| The world of electronic greeting cards, or ecards, | | | | thousands of paying members. The most popular |
| and more specifically artistic animated ecards, | | | | and prolific of the 100 or so Jacquie Lawson |
| provides one of the most dynamic examples | | | | choices are those featuring Chudleigh, the artist's |
| possible of the power that the Internet possesses | | | | lovable Chocolate Labrador-Springer Spaniel |
| to change for the better the way we all live. | | | | crossbreed, who cheerfully scampers through a |
| They harness the unique ability of the worldwide | | | | snowy country scene in the Christmas-themed |
| web to enhance the quality of our lives and | | | | "White Winter" or finds true love with a Yellow |
| relationships on a very human level. | | | | Labrador in the Valentine "Friends Forever." |
| Most people will likely be familiar with ecards | | | | The well-deserved attention Jacquie Lawson's |
| through the websites of the longtime major | | | | works receive could make it seem as if she's the |
| players in the paper-and-ink greeting cards | | | | only player in this boutique category. In fact, other |
| business, Hallmark and American Greetings. Both | | | | artists have also recognized this appealing |
| companies' sites provide an incomparably large | | | | opportunity to express themselves, launching |
| selection of electronic greeting cards, literally | | | | websites that share their personal visions. Most |
| thousands in a wide range of subjects and styles, | | | | impressive among these is artist Frederikke Tu, |
| which can at first produce the kind of | | | | founder and creative visionary behind Ojolie. Her |
| overwhelmed feeling you get upon entering a | | | | website currently offers more than two dozen |
| brick-and-mortar card store. If you're searching | | | | different artistic animated ecards, with the |
| for a card to email for a special occasion like | | | | selection growing by an average of two per |
| Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, | | | | month. An annual membership of $10 (or a |
| Thanksgiving, or a loved one's birthday, you could | | | | bargain $15 for two years) provides unlimited |
| well spend more time than you'd like just clicking | | | | access to personalize and send the cards. |
| and sampling. | | | | Befitting Tu's international background (born in |
| Such efforts can lead to truly artistic results. | | | | Sweden to Danish parents, she was raised in |
| Witness "Angels We Have Heard" from American | | | | Denmark, the Netherlands, and Chile, studied and |
| Greetings (also available through the website of | | | | worked in the U.S., and currently lives and travels |
| Blue Mountain, which the company acquired in | | | | in Asia) and lifelong passion to excel as an artist, |
| 2001). As we hear a children's choir sing the | | | | Ojolie's choices are uncommonly beautiful and |
| traditional carol of that title, a brilliant star | | | | tasteful. They exquisitely combine her original |
| descends from the night sky and illuminates an | | | | watercolor paintings with intricate Flash animation |
| evergreen, streetlights, churches, and homes in a | | | | and carefully chosen musical accompaniments to |
| traditional wintry town, then rises back into the | | | | provide the recipients (and senders) of Ojolie's |
| heavens to become the tip of a wand held by a | | | | animated ecards with aesthetic experiences that |
| beautiful angel. | | | | are surprisingly moving. Its Christmas-themed |
| Yes, it's beautiful. But many of the big card | | | | "Snow Globe," for example, lets the viewer watch |
| companies' offerings can have the slightly | | | | a woodland scene within a snow globe magically |
| homogenized mass-market feeling of the printed | | | | come to real life. "Love Dance," an ideal card for |
| greeting cards you encounter again and again in | | | | your Valentine, evokes enduring romance through |
| real-world stores. Furthermore, while these major | | | | the courtship dance of two Japanese red-crowned |
| players offer many free ecards, the best often | | | | cranes against an evolving seasonal background |
| cost money to send: a $13.99 annual membership | | | | featuring a snowy winter landscape, springtime |
| with American Greetings, or $1.99 apiece from | | | | cherry blossoms, summer's butterflies, and |
| Hallmark. | | | | colorful autumn leaves. |
| Ecard senders who want a more moving | | | | Such visionary creatins make you want to keep |
| experience for their dollars have created a special | | | | and cherish them forever. (Indeed, Ojolie's |
| niche for tasteful, boutique-style websites that | | | | website even includes a "Shop" link that enables |
| express the singular sensibilities of true artistic | | | | you to purchase printed versions of some of |
| souls. That was what happened with British artist | | | | Frederikke Tu's most beautiful website images.) |
| Jacquie Lawson, who created one animated ecard | | | | They also leave the fan of artistic ecards eagerly |
| to send to friends back in December 2000 and | | | | awaiting the latest creations from websites such |
| saw the overwhelmingly positive response turn | | | | as Ojolie. |
| into a multi-million-dollar business with hundreds of | | | | |