When did you last receive something through the post that made you feel someone was thinking of you?”

I first had the idea of the snail mail print club after going down the Instagram rabbit hole and looking at hundreds of videos of American crafters and their own monthly mailings. I had happened across a young Texan woman painting a single watercolour and then writing a newsletter about her life and posting it to 20 people. Colour me intrigued.

These clubs varied a lot; some were art, some were monthly stories, cars painted, and unlimited themes galore. Now, these aren’t all little backroom ventures; some have hundreds of subscribers and even thousands. But….. Watching them, I started wondering where the experience could go next. Yes, all had stickers and a newsletter and some art; it was the end of that mailer’s journey.

I had an Idea.

The Art List Print Club was born, not just as a subscription service for art lovers, but as something useful, born out of my emotions and a passion for sharing. You will have seen that my LinkedIn feed is filled with art, illustrations, and the odd opinion about AI, but at its core it’s me sharing my 36 years of creating art in some form. Well, I wanted to do more.

So, combining my years of making, my love and passion for print I created a snail mail club. A beautiful pack, enclosed in an envelope that has the theme printed as a watermark on the front. When it comes through your letterbox, you get your first glimpse of that month’s colours. Junk mail is nasty, but this is something you will want dropping on your doormat.

What’s inside?

The idea of the club, as the title of this newsletter suggests, is designed for the receiver to keep a beautiful, exclusive A5 art print, created either in the past or fresh and new just for that month’s pack, and not available anywhere else. Then share the two postcards with people who may need something a little more tangible from you rather than a text with ‘How are you?’ and a greeting card to give to someone you might want to say a little more to, a dear friend, a family member, a neighbour, or maybe someone you love?

But that’s not the end of the story. I also included in October’s pack an exclusive ACEO Card (stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals); it’s signed, limited, and numbered for just this collection only. Want more? How about the matching bookmark and themed crossword to slow life down a little? To take a breather and read the 4pp newsletter.

"Not another bland newsletter, Chris?"

I hope not. The newsletter: Four pages of illustrations, my thoughts as an artist, but also the inspiration and thoughts behind the creation of that month’s limited-edition print, is written so I get to share with you my life and feelings about the creative world that month.

October’s print was created in 2009, on a rainy Sunday afternoon. I talk about that day and why I created the picture.

Water Flowers is about calm…the kind of calm that comes after the rain, when everything feels slightly quieter and the world appears to have taken a much-needed breath.

Did I also forget to mention that each month I give the subscriber £10 to spend on my website? Nice idea, I thought- a way of saying thank you to you- from me- for subscribing.

The most rewarding, yet very humbling, and I have to admit some have made me quite emotional, are the reviews.

“A little happiness and a moment of pause…direct to your doorstep.”

“Opening the envelope in the snail mail brought such a big smile and so much joy.”

“There is so much to love in this package of creativity from The Art List Club. It’s a beacon of wonder and nostalgia”

“I love receiving post. My first thought on opening this package was that I love how tied together it all is – one beautiful design in so many formats.”

“The Art List Club pack is full of creative, joyful and emotive words and images – there’s so much included and the quality and presentation are top drawer”

I am currently finishing off November’s, which is entitled ‘I’ll See You Tomorrow ‘, and I feel such a weight, a passion, and a love to give this month the same feeling and the same warmth and execution as the last, and of course to just share more each month.

This has become a true passion project, and I will admit I would love to be sending the pack out to thousands of subscribers, but I will pour just as much love into each pack for three people as I would into 303.

If you’d like something beautiful to keep, something thoughtful to share, and a reason to tell someone “I’m thinking of you”, I’d love to send you November’s pack. – https://theartlist.co.uk/product/monthly-art-subscription/ and for those waiting for November’s pack, it’s looking great. I can’t wait to hear what you think about it.