BigSockTramp

OCT-NOV 2021 I’m taking a class, so I may not be able to participate as much, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.

I’m an expressive arts and trauma therapist, but I was neglecting my own art while I was building my career. Now that I’m self employed, I’ve changed that. I enjoy the inspiration and playfulness that can come from surprises, connection, and working within constraints. I particularly enjoy connecting with other mail artists for collaborative art (like add and pass or round robin projects) and am a member of IUOMA (International Union of Mail Artists).

I’m a radical queer enby artist and psychotherapist living in rural Northern California. I used to love bringing a journal on adventures both near and far. I was that person in the corner of the cafe people watching, sketching, doodling, and writing poetry or vignettes. I hope to do that again. Until then, I’ll be at home taking inspiration from divination and my own healing journey, my cats, and the natural world.

Whatever I feel like at the moment, really. I enjoy crochet, bookbinding, printmaking, collage, art journaling, altered books, and pen and ink drawing. Getting back into ATCs has reminded me how much I love hand drawing and painting. I like to make things from re-use materials whenever possible. I’ve been bullet journaling for a few years now in a minimalist, utilitarian way. Recently I discovered gel printing, and I’m addicted. It’s all I want to do.

I'm in this to be surprised, so don't take these as directives, please. I've included this info in case you desire some suggestions or additional inspiration. Thanks!

Likes: Stripes, saturated colors, genderqueer imagery, trains, linocuts, hats, boots, shoes, comics, words, quotes, fortunes, linguistics, psychology, perverted or pervertable vintage imagery, book arts, astrology, CARDS! (tarot cards, reading flash cards, playing cards, board game cards, cards with random pictures, post cards...) plants, all creatures great and small (especially cats, tigers, turtles, spiders, rats, octopuses (octopi?)), bright colors, children's books, text book imagery, diagrams, instructions, maps, amusing translations, languages and language, cognitive science, trauma recovery, words, boxes, handmade, re-use, mail art mailed naked...

Dislikes: Anything scented that gives me a headache, caffeine, really girly stuff, dogs, pastels, yellow by itself or as a main color, plastic sleeves on postcards or ATCs...

I'm a reader, so I can't really pick a few favorites. Speculative fiction (especially contemporary fantasy from feminist or queer perspectives) is my favorite escapist reading. Alternative/indie comics are also great, though I’m not as current on what’s good now that I live in a town with a comic store that only stocks mainstream stuff. I also like reading about behavior (human and animal), psychology, and books that teach me practical skills. During 2020, most of my reading has either been contemporary fantasy (mostly Seanan McGuire) or trauma therapy related.

Anything I can dance to is good. I also quite like lyrics that tell a story. I tend to prefer acoustic over electronic and grass roots music over mainstream super groups unless there’s a nostalgic connection to a particular song or artist.

I mail all swaps on time, usually before the due date. They send all the mail from here to San Francisco to be postmarked, so it may be marked a day later than I mail it.

NAKED! No plastic sleeves, please! I prefer postcards mailed naked and ATCs without plastic sleeves. For me the changes that can happen in transit are part of the charm of mail art. I also try to minimize the amount of plastic I use for environmental reasons.