The (Almost) Lost Art of Letter Writing

There is special magic in a handwritten note that I fear is getting lost in this digital era of text and email. While I am amongst the first to appreciate the convenience and immediacy of electronic communication (e.g. this newsletter!), there is an unmatched thrill in opening the mailbox to find a hand addressed letter or postcard. I’ve long been drawn to the stories and secrets revealed in handwritten notes and letters (I purchased my first vintage postcard at the age of 8) and for years have incorporated these postcards and other forms of written text into my artwork. I love how they bring a sense of history and romance to my work before I even set pencil to paper.

My most recent use of vintage ephemera as a canvas for my artwork is in my “Love Notes From The Chateau” series. There is an elegance and beauty in the handwriting that I find unmatched by digital text. 

A French postcard from my collection is shown here with an antique Chinoiserie fountain pen.

Second only to making art and gardening is my passion for genealogy. I love uncovering the stories and personalities of my ancestors and seeing the bits and pieces of them that mixed together to make me exactly who I am. I am very fortunate to have many handwritten letters and accounts that are a treasure trove of clues and insights into their everyday lives. 

Shown here is a letter written to my paternal great great grandmother, Annie Willis, in 1892. The copper stationery plate is engraved with the names of my maternal great grandparents, Mr & Mrs James McDowell Gilland. These two families moved in very different social circles but the value placed on correspondence is evident in the fact that these items were saved and treasured for well over 100 years. I’m very fortunate to have been entrusted with them and will continue to be inspired by them.