Moley arrival A4 and the large one

The one on top is the A4 and the one under is the larger one. They
are both watercolor moles and have 60 pages (30 sheets) of a thickish,
textured WHITE paper. I was very excited to get them in the mail from
Amazon and I want to begin working immediately! I really want to try
them. I do have a small water color mole which I've already used.

The pens are from Andrea, thank you so much Andrea.

Daisies in my Moleskine

Daisies, by Mary Stebbins Taitt. Brand new sketch this afternoon with
pens from Andrea. I used all the pens drawn in random order and no
other pens or media. Andrea sugegsted we share what we are doing in
our returned moles.

Three more confirmed participants!

Thraxil from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41894171126@N01/

Aya: http://www.ayarosen.com/

And HOORAY! Milo from round 1 has decided to continue on into round 2.

Guess what that means? If Willie and Ian are a go then we have 12 participants!

Me
Steve
Mike
Milo
Ian
Willie
Mary
Heidi
Ballookey
Aya
Thraxil
Ellen

This is going to be an awesome group!!

Take the weekend to MAKE SURE you are going to be able to ...
buy and work in the A4 Moleskine,
commit to doing 5 pages in each of the 12 participants books,
ship your books out on the 15th of each month,
Okay?

Willie and Ian, we would really like to have you in this group!! Please make your final decisions and let me know.

Meanwhile, I will work on getting the new folks' mailing addresses and decide on the shipping order.

EDIT - Round Two Head Count and Introductions!

Look who will be joining us for round 2:

Heidi aka Henniemavis: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27929144@N02/sets/72157608060767049/

Ballookey: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ballookey/2283488203/

Ellen of Pink Ink and Jello: http://pinkinkandjello.blogspot.com/

From round 1 I have:
Mike, Willie, Steve, Mary, Myself, and possibly Ian. Milo is also in the decision making process. Is that correct? Have I left anyone out?

I have a few more invites out to folks on flickr and blogger, so I'll keep you updated. If you know of anyone who wants in, have them email me a link and their contact info.

We are using the A4 Moleskine sketchbook, but if you want to get a watercolor A4 that is groovy.

When we have 12 people confirmed I am going to have everyone, count their own pages and notate in their own books how many pages they would like done, maximum of 5.

I'd like the last page done by each artist to be a collaboration with the next artist in the exchange.

I think that's it for now. More soon. Cheers!

Ammon's Answers

1.) What was your favorite aspect of this exchange? Drawing Stuff

2.) Your least favorite aspect and/or what would you do differently? Not having all of the time that I would like to have given to these thanks to a large helping of school.

3.) Are you going to join the second round? Why or why not? No. While this has been a lot of fun to do and in many ways I have learned from all of you life is becoming more hectic with more and more work. I think that I will just keep following the blog.

4.) How can I improve this exchange? –give us free muskrats

I really don't like moleskins anymore. The don't allow enough diversity in medium like many less expensive sketchbooks do. Of course the title of the exchange would sort of lack its special character if it was called Random Cheap Sketchbook Exchange.

5.) How does this exchange compare to others you participate in or have seen on the net? Just the number of pages to complete

6.) Give a shout out of appreciation to one group member that made this exchange special for you. Andrea, of course for leading the whole dern thing and keeping us motervated and her very unique work.

7.) I love sending out art related gift packages, would you like one? Yes, absolutely.

Some decisions for the next round.

Hi friends,

As I was driving to work this morning, drinking and iced coffee and thinking about the Moleskine Exchange, I came to a few conclusions. I am definitely going to use the new GIANT A4 Moleskine for the next round. Here is a link to Amazon, where I bought mine.

http://www.amazon.com/Sketch-Book-A4-Moleskine-Srl/dp/886293193X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248456724&sr=8-2

It seems there is a watercolor one as well, although I have not held one in my hands, so I am not sure how the pages would compare to the regular sketchbook but for those of you who prefer a different paper texture, you could use those.

I have also decided to try and include more people and reduce the number of pages folks do, since this has been suggested by most of you who have kindly answered my questions and since the pages of the A4 are twice as big. Not sure of the number of pages just yet but I am thinking of trying to round up 12 people.

If this makes or breaks the exchange for any of you feel free to leave a comment about it.

