Grapefruit Painted on 1940s Vintage Texas Postcard

The Story

I love vintage postcards and have a collection accumulated over 5 decades. I find the idea of painting on them both exciting and a little disturbing. Defacing something that old almost seems wrong, but I choose to think of it as enhancing each one. I ask myself, "If I were buying this, how would I want it to look different? What can I paint that would make it even better than it is?"

A wonderful depiction of an orchard but I felt it needed a close-up of the fruit to give it depth and color.

Technique

Gouache (opaque watercolor) on 1940s linen finish postcard. I wanted size consistency so I mounted it on 4"x6" cardstock.

Painting on old ephemeral like postcards can be tricky. Each company used a different finish. Some are textured, others have a high gloss, and everything in between. Each is a challenge. I've had to experiment and find the right process to ensure longevity.

Additional Notes

• Should be framed under glass
• Mount on an "8x10" paper or board and its perfectly in a standard 8"x10" frame and mat