CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 2/14/2014

Marian Bantjes: Pretty Pictures

"Here is a true story. At some point I was flying into New York, and as the city lights appeared down below I had this epiphany that, ‘Everything I do, I do for love.’ I realized that as much as I wanted – needed – to make money, it was no longer the motivation for my work. I was doing it because I loved it. I loved making things, and I was making them for myself, and my friends, and a few clients who I was liking very much. I no longer kept track of my hours or the time I put into anything, I just did what I felt I needed to do because it was enjoyable. I decided then to make Valentine’s Day the day I would send things out to clients and friends. Christmas is a meaningless holiday to me, and that time of year is flooded with paraphernalia in everyone’s mailbox. So I thought it would be nice to send people things on an occasion that they don’t normally get mail." Featured image is graphic artist Marian Bantjes' second Valentine, Valentine '06 AKA True Heart, printed from a pen and ink drawing on glassine paper. It is reproduced from Marian Bantjes: Pretty Pictures, published by Metropolis Books.