So I want to brainstorm. And I really tend to think deeply about a lot of things and it actually spreads to how I pick my tracker themes. Frog and I hosted a series of art study swaps for a couple years. I absolutely adored those swaps. I went through and looked at those cards yesterday again. I learned so much studying those eras and looking at how other people created ltc's in a restricted art study. But they did tend to be fairly small as far as participation goes. It doesn't bother me but I'm contemplating another series of swaps that will probably be low participation. I'm actually kind of excited about the idea. So stay tuned. I plan on posting my first one to be due next year.

But that brings me to my question. What kind of themes draw you? Do you like things that challenge you? Do you like things that are themed according to your daily interests? Are there swaps that you would like to see hosted but you don't want to host them?

Great questions! Timing tends to be the biggest factor for my choice to join (fill in the blank LTC/postal/event carving help, etc.). If I feel I have time to commit, the amount of time dictates what I select from themes that peak my interest. I don't shy away from challenges, but I won't join trackers, or host trackers, if I don't feel I have the time to do them well. When I have loads of time, I can find interest in many many things!!

I tend to like challenging subjects. I’m always interested in seeing what and how others solve carving challenges. I also like to be introduced to artists or subjects I’m not familiar with.

We like unusual papers and background techniques. And yes we like trackers that are themed to our daily interest... but then everyone has different interests. 😄

Timing is usually the least of our consideration.

I try to only join trackers where I can reuse the stamp. So if it is something way out in left field where I know I will never use that stamp again I usually don't join.

As for the art trackers, my brain doesn't work that way. I Googled the style/artist and think there is no way I can make a stamp of that. A local boxer planted a layered image of Stary Night and it was amazing! I just looked at it and thought I would never figured out how to do that. I just don't think on that level.

Hmmm... so I got time to commit, challenging subjects, and if it can be planted in the wild.

Another reason I ask, I really think artistically. That is my trade. And that is my love. And that is how I express myself best. I thought about different avenues like, atc's. But frankly I still so love the hand carved stamp of ltc's. So I'm just trying to brainstorm as to how to combine the two. And maybe they are hard to combine? Because ltc's are secondary to letterboxing? As with atc's they are geared as an artistic Outlet?

So christmas6, if I would post a more artisticly challenge swap but leave it open to be able to carve whatever you want is that something that would draw you in? If the art challenge was more restricted to certain mediums would that help? Or is the art factor the biggest obstical?

I just join the ones that seem interesting ... and then having that stamp made up ... I just go hide it ... and am like "Hey! Another stamp to hide!" If it's something that I can get creative with, I will. For example, I did a tracker on mythical creatures, carved a sphinx, and then hid the stamp later in Egypt, Maine. I now have another Mexican themed stamp that I may hide either in Mexico, Maine (yea we have a lot of "other places" as cities in Maine) or I will hide it in the hiking trails behind the high school (where I taught Spanish for 16 years). :)

As I was reading other people's comments, I was thinking, "Oh yes, that's a good answer, that's true." Then I got to thinking about swaps I have joined. Do I have the time to commit... um not always, but I jump in anyway. Is it challenging... maybe yes, maybe no. Can I plant it in the wild... just about anything can be planted somewhere. So what draws me to a swap? Ultimately, it comes down to a very nebulous quality, and that is quite simply, will I enjoy making the stamp, and then making the card. Techniques swaps are interesting, but often times I don't know of or can't quickly find and learn a new technique. Swaps dealing with a particular artist are great if you like the artist's style and if you can find art by that artist that you feel competent enough to carve. Broader themed art swaps are great, but can be daunting trying to narrow it down to an artist that fits the category and you feel competent to carve. I realize I'm not giving you an answer to your question, I'm sort of doing the online version of thinking out loud. I do like swaps that make me think outside the box, even if the box is only in my mind.

dp

If it was pretty open I might be able to work it out.

So clear-cut themes are easier because you know what it entails right up front?

Would you be interested in a series of swaps, maybe three in a year, where at the beginning of the year you bought a new product that you've always wanted to try. Then you join those three swaps that year and you had to use that new product in each of those swaps in a different way for each swap. Or are you completely content in your style of cards that experimenting is really not exciting to you?

It wouldn't even have to be a new product. It could just be an underused product that you have on hand. I adore my gelli plate but I have not used it to that much. I would love to devote some time to playing with it some more.

I have quite a few products like that!!

Clear cut themes are definitely easier. Saying that you are doing a swap of John Williams Waterhouse's art is easier to work with than a Pre-Raphaelite art swap for people who don't know what the Pre-Raphaelite movement is. But I don't want to nay say people doing broader themed swaps.

I was thinking about this as I was getting the kids ready for school. We have two boards dedicated to ltcs. Maybe we need to make better use of them. Maybe we need to share more tips and techniques and art history on the boards. People who aren't interested don't have to read the posts. But wouldn't it be great if when we find a really good video or website dealing with how to do a technique we shared it with the group? I would love to do swaps using new techniques, but I really have trouble coming up with those new techniques. Or before setting up that Pre-Raphaelite swap, the host shares a bit of the history of the movement and gets people interested. It's easy to hook people in when it's something they are already familiar with.
dp

I think your suggestion is a fabulous idea. I'm going to try it out. And hope others start too. We do have some Facebook groups and it's easier to share photos there. But even those groups are pretty quiet right now. But here on AQ we can easily talk and share YouTube videos and ideas. Because not everybody has Facebook.

The LTC Community goes in waves. And it seems to me like we are at a peak right now. I could be wrong though. But there's so many names that are new!! So I'm just kind of curious as to what people like to do. We are all making ltc's for similar reasons. So yes I think it would be fun to have more discussion. Would be fun to know the people behind the cards.

You need to go thru and retire your old trackers. I did a search of your LTC trackers and thought, she twisted my arm I'll join one. But the ones that are open are over :P

I'm with you, I don't want a stamp hanging around that I'll never use again. But I recently carved something that I wouldn't normally have done, simply because they wanted the stamp donated as well for an event they were planning. So, the stamp went to good use and I'll remember it when perusing my LTC collection!

Ok. I fixed it. I don't think I have any open swaps anymore. :-)