Mailart 365 has moved

365. A number that seems to take forever to reach, but when it does get here it sure creeps up on you I can tell you. Once the daily making becomes part of your routine you don't notice the numbers ticking upwards.

For me, I felt there was only one thing I could possibly make for #365 and it was the logo. I made the logo in the early days and even drew it by hand once early on. It took me ages.

What I wanted to know was, with all this practice, would it be any easier now? So I decided to just go at it with a brush pen. I was done in 5 minutes. It was such a relief to know that, after doing so much mailart, I can create effortlessly and without that inner devil on my shoulder telling me that it wasn't good enough. Of course, art can always get better, but I guess that what the 365 has taught me is that if this piece isn't quite perfect, there's always tomorrow

So it's over for me then. What now? I guess the crux of it is that once you embark on a 365 and reach the number 365, you realise that that's not the aim. You realise somewhere along the journey that you have taken on the essence of what you aim to create. In this case, I became a maker of mailart. A mailartist. I can now create mailart without effort as part of my life. I don't aim to reach a destination any more. Mailart itself is the aim.

i want to thank everyone who has supported me along the way, especially all the folk who signed up at the start in December 2010 and who are still here. You know who you are!

Most of all though, I want to thank my wife, who has been tireless in her support of me throughout. Elena this piece would never have been made without your support and I love you more than I could ever draw. You can have me back now...

Andy

I think it's the educator in me that thought to end my 365 with a plenary.  This week has been the week of reflecting and making ready for what's next, so no surprise that faced with the blank canvas of my mailart 365/365 I wanted to share what 365 has given me. All I can say is that when I began I had no idea and what I got out was immense! Thank you Andy and all the rest of you at 365 and IUOMA for inspiring my year!