To all artists from this round:
I must write to explain my extreme displeasure with the goings on from this round.
The purpose of the PTC (Pirate Trading Card) exchange is to have a simple fun exchange of mini-art. This is not intended to be a 'one-upmanship' of skill or a long drawn out affair. The deadlines are posted for a reason. I did extend the deadline several times because of the small number of participants who did complete all ten cards. A smaller number would not merit the effort to go forth with the round overall.
As for the cards themselves: Just draw/paste/paint something on a 3" by 5" card and mail it out. Repeatedly, I asked to include a SASE or to include a few pieces-of-eight to cover the return mailing cost. Several of you still did not. While I can afford a few reales for each of the mailings (and if you use media mail, it is even cheaper), it is simply easier to just stick the cards in the SASE's and voila!; they are returned to you. Now it becomes a time intensive process of having to buy correct sized envelopes, have them weighed and stamped at the P.O. and then mailed out.
The purpose of using flat 3" by 5" cards is so that they do fit in a simple envelope. Anything larger and the mailing costs increase. While three dimensional art is very cool, it is not appropriate for this genre of PTC's. I know this was not explained in the beginning, and I apologize for not making that clear. It is supposed to be a quick easy turnaround of mini-art.
When you commit to a project here on the Pub, it is generally assumed that you will follow through with that commitment. Each person in this round created a piece of mini-art (and some were customized for each participant), with the expectation that they would receive in return that same amount that they have created. Each artist will now receive their unused works in return. When folks don't follow through with their end of the 'deal', then each artist has wasted their time and materials for nothing. If you commit to a project, especially when it involves time/money/effort, please commit to the end. Others are counting on you.
I understand life gets in the way and this round occurred in the swing of faire/fest/gathering season. If you feel that you cannot follow through, THEN DON'T COMMIT. That's fine. I'm sure we will have more of these PTC rounds in the future. Yes, shit happens in the midst of life. A simple, "I'm not going to be able to commit to this round," will suffice. Don't wait until days or weeks after the deadline to then say, "Can't do it." At this point, cards have been mailed out and we are waiting on 'you' to complete the round.
Thank you to all of those artists who did participate in this round. You all did a tremendous job and the cards turned out excellent! Thank you again and I hope to see more of your work in the future.
To all: I apologize for the terseness of this message. As adults, I hope we can move forward from this round and look forward to a fall/winter round as we are stuck inside our proverbial cabins.
Oh, one more thing . . . . they are going in the mail as soon as I receive a return address from one of the participants. Please post up when you receive your batch. Tx.
-P.E.W.