Show your support for the Arts with a handmade postcard!
January’s #CMACIVICKIDS Digital Challenge is a Postcard Party. When you send a postcard to one of your elected officials with your original art on the front, your message is more likely to get noticed. And a self-portrait will make your communication even more personal!
You’ll Need:
- *card stock (if you have watercolor paper – even better!)
- pencil and eraser
- watercolors and/or markers
- Sharpie (black, F or UF point)
- *stamp
*Important Postage Info! To qualify as a postcard (currently 34 cents postage) your card must be a minimum of 3-1/2” x 5” and a maximum of 4-1/4” x 6”. If you don’t mind paying letter size postage (currently 49 cents) you can work a bit bigger, up to 6-1/8” x 11-1/2”. I like to make postcards that are 6″ x 8″, but that size requires letter size postage. You can get four 4″ x 6″ postcards from a single 9″ x 12″ piece of watercolor paper (which qualifies for postcard postage), so that can be an economical way to go if you’re working with a large group of students.
Directions:
- Use a pencil to lightly sketch a picture of yourself. This can be a portrait from the shoulders up, or full length, from head to toe. Write “Thank you for supporting the Arts!” on the front. Be sure to sign your name!
- Trace with Sharpie and carefully erase your pencil lines.
- Paint with watercolor. (Remember to leave the white part of your eyes unpainted!)
- When dry, turn over and draw a vertical line down the middle. Write the name and address of the person you’re sending it to on the right (you can find your representatives at senate.gov or house.gov, or you can google your local leaders). Then write your message to them on the left. Tell them why you love art! Include your name and address so they know you’re part of their constituency.
- Add a stamp (see postage info above) and drop your postcard in the mail.
By thanking your elected officials in advance (similar to signs in a construction area that say, “Thank you for your patience”!) you’re taking a positive stance while letting them know how you hope they will vote!
Share your postcard on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter using the hashtags #CMACIVICKIDS and #TeachKidsArt and your project will be added to CMA’s online exhibition.
Follow this link for more Tips on Writing Effective Letters to Congress.
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