Seth Apter's Blog, page 119

31/31: Judy Wise

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed . See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------Judy Wise

There is a thread through all my work. A search and a love of the search. Without the passion for the search and a love of the materials (wax, paint, paper, clay, nature) - life has no meaning.



I am looking for my stubborn idea of beauty and often enough I find it.


That is enough for a lifetime of devotion.


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When I first came upon Judy Wise's blog many years ago, I was completely mesmerized by her journal pages. Uniquely hers, they were bursting with color, drawings, text, collage, photographs, stamps, and a ton of passion. So many people journal and so many post their pages. But Judy's stand out to me as quite special and truly all her own. She still posts her pages and I still love them as much.

But Judy's blog and her art are about much more than just her journal pages. I am utterly enthralled with her abstract plaster and encaustic paintings. And I am so lucky to have one in my studio. Her book Plaster Studio: Mixed-Media Techniques for Painting, Casting and Carving, written with Stephanie Lee, has inspired me greatly. I have never met Judy but from what I can tell she is one very special person. Looking forward Judy to the days our paths cross.
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GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in March on a 31/31 post on my blog and/or on the blog of the spotlighted artist, you will have that many chances to win one of three prizes in my giveaway. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). First prize is a copy of The Pulse of Mixed Media signed by many (and I mean many) of the 133 artists that have contributed to the book. Second and third prizes are one copy each of the book signed by yours truly.

Questions Asked

Just a quick note to everybody out there. 

I have been receiving comments in my recent posts with specific questions about the book and both the live and online events that will be taking place. I don't respond to comments with another comment to the same post because I am never sure if the person who asked will ever see it. I prefer to send an email and I always try. BUT please understand that Blogger does not always provide your email address to me, even though you have to leave it as part of your comment. Never understood that!

So if you have not heard from me...please know it is because I have no way of reaching you. And if you have a question, the best way to ask is through email at shap97@gmail.com.

And to 'susan in seattle' (and anybody else in the Pacific Northwest)...yes I will definitely be in Seattle for the book tour. On Saturday May 5th. I am just waiting to work out a few details before I announce it officially. Hope to meet you there!

See you in the morning with artist #20!

31/31: Lynne Hoppe

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed . See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------Lynne Hoppe

I paint what's inside of me without thought of "what it might mean."


I like to see what one color looks like next to another; how the presence of a line here or a shadow there changes everything.


I like to experiment...



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I think of Lynne as the type of artist so many of us want to be. She paints and creates simply for the pleasure of doing so. There are no agendas and no grand schemes. I have said before that creativity is at its most pure when making art is for the sake of creating, rather than for a specific goal, such as publication, exhibition or sale. And I feel this from Lynne from both her artwork and her essence, which comes through loud and clear on her blog.

I have had the luck and pleasure to have collaborated with Lynne, along with Julie Prichard, on two art projects: Graffiti Wall 2009 and 2010. I also own a piece of her artwork, which hangs front and center on my inspiration board. Seeing her work in person confirms my sense of her work as organic, elemental and original. For me, her series of faces are endlessly fascinating and filled with personality, charm, and just the right amount of quirkiness. One day I hope to meet Lynne in person. It might happen during this book tour but if it doesn't, I will patiently wait to see the face behind the faces in person.
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GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in March on a 31/31 post on my blog and/or on the blog of the spotlighted artist, you will have that many chances to win one of three prizes in my giveaway. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). First prize is a copy of The Pulse of Mixed Media signed by many (and I mean many) of the 133 artists that have contributed to the book. Second and third prizes are one copy each of the book signed by yours truly.

31/31: Leslie Avon Miller

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed . See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------Leslie Avon Miller


Begin. Fling paint, make marks, rip and tear. Use sticks, palette knife, brush, and tools.


Rags, papers, spray move paint around. Explore, experiment, discover.


Build layers of dark and light. Scratch, scrub, sand to reveal. Contemplate, integrate, design, adjust. Express, connect, communicate, be content.


And begin again.


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Leslie's art has always resonated with me. Spoken to me in fact. I find her work mesmerizing. It isn't just the organic, abstract style of her surfaces. Nor is it just her natural color palette. And it isn't just the mark making that is a large part of her approach, whether in the form of circles, splatters, lines, scratches or scribbles. Rather it is all of the above and the way that Leslie puts it all together. In fact, I love her work so much I am the proud owner of the first artwork shown in this post.