There are still some books from round 1 circulating, but as soon as they arrive home to their owners we will begin round two in earnest. Meanwhile, if you are in for sure, go ahead and order an A4.

I am packaging up 4 appreciation packages this weekend for Steve, Ian, Mary and John!!

Johnnynorms' answers

1.) What was your favorite aspect of this exchange?
Getting each book in the post, excitedly but carefully unwrapping, and seeing everyone's art for real. Shame we missed out on most of the next person's in the list.

2.) Your least favorite aspect and/or what would you do differently?
Sweating 4 pages out, and then realising I wasn't finished. In future I would try not to procrastinate so badly. Try to not worry so much about turning in different ideas all the time - that was sort of my own generated pressure.

3.) Are you going to join the second round? Why or why not?
I'm still fretting over this one. The same recklessness that drew me in before is ticking away, but at the same time I feel I need the space and time and lack of pressure to pursue some other lines of artistic thought away from the books. Prevarication station.

4.) How can I improve this exchange?
For me, a few more people, and slightly less pages. I think the initial number was fine, just that some people dropped out and the number dwindled.

5.) How does this exchange compare to others you participate in or have seen on the net?
I'm sure it's one of the bestest most original exchanges out there, but I haven't really looked enough to say so - just a hunch.

6.) Give a shout out of appreciation to one group member that made this exchange special for you.
I don't think this is Andrea angling for a shout, but she gets mine! (Organising; encouraging; & inspiring art). There were many great pieces of work in my book from all…I found Jessie's pages especially stunning.

7.) I love sending out art related gift packages, would you like one?
I would love an art related gift package, but you may have to have one in return!

The end of times

The last few in Ians book

www.baggelboy.com

my art in ammon's book

Three approaches to continuous-line drawings and an imaginary mask, all in Ammon's book. It should be on it's way to you later today Ammon!

Mary's answers

Steve's answers were very close to what I would write! Oh, and Ian's too, I missed his somehow.

1.) What was your favorite aspect of this exchange?

1. Seeing the work close up and personal IN PERSON!
   
2. Getting all your wonderful work in my moley--YAY!
3. Being part of the exchange and learning from all of you and seeing the work on-line.
   

2.) Your least favorite aspect and/or what would you do differently?

1. feeling I wasn't as good as the rest of you and being embarrassed about my failures.
2. not being being able to see all the work personally. (but it would be expensive [and maybe dangerous] to send around a second time).
   

3.) Are you going to join the second round? Why or why not?

If you will have me, yes! I loved it! I am working on a novel now, so I hope I can mesh the two agreeably.

4.) How can I improve this exchange?

I don't see how you could. It was nearly perfect as it was.

5.) How does this exchange compare to others you participate in or have seen on the net?

I was concurrently in another group and the people did not all take it as seriously. Some failed to do work in my book. I was disappointed. (Some however did wonderful work.) The other group kept to the schedule much better BUT the result was worse work sometimes. I started later but got my book back earlier BUT would have preferred to get it later with better work.

6.) Give a shout out of appreciation to one group member that made this exchange special for you.

1. Everyone was wonderful! I loved the variety.
2. Milo decorated my envelopes and I loved getting them.
3. Some of the work was astoundingly good and blew me away!
4. I am deeply grateful to everyone. Thank you. :-D
   

7.) I love sending out art related gift packages, would you like one?

I would love one, but I feel guilty accepting a gift from you when YOU did all the work organizing. We should be sending YOU gifts! But yeah! Sure, send it along. :-D

Ian's almost finished....

I think my favourite aspect would be a close run thing between seeing my favourite art bloggers' work in the flesh, and being obliged to complete seven pages of drawings in another's book - I liked that because, for me, art is purely a pleasure in life and wouldn't necessarily get done what with all the other stuff happening around me.

My least favourite has (still) to be the moleskines themselves: too small, too shiny, too yellow, too much bleeding bleed-through. I think they're ideal for this project because they're robust for all that mailing but I prefer most other papers for drawing and painting.

Head: I probably won't join the second round.
Heart: I probably will join the second round.

I think you've done an excellent job, Andrea. Speaking selfishly, I think it might be improved by more participants doing fewer pieces. I would prefer to put all my time and soul into one or two better efforts than seven less happy efforts. A thinner sketchbook maybe.

