’s moly this holiday weekend. I narrowed down my poems to three for illustration, hope to narrow to one and get started by the end of this week. Also working on my moly to pass on to Jena.

Ready to go to Shante...

I finally finished (and started) my Moly 52 entry today. For the theme of Poetry, I have illustrated and included several lines from one of my favorite poems, "Landscape" by Mary Oliver. You can also see here where I messed up writing the lines the first time (they came out all slanted wrong). So I covered them in white ink and then glued a new piece of paper (with confetti in it) on top, finally rewriting the lines the way I wanted (mostly).

Shante B's Intro

Hello everyone *waves. My name is Shante Bullock aka Shante B. I live in Arlington, Va and work full time as a project administrator at a non-profit. After 6+ years of an art block, I started doing art again Jan 2007 spurred on by a silk screen class. I am 50% self taught and 50% trained. I am so excited to be apart of this mole group and can’t wait to see what everyone does and to contribute.

I am working on my moly and toying with theme of children or theme of fantasy/surreal.

My Moly will be making a trip to Russia....

I finished my entry in my book and it will be leaving my hands tomorrow! Natalia, keep on the look out for snail mail...it's headed your way! As I mentioned last week, I chose Fairy Tales, for my theme. You are all more than welcome to choose whichever tale you like...it could be one from Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson, it could even be something specifically from your country. I chose Little Red Riding Hood, I'd been itching to do this story for awhile now. Anywhoo, here it is.

I have a theme too

I decided that my theme will be "Poetry" and that can be as loose or as literal as you want to take it. I may include a few lines and imagery from my favorite poet, Mary Oliver. But feel free to do whatever you think is poetic in life - your favorite place, person, things... a beautiful view. Interpret to the fullest extent of your imagination, please!

I haven't started the art part yet, but I did manage to get a library pocket and check out card. Today I found an old typewriter at work and typed up the insert card for it. I hope you all will sign the card as the sign in page.

I finally decided on a theme...

so....after much deliberation I finally decided on a theme for my particular moly. I've seen this done in another exchange, but since I was unaware of the moleskine exchange before a couple of months ago, I'm going to repeat it :)

I choose "Fairy Tales" for my theme. If you are from another country please feel free to pick a tale that is specific to your area,. And if you do, could you maybe fold up a print out of what the story is about and keep it with my moly?? That way those of us from somewhere else can learn new things :)

Also, just thought I'd ask...seeing as there are only a small group of us...can we do more pages up front say five or do we want to let the books circle around another couple times until their full? I mean with 30 pages in the moly and six of us involved, we could each do five pages up front and be done with the book or we could limit ourselves to say, three and have a few people repeat...just a suggestion I thought i'd throw out there :)

Introductions - favati

Hi! :D
Writing from Stockholm, Sweden. I work as a graphic designer at a advertising company, my new job, started only a week ago. Before that a worked at the Royal College of Music doing concert posters and that not.
This is my first mole thing. Found out yesterday that I´m supposed to get a moleskin as well. Thought it was only one being passed around :D
A couple of days ago I got my first moleskin from Natalia in Moscow. She/you´ve done a wonderful thing in it! :D Soon I´ll do my piece and send it to the US.

Take care everybody! :D

Introductions - paintmarks1

Hello to all! My name is Jena and I am from Washington State. I am an artist, mom, volunteer, and many other things. I am fortunate to have a studio, a supportive family, and loads of ideas! I am so excited to be a part of this exchange! I just went out and got the Japanese Accordian Moleskine just yesterday and will be working on my theme! Looking forward to connecting to artists across the world!

Introductions - belle_vue_

Hi everyone,

My name is Natalia, I'm from Moscow and I'm working in the boring telcos industry but due to the work and to my personal urge to trip, I travel much and always with moleskines.

As far back as I can remember I draw, that's why my second diploma is in arts (graphic art & aquarelle). I love to use chinese ink and watercolors. Moleskine is for me more like a sketch-book than a serious painting, but I will try to do my best for this project! :)

I have any concrete theme for this exchange, just some pictures - so feel free to add what you want :)

Introductions - ilovetodoodle

Hello Everyone, my name is Kelley aka ilovetodoodle, I am an illustration graduate who is trying to get my foot in the door in the illustration world :) I work full time at a boring office job and am very happy to have stumbled across the Moly Exchange world.

I love to use pen and ink, pencils, and watercolor. Traditional mediums are my all time fav's. However in this day and age, I have adapted to the computer pretty easily and am constantly learning new techniques that the computer has to offer.

As of right now, I'm still undecided on my theme for this exchange...I was thinking of doing something totally funny like including a photo of myself in my moly and letting everyone draw me as a cartoon pin-up girl, LOL!! But I have yet to pick anything concrete, just yet, hee hee. Still laughing over that image!!!

Hello Moly 52!

Hello Moly 52 - a merry band of six artists.

I'm Jenn. I'm a printmaker in Massachusetts on the east coast of the US. I also work at a small contemporary art museum with a large outdoor sculpture park, so I'm lucky to enjoy art and nature every day. I'm not sure yet what my theme will be for this exchange, but I am thinking about something abstract like "poetry" and then you all can interpret that however you like. I hope you all will say hello, introduce yourselves, and we can get this ball rolling!

Here's the list of the order that we will go in and I will send out mailing addresses individually via email.

AzureGrackle - Jenn from Massachusetts, USA
ShanteB - Shante from Virginia, USA
PaintMarks1 - Jena from Washington, USA
ilovetodoodle - Kelley from California, USA
Belle_Vue_ - Natalia from Moscow, Russia
favati - Rikard from Hagersten, Sweden

Welcome to moly_x_52!

Moly_x_52, founded by Jenn Schmitt (USA), is an extension of the Moleskine Exchange. This blog will follow the adventure of a group of artists around the world, in a Japanese fold Moleskine sketchbook exchange. Our current group includes the artists listed to the right, including contributors in many different countries all over the world.

Each artist will set off with a small Japanese (accordian) folded Moleskine. Creating a drawing, collage, or painting, then send on to the next artist. Each artist will draw on a couple of spreads (3-4 pages) then send it on to the next artist. When the artists book is filled, it will be returned to the owner with images created by artist around the world. Each artist has a month (give or take) to make an entry. The outcome will be a pleasant and surprising adventure, as artists are encouraged to interact and merge their art with others.

The concept:

1. The artists start with the Japanese fold Moleskine - Name, address, email address written in book.

2. Each artist gets 1 month (give or take) to make a sketchbook entry, and mail it to the next person. The order is listed to the right -- for participants in this exchange, look at the list of names under MAILING ORDER. If you ever need to update addresses, please feel free to contact your partners directly! An important part of this project is to discuss and exchange information and ideas.

3. Each artist will do 3-4 pages each round.

4. Artists are encouraged to interact with other images in the book. Please be respectful, but also don't hesitate to meld your art with earlier entries.

5. When the book is full, when one side of the unfolded book is filled, the book will be sent back to its original owner. That artist may continue by buying a new book and sending it to the next person.

6. If a person decides not to continue, she will simply keep her book when it comes back to her. She should email all of the participants to say she is not going to continue. We will decide, then, if we want to find a new person.

7. Please communicate regularly via email. Let each person know that you have received/sent the book. The goal is to have a dialogue. Any comments and questions are welcome.

This moly_x_project was begun by Marty Harris, Minnesota, USA.