Mail Me Art: Going Postal with the World's Best Illustrators and Designers

I submitted an envelope to this unique project over a year ago. I didn't hear back other than they liked my piece and received it.Flash forward, I see the book on Amazon and find my name in the table of contents. So I bought the book. This is a book one can thumb through over and over and not get bored. The project this book represents teaches artists not only how to think outside of the box, but how to market creatively, and it engages us in a communal experiment i.e. the resulting gallery show and publication in the book. It also elevates snail mail to an art form.My book is in a gallery where some of my paintings and prints are being showcased here in the States (Connecticut); it's captured the imagination of art buyers and one is interested in buying my envelope. More importantly, this book is teaching traditional art buyers there's new ways to enjoy art to hang-a great and hip way to bring generations together.I've also shared this book with a KE teacher at the elementary school where I work-(the day job) and it's captured the imagination of little ones as well.Suzanne Urban in CT

I found out about the Mail Art project by way of a friend. I thought It was an interesting premise only thinking it would be a modest participation from artist .I mostly thought it a modest effort because first it would have to be a free work effort for the artist and second there work could get lost stolen taken by way of the mail system. After all the work could be very alluring if done well.The project is an astounding amount of artwork plus an incredible talented group of artist as well. The book is simply gorgeous. It will be an inspiration to artist ,designers and art patrons alike.

For me, the fact that this is all mail art is secondary to the wide range and quality of the submissions. It's a gallery of contemporary illustration--not abstract art, but the very best examples of styles we see on packaging and fashion and internet graphics today. Very entertaining, inspirational work is exhibited here. The concept of mail art ties it all together but doesn't limit each artist's work.

These are gorgeous examples of decorated envelopes... all submitted for an exhibit to be held sometime in the future. Lots of great illustration, very contemporary - but I wish the subject matter and treatments could have shown more variety. I think everyone invited to participate is a working artist of a certain age group - thus the homogeneity of the project. Nice though.

Great project for art educators!! (Just check the photos first, not all may be appropriate)

I was looking for inspiration to send decorated envelopes with letters inside to my pen pals all over the world. We are all in the 55-69 age range. I thought this book would provide a good variety of topics and ideas. I couldn't have been more wrong! While I will give most of the artists credit for originality, about 75% of the art is dark, foreboding, far too abstract and fantastical (for my taste) in an unpleasing way. I wasn't looking for "cute" but I do enjoy whimsy and humor. I don't think any of my friends would get overly excited opening their post box to anything I created based on what this book has to offer.

This book contains a huge amount of art done in the faux childlike, cartoonish and often ugly graphic art style. Add to that some creepy, horror movie ugliness. I liked about 25% of the book which contains art that showed obvious skill and did not look like someone had sat doodling while talking on the phone. The book has its good points but overall was disappointing.

"Going Postal with the World's Best Illustrators and Designers?" I don't think so. If the group wanted to appeal to one kind of audience, this is for you. While I appreciate the effort made on some of the envelopes, I found many of them pedestrian and uninteresting. If the artists had added a comment about why he/she created the envelope and any other background on the piece, it would have given a little insight into the artist. To view some very creative envelopes which would appeal to a diverse audience, look for Graceful Envelopes, sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service every year.

love it, the best,inspiring

Such a wide range of beautiful designs, which can inspire all varieties of artists and designers. A must have for your inspiration collection!

une mine pour l'inspiration artistique des mails - artistes mais aussi de tous ceux qui aiment les techniques mixtes , le collage , les tampons etc.....