This is my first exchange and I haven't really followed any others. The concertina ones look interesting.

I've been impressed by everyone but if I had my arm twisted I would have to say Ammon Perry! This exchange introduced me to Ammon's work, I hadn't come across Ammon before. I can't describe why but I love his style! It's the sort of thing I've always been into myself for a long time but he does it so differently to me, and anyone else. Go, Ammon! keep it up, mate. And everyone too!

Gift packages? No, just send the cash.... ;o) Just kidding. I would worry about the cost of mailing!

steve's response to andrea's questions

1.) What was your favorite aspect of this exchange?

A: Getting to see the work of other's in person and having the chance to contribute some of my own art to their books.

2.) Your least favorite aspect and/or what would you do differently?

A: My least favorite aspect of the exchange is waiting. I definitely like having time to work but also, I like getting the books relatively on time to keep things flowing. As far as what I would do differently, it would have to be taking even more time with the pages I contribute to people's books.

3.) Are you going to join the second round? Why or why not?

A: I'll definitely be in round two. I feel there's a lot more to this project and I feel I've got a lot more to offer. It's a unique and wonderful project that keeps me keeping up with making some art as well.

4.) How can I improve this exchange?

A: I don't know if there is anything at all that you can possibly improve upon Andrea. You have done an excelent job organizing it, you take it seriously while keeping it fun.

5.) How does this exchange compare to others you participate in or have seen on the
net?

A: I like working on a slightly larger scale, I like having a month to complete seven pages, and I enjoy the freedom with regards to subject matter amd artistic approach.

6.) Give a shout out of appreciation to one group member that made this exchange special for you.

A: I can't pinpoint any one particular individual here. I shout out to every single person who has taken the time out of their daily routine and managed to contribute and stick with this project.

7.) I love sending out art related gift packages, would you like one?

A: Heck yeah! :)

A few questions

For those of you who have your books back, please answer a few questions about your experience in this Moleskine Exchange.

Please post your answers as a new post so we can comment on what you have to say.

1.) What was your favorite aspect of this exchange?

2.) Your least favorite aspect and/or what would you do differently?

3.) Are you going to join the second round? Why or why not?

4.) How can I improve this exchange?

5.) How does this exchange compare to others you participate in or have seen on the net?

6.) Give a shout out of appreciation to one group member that made this exchange special for you.

7.) I love sending out art related gift packages, would you like one?

Moleskine Whale

Another in Alan's

Last one in Ammon's and his Polaroid.

Hollow

In my returned moleskine, I pasted the picture Milo made on my
envelope and then dis this quick sketch--I need to do better to live
up to the quality of all your work!! I played with it a little in
Photoshop and will print that and paste it next to the sketch. And
from now on, I won't attempt anything unless I have more time to
work!! (I also picked up a bad pen! There's no undo button on the moleskine!)

Later: I've been fiddling with the image I made in the returned Moleskine, and I think I'm finally done fiddling, maybe. This will be the image (I think) that I will paste in it across from the sketch. (Top: "final" (?) image, 2: original scan, 3: first adjustments.

Holy Guacamole!!

Are people getting their books back already? Whoa! I got an email from Mary saying she had received her Moly back. I still have Steve's book to do and I haven't even gotten it yet. Where is everyone else in the process? Would you all mind checking in here?



If you have gotten your book back, please tell me how many pages you have left in your book, this is so that I can adjust the number of pages or people for the next round. Also, please share with us what you do in your book with the remaining pages. My original idea for this exchange was for the owner to have pages in the beginning and the end. So, if you have your book and are patiently waiting for round two, show us how you are completing your book, okay?



And finally, I am working on a series of about 6 or 7 questions about the exchange, what you though, what you would change, etc. I should have those up in the next few days for y'all to answer. If you take the time to answer them thoughtfully and honestly, I will send you a gift in return. An envelope of pens perhaps? Notebooks? Other art supplies? This is just a little token of my appreciation for your dedication and commitment to this project. I wanted to send it out after everyone signed on, but never did. So ... better late than never, right?

Cheers!

2 More in Ammon's Moly

Working on 1 more in Ammon's and then off to Steve. If it's not obvious, I'm really enjoying a specific yellow pen these days. Weird because yellow is really not my color.

Alan's Moleskine