Women Artists making Artistamps 

["Separation Anxiety © Meesh Rheault Miller]

Miniature art bound by a border of lines and holes. Multiplied in rows and columns. What is the lure to collect and organize these linear objects? So masculine in their mathematical nature. Yet so cute in their petite smallness. Artistamps.

When I started creating Artistamps, over 12 years ago, I looked around at my fellow artists to see mainly fellows. 98% of those participating in the creation, collection and trading of Artistamps were men, typically mid 40's to 50's. As a young 20 something with fiery red hair, I found myself somewhat popular but alone. The few women I met on the scene seemed older and distant. Regardless, I created and shared, unintimidated by the testosterone.

But since advent of the internet and its ever increasing popularity and access, more people have come to know and enter the world of Artistamps and mail art. In 1999, an online Artistamp mailing list was created and people from all over the world were chatting and trading through an online venue. Because of this, I suddenly came into contact with more and more women creating Artistamps. I wondered, am I just now encountering them, or are they just now encountering Artistamps. After interviewing many Artistamp creators of the female persuasion I discovered some common threads.

The internet has indeed spread the news of Artistamps! Most of the women had played around with some stamps or mail art, but really came into creating and trading Artistamps once they found the groups online. Heidi Rand had collected stamps and knew about Cinderella's (a philatelic name for "faux" stamps of any kind) but it wasn't until she did some online research on creating her own stamps that she ran across the hundreds of people worldwide doing the same. Others, like Meesh Rheault Miller and Carol Chapel, came to know of Artistamps through The World of Donald Evans. (A now rare and out of print book, Donald Evans painstakingly hand painted his miniature stamps in the 1950's and 60's) Most happened upon Artistamps mostly by accident, but fell quickly into the fever of creation.

Another interesting commonality between the women I interviewed was age. All of them were in their late 40's and 50's. Most of them had freelance types of jobs that were creative in nature. They all found the Artistamp an artistic challenge and passion. To a one, they seem well traveled, educated, successful and more than a little interesting.

So why to we make these little works of art that get sent through the mail? "It's a fun way to express my creativity with a combination of digital art, traditional art and rubber stamping techniques. Plus, I know that I've put a smile on someone's face, for at least a moment, amongst all the bills and junk mail." shares Postmistress Gianna. Most stamp artists really enjoy the exchange with other artists. They create stamps for special group swaps or personal commemorations. Others make stamps to make statements of various kinds; social, political, artistic, poetic, spiritual, or to add mystery to their letters. For Susan Williamson creating Artistamps is really a form of visual journaling. Still others do it to take a break from their more demanding art forms or work. Finally, many use it as a form of communication and interacting with people across the world. A few have found that making stamps for others can be a nice little side business.

The methods of creation are as varied as the women who use them. Computers are more and more popular. They allow a combination of photography and digital work. Many, myself included, take other artwork and scan into the computer for use in a smaller scale. Others draw, rubber stamp, collage, paint and use photography as a basis for the stamps.

There are few rules for an Artistamp. The main two are that it have a 'value' of some kind and a perforation of sorts. Many include a country of origin and a border. But beyond that there are few guidelines. Artistamps can also become the beginning of a complete imaginary country. These lands often only exist in the mind of the artist but also include bits and pieces of reality.

Perforating is always the finishing touch. Most that get the Artistamp bug, desire a real stamp perforator. These are antique pieces of machinery that punch a row of perfectly circular holes. Other methods include Fiskar's brand 'stamp edge' scissors, sewing machine, tracing wheels, and kiss cutting.

For me Artistamps are yet another medium to share my creative view. For years I have created and traded stamps. I wanted to create a world that was unique and exotic, someplace I could 'escape' to. Therefore, the Eyeland of Exoticia was born. I continue to issue a few stamps every year. These are mailed across the world to other artistampers. It is still a medium that I greatly enjoy.

In June of 2004 I began teaching classes on Artistamps and the methods of creation at rubberstamp and craft venues. I look forward to exposing even more women to this art form in hopes that they too can find new ways to express their thoughts, and dreams.