I am also a big fan of Leslie's blog. Her posts have so much depth and substance. They are filled with not only images of her work, but with poetry, meditations on issues of the artist, and creative thoughts. I will have the opportunity to meet Leslie in person in May when she joins me in an artist panel in Seattle. And I am definitely interested in hearing what she has to say.------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in March on a 31/31 post on my blog and/or on the blog of the spotlighted artist, you will have that many chances to win one of three prizes in my giveaway. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). First prize is a copy of The Pulse of Mixed Media signed by many (and I mean many) of the 133 artists that have contributed to the book. Second and third prizes are one copy each of the book signed by yours truly.

31/31: Pam Carriker

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed . See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------Pam Carriker

It is both my personal goal, and my artistic goal, to have my life and art reflect my true self.


Some days my "true self" has paint on her elbow for more than one day at a time, and can't find the TV remote under the pile of socks that have lost their mates, but there are days when her skinny jeans fit and all is right with the world.


 I strive to convey the importance of the things in my life that matter most to me through my art.



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I have always been inspired by the path that Pam has taken as an artist. I cannot remember how I first came to know of her or when I first visited her blog. But I do remember that as time passed, she seemed to be everywhere. All at once. She is an unstoppable force, as evident by her many published articles, her must-have book Art at the Speed of Life, her line of clear stamps, her mixed-media product line, her workshop DVD, her live and online courses, and in all the plans that are probably in the works that none of us know about yet. Oh, and did I mention she is working on her second book?

And the kicker is that she is a truly wonderful person too. I had the good fortune to spend some time with her at Art is...You last year. My only disappointment was how fast that time passed. I have always loved her artwork but until we met I had only seen it online and in print. Take it from me, as good as it looks in pictures...it is even better in person. I am already looking forward to seeing her again in October at this year's Art is...You. Pam...will you sign my book this time?------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in March on a 31/31 post on my blog and/or on the blog of the spotlighted artist, you will have that many chances to win one of three prizes in my giveaway. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). First prize is a copy of The Pulse of Mixed Media signed by many (and I mean many) of the 133 artists that have contributed to the book. Second and third prizes are one copy each of the book signed by yours truly.

Twitter Launch Party

Join me on Wednesday March 21st when I will be celebrating the release of my book, The Pulse of Mixed Media. I am holding a Twitter Launch Party from 9-10pm EST, where you can talk in real time to many of the contributing artists from the book. Everybody is welcome, but you need to have a Twitter account to join in. For this party, all tweets need to include the hashtag #PulseBook.




Like any party, you need directions to get there. There are two routes that you can take:

1. If you already use (or are willing to join) a Twitter client such as TweetDeck or HootSuite, you can sign up to follow the hashtag #PulseBook. In doing so, all the tweets that include #PulseBook will automatically show up on your account. But...so will all the other tweets you normally get. Remember, at the party your tweets must include #PulseBook to be seen.

2. If you join TweetChat, you can spend the hour in a TweetChat room where you will only be able to see the tweets from people at the party and no other tweets from those people you follow. Signing up is quick and easy and I highly recommend this approach, even if you already use TweetDeck or HootSuite. You can try it out now.

It is simple. Sign up with TweetChat in advance here by linking your Twitter account. When the party starts, sign into your TweetChat account and enter hashtag #PulseBook. This will automatically take you to a "private room" where all the other Launch partygoers will be. Chat in real time for the hour and when the party is over, just close the page.

No need to RSVP. This is one party where you can just show up!

If you have any questions at all about this, please feel free to email me.

31/31: Karen Cole

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed . See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------Karen Cole


My artistic process is a bit like a journey without a map. Sometimes I make a wrong turn. Sometimes there's a gaper delay after an accident. I welcome them, as they help to shape the aesthetics and the meaning of the work.


 I look at every piece as an experiment, an exploration and also a collaboration between my artistic journey and the mixed media.


 I am going to continue this wandering forever.


Just hand me a crayon in the nursing home, please. I will help you reach your destination.


