28 Letterbox

The letterbox painting is another one where the ink has been able to “do its thing”. The purple network on the top left leading to the speckled bloom above. The marine blue inks bleeding into pale blue wash. The letterbox painted in sepia and Prussian blue has pink patches where the colours in the inks have separated and been drawn to the salt crystals.

The ink and watercolour are doing most of the work, with a few white lines of paper suggesting the letterbox and parts of the door frame. Signs of weathering, putty cracks and flaking paint. Paint chips on the letterbox. All part of normal, daily routine.

Letterboxes are a way of expressing individual taste and a symbol of hope. There’s trust in a letterbox. Trust that you’ll receive mail. That you’ll want it. They lead directly into our homes, we trust that nothing unpleasant will be posted through them. In the days of email it’s easy to dismiss mail, or snail mail as it’s now referred to. We tend to only get bills, but even these are dwindling as banks and corporations are increasing their digital communications to online services.

And yet, I defy anyone to say the sight of a letter or a postcard doesn’t fill them with delight. Letters, especially hand written ones, are special. Somebody has taken the time and trouble to communicate with us. The thrill of receiving a letter is something that never really goes away, no matter hold old you may be.