ATC #195 - Dragon Year

This Dragon image is from an old matchbox cover. I meant to post it the first day of the Chinese New Year, since this is the Year of the Dragon. Oops.
Stamped background, matchbox label, embellishments.
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Day 177 - Crane Reaches the Shore

The crane, a symbol of longevity and fidelity, reaches land after a long migration. The background is really cool texture from a stamp I just got that makes me think of waves, water and wind.
Matchbox label, embellishments.
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Go make art!

Day 176 - Fishing Rabbits

I don't really understand this one, although it's very cute. I don't know why rabbits would be fishing, but I'm sure there's some story behind it.
Matchbox label, specialty papers, embellishments.
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Go make art!

Day 175 - Spring Sunrise Smiles

Another matchbox label unusual in the use of blue. This one makes me think of a fresh sunrise in the spring with the flowering plum and cherry trees. Very pretty!
Sorry I got so behind in posting! I'm taking a bunch of classes this fall that are keeping me hopping!
Matchbox label, Japanese paper, embellishments.
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Go make art!

Day 172 - Boys Chasing Bats

These boys are chasing bats and picking up discs. In Chinese the bat symbolizes good luck. The discs most likely represent money in this context, making the label represent future success. Or perhaps the striving for success.
Matchbox label, specialty papers.
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Go make art!

Day 171 - Little Boys Fishing

I think this one is kind of funny, with the little boys fishing in some kind of giant fishbowl.
Matchbox label, specialty papers.
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Go make art!

Day 170 - Fishing for Carp

Not very many labels have a fifth color of blue, so this one is unusual. I like the colors and the sunset look of the sky. Wish I could read enough Chinese to read the inscription.
Matchbox label, specialty papers.
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Go make art!

Day 169 - Rabbit Rowing a Dragon Boat

This is one of my favorite matchbox labels although I'm not sure of the symbolism. Rabbits are associated with the moon in Chinese mythology and folktales. Although I think that is really supposed to be the sun; when I see rabbits in Chinese art I automatically think of the moon. Then there is a romantic story that goes with the dragon boat races that are held in early summer (Wikipedia), of an exiled official turned poet who commits suicide in a river. The local people jumped into their boats and raced out to save him but were too late. Because dragons are thought to control water, the boats all have a dragon prow as this boat does. Then there is also the fact that the Dragon year follows the Rabbit year in the Chinese zodiac, so perhaps the rabbit is bringing in the dragon.
Matchbox label, specialty papers, embellishments.
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Go make art!

Day 168 - Peonies in Vase

Another matchbox label. The black printing in the red dots is some kind of Chinese couplet poem, possibly for the New Year or it could be for prosperity or something like that.
Matchbox label, specialty papers, embellishments.
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Go make art!

Day 167 - Lotus Brand Matches

I have a collection of old matchbox labels and have scanned and printed them out so I can use them in collages. This is the first in my series of ATCs with matchbox labels on them. All the ones I have done so far are Asian labels because I like them and they are the most colorful. Some of them are rather fanciful too. This one is quite typical of labels either made in China or made to sell in China.
Matchbox label, specialty papers, embellishments.
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Go make art!