ZMACS: AUG: Wide Open Night Sky

I have been wanting to do a panoramic mail art swap series of wide open spaces ... perhaps starting with that most universal of open spaces to spark the imagination .... the night sky.

The idea is to create a continuous scene in three to five pieces that can be mailed in one envelope, then put together again to make a panorama. So, for example, you could use one vertical page of 8 1/2 x 11 inch sized paper (help me, is that A4?), paint a vertical scene, cut it horizontally in three pieces like one would fold a letter for an envelope, then sent. Or the same three pieces could be joined in a strip with washi tape, painted as a horizontal scene, the tape removed and sent as three pieces. Or the three pieces could be oriented vertically. Or you could use differently-sized paper, five pieces of paper, tile the paper like bricks, et cetera. Just indicate how to put the pieces together so your partner can figure them out.

Any art medium or style of night sky is welcome, but here are some ideas: Pinterest page of night sky art, some striking night skies in acrylics, ink and watercolor tutorial with a city scene in white ink over a night sky background, melted crayon art -- you might want to send with blotting paper between layers of this one in July!!, splattering with acrylic paint, a little bit about a famous painting of the night sky, a lesser-known night skies by the same "mystery" artist, night sky with fireworks, moonlit night sky with clouds acrylic painting demo on youtube, night sky drawing on youtube, photoshopped and painted night scenes that mimic traditional ink paintings from China, and the art of astrophotography.

One larger piece of art, in three to five envelope-sized pieces, featuring a night sky, sent to one lucky partner. Happy open spaces, everyone! Open to all ZMACS members in good standing, and I will astrally compensate any missing swaps! Image is from Miguel Claro, a photographer interested in using astronomical photography for scientific applications and to teach the public about dark sky preserves. Here is his link.