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One of the marks of being an artist is creating a body of work that is truly unique and recognizable as the artist's own. To me, Karen Cole fits this description to a tee. She has created an incredible series of artworks using a fascinating technique that involves copper sheeting, found objects, stitching and paint. I have seen her work in person and its intricacy, detail, and dimension is truly extraordinary. Somehow her pieces take on a sense of history and feel almost like relics or artifacts from another age.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Karen on a number of occasions, the most memorable of which was spending an afternoon in 2010 wandering around an exhibit of Alselm Kiefer's work at the Gagosian Gallery in NYC. Sharing that astonishing exhibition with Karen, with both our jaws on the floor and our fingers on our shutter buttons, was a special experience. I get to see Karen again later this month at my artists panel at The Ink Pad. I am hoping that on that day that I have opportunity to see her mixed media work again. ------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in March on a 31/31 post on my blog and/or on the blog of the spotlighted artist, you will have that many chances to win one of three prizes in my giveaway. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). First prize is a copy of The Pulse of Mixed Media signed by many (and I mean many) of the 133 artists that have contributed to the book. Second and third prizes are one copy each of the book signed by yours truly.

31/31: Nina Bagley

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed . See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
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Nina Bagley has been a professional jewelry designer since 1987, a mixed media artist for as long as she can remember (thinking here of a little clay mushroom "ensemble" that was created in perhaps the third grade, for starters), and has been teaching mixed media/jewelry workshops worldwide since 2000.


Her artwork is featured in many books and magazines, and has been carries in multiple boutiques and museum shops across the world.




------------------------------------Reading about the adventures of Nina Bagley on Firefly Road has been a memorable experience for me. Nina shares her art and her life so fully that I feel like we have already met. Yet another artist that I first read about in True Colors, I have followed Nina's blog for as long as I can remember. My love and passion for handmade books was in part fueled by the astonishing books that Nina has created and that have graced the pages of many publications. I am hoping one day to have the chance to see them and turn their pages in person.
Nina and I have connected via emails off and on for many years. We have both experienced the loss of beloved family members and Nina offered much comfort to me in this regard. For that I am eternally grateful. We often speak about the possibility of meeting but that opportunity has yet to arise. Perhaps one day I will make my own adventure and travel to the magical place known as Firefly Road and we can spend the days under the twinkling branch lights in her studio creating handmade books together. ------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in March on a 31/31 post on my blog and/or on the blog of the spotlighted artist, you will have that many chances to win one of three prizes in my giveaway. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). First prize is a copy of The Pulse of Mixed Media signed by many (and I mean many) of the 133 artists that have contributed to the book. Second and third prizes are one copy each of the book signed by yours truly.

31/31: JoAnnA Pierotti

31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed . See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
------------------------------------JoAnna Pierotti


Some very early mornings you will find JoAnnA jumping out of bed, slapping on a tinge of makeup and forgetting to comb her hair. She heads to a dusty field where the local flea market is held. She moves through the crowd at a fast pass as she travels from booth to booth. Suddenly stopped in her tracks, with eyes wide opened, finds the box of treasure with her name on it.


She heads back to her studio where she hoards her vintage finds and creates from her heart, unique found object assemblages.




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I have followed Joanna on her blog Moss Hill Studio for many years. I have always admired her ability to be so prolific in her work while at the same time being as creative and original as she is. Joanna has been an example to me of a person who could thrive as an artist despite the challenges that life sometimes throws at us. Several years ago Joanna contacted me after reading a poem I had written on my blog. She had been inspired by the words and asked if I would mind if she made a piece of art based on the poem. Mind? I was appreciative and flattered. Eventually, her creation made its way to me and it now hangs in my studio, always reminding me of Joanna's spirit.

As luck would have it, both Joanna and I were at Art is...You last year. We had a chance to actually meet and hang out for a while.  Our online connection continued in real life and we had the greatest time, most of which was spent laughing. I will be seeing Joanna again later this year at Art is...You and hopefully many more times in the future. Looking forward to some more smiles Joanna.------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in March on a 31/31 post on my blog and/or on the blog of the spotlighted artist, you will have that many chances to win one of three prizes in my giveaway. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). First prize is a copy of The Pulse of Mixed Media signed by many (and I mean many) of the 133 artists that have contributed to the book. Second and third prizes are one copy each of the book signed by yours truly.

...and Danny too!

It just keeps getting better and better. Artist and author Danny Gregory will be joining me at The Ink Pad on March 31st for an artist panel celebrating the release of The Pulse of Mixed Media. He joins panel members Michelle Ward, Karen Cole, Jill Zaheer, Leslie Marsh, Julie Prichard, and Roxanne Evans-Stout. Talk about a bounty of creativity!


The panel members will discuss their contributions to the book, answer audience questions, show samples of their artwork, share their personal creative process, and sign copies of the book. The event runs from 10am to 12pm and is free. Please note that although The Ink Pad is sponsoring the event, it is being held outside their store at Westbeth. Seating is limited and you must reserve a place in advance by calling 212-463-9876.