Mail Me Art

Going Postal with the World's Best Illustrators and Designers

Darren Di Leito, Darren Di Lieto

• Publisher: HOW Books
• Year: 2009
• ISBN:
  9781440319440
• Topic: Design
• Subtopic: Graphic Design

Art on a Journey It started with an idea Darren Di Lieto had: Challenge illustrators and designers to create works of art on packages, envelopes and postcards - then actually send them to him through the mail. The response was overwhelming, and Di Lieto posted photos of each piece of art on MailMeArt.com, so people the world over could follow the art on its journey from artist to post office to computer screen. The images are preserved in this book to inspire you as well.Inside, discover:

• 200 of the best pieces of mail art from the project, showcasing the variety and depth of the international illustration community.
• Interviews with 17 of the artists - including Jon Burgerman, Dan May, Kristian Olson, Michael Slack, Catalina Estrada and Jeff Miracola - that give insight into the work and the spirit of the project.
• Darren Di Lieto's firsthand experience of the challenges and joys of organizing this worldwide project, from storing the mail art to the daily anticipation of art in the mailbox.

Mail Me Art began with an idea. It became a community. But it doesn't end there. Open this book, experience the array of mail art illustration, and become part of the journey.

TIM WOLFF

Tim was born in 1984 and lives in Berlin, Germany. He enjoys making a living from his work as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator. Tim Wolff’s alter ego is timrobot, a pseudonym he uses to refer to both himself and his work.

Why did you choose to take part in the Mail Me Art project?

’Cause it’s fun. I loved the idea immediately. I used to paint/spray/doodle on a lot of letters and packages I sent to friends. It’s always something special to receive such a letter.

What was the inspiration for your submission?

Basically I just started drawing something on an envelope. I guess somehow the pieces were inspired by my everyday life, like having a good time with friends, as shown in “good times.” The guy on “I want to go to.” wants to be somewhere else, just like me. I love travelling, and I don’t like to be in one place for too long. You can interpret a lot in those pieces, like the “robot lost in the seas of cheese,” which could be me, for example. I don’t eat cheese, and there is so much food with cheese in it, sometimes it’s difficult to find something without cheese … you get lost …

Does your submission reflect your usual style of work? If not, why did you decide to do things differently?

No, not really. I saw it as a fun project to just draw something that came to my mind. Plus, I thought it’s a good chance to try something different. Usually I draw cleaner stuff, but I draw a lot of rough sketches. I think those pieces show a rougher, dirtier timrobot. I might do more of this style in the future … it’s fun.

Were you worried that your work may be stolen while in transit?

Not really, but I was worried if the letters would arrive, if the mailman would be able to find the address on the envelope. I checked MailMeArt.com every day, waiting fo...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Interview with ALEX AMELINES
• Interview with JIM BRADSHAW
• Interview with SAMUEL CASAL
• Interview with CATALINA ESTRADA
• Interview with MARK FRUDD
• Interview with DAN MAY
• Interview with PETE McEVOY
• Interview with JEFF MIRACOLA
• Interview with JACK NOEL
• Interview with BEN O’BRIEN
• Interview with KRISTIAN OLSON
• Interview with CHET PHILLIPS
• Interview with KAREEM RIZK
• Interview with SAUERKIDS
• Interview with MICHAEL SLACK
• Interview with KHAMSAVAN MARTIN WIESNER
• Interview with TIM WOLFF