In England, outgoing letters do not get collected from your home, as they do here in the States. You have to drop them in the mail, so these pillar boxes are a very familiar sight on street corners throughout the UK. The cast iron post box depicted here is one of the earliest around - dating from the reign of Queen Victoria, as designated by the VR monogram.
The Royal Mail began in the 16th century with letters being carried by stagecoach, but the world's first postage stamp, the Penny Black, wasn't invented till 1840.
I have been saving stamps from personal letters and postcards for decades. My attraction is partly connected to travel, and the countries and cultures they represent, but they are also beautiful miniature pieces of art in their own right. If you look closely this painting, there are stamps, British maps and other treasures hidden into the collage.
Who doesn't love to receive a handwritten card or letter complete with a real stamp or two to seal the deal?

The gull can be seen as a symbol of creativity, following a dream and believing in yourself.  The inspiration for this painting was to create a subtle visual reminder for me to do the same.
In Richard Bach's book, young Jonathan Livingston Seagull teaches others in his flock the importance of expressing individuality and following your own path. A creed for life as an artist perhaps?

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." Chinese proverb

The best time to start a blog was.... but I'm doing it now!