Seth Apter's Blog, page 120

31/31: Sarah Fishburn

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.
------------------------------------Sarah Fishburn


Once upon a time there was a red-haired girl who loved to read & write, & felt that art should be for everyone.


She made this & that (& called it all ragtags), in a little house where the prairie ends & the mountains begin & the skies are the bluest of blues...&


she thanked her lucky star, for every single day.



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Sarah Fishburn is yet another artist that I first "met" through True Colors. She is one of the originals. I have continued to be a fan of her work since that time, enjoying her blog, her books and her sensational zine that she publishes along with Angela Cartwright: Pasticcio Quartz. Sarah infuses her artwork and her life with an abundance of color. She is amazing at creating layer upon layer in her work, a process that is near and dear to my heart.

I met Sarah in person several years ago during one of her visits to NYC. We met in Central Park and spent part of a day wandering around the neighborhoods of the city. Of the wonderful qualities that Sarah possesses (and there are many), the one that impressed me the most was her generosity. We spoke about our journeys as artists and she offered me an endless amount of advice, wisdom, and direction. Spending an hour in Barnes and Noble with Sarah, wandering among the books and talking, was a priceless experience I will never forget. Happily I will be seeing her again in April when my book tour takes me to Colorado. Maybe we can find a few minutes to head to bookstore again Sarah!------------------------------------ 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: Patricia Larsen

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.
------------------------------------Patricia Larsen


I drawrite. I paint.


I find. I lose.


I draw. I paint.


I glue + stick things in 2 empty spaces.


------------------------------------What can I say about my friend Patricia Larsen? If you have ever read an interview I have given or a podcast that I have taped then you have heard her name. It is because of her that I am the artist I am today. In fact, it is because of her that I am an artist at all. A chance meeting with Patricia in 2000 led me on a path that I had no idea I was destined to take. 
Patricia showed me what being an artist truly is. She lives her life, 24/7/365, with creativity. There is nothing that she does that isn't effected by this. She is a rebel and an outlaw -- in the best sense of the words. She is constantly pushing herself to grow and change, both professionally and personally. She does not shy away from the challenging parts of life and in fact, has shown over and over again that there is no challenge she cannot meet. She is a true talent and a pretty cool person too.
It has been some years since I have had a chance to see Patricia. I live in NYC and she lives in Mexico. We are getting together where we first met in Vancouver, BC as part of my book tour. At that time, a dream of ours will be coming true. We have always wanted to have some sort of art exhibition together. And this May, along with her very talented daughters Janaki and Klee, we are going to be doing just that. Thanks Patricia...I owe it all to you!------------------------------------ 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.

New Open Call: The Pulse of Mixed Media

The Pulse of Mixed Media is all about community. Our community. The thing is, 144 pages is not nearly enough space to showcase and highlight all the creative people out there. And that just ain't right. Our community is nothing if not inclusive. I want everybody to be part of The Pulse.

So I invite all of you (...yes that means you...and definitely YOU...and you as well even though you are already a contributing artist...) to be a part of the book. With a twist. Well, several twists really. 
Twist #1: This project will be online. Given that the book would not have existed without the cyber version of The Pulse, it seems only fitting that some component of the book should be online.
Twist #2: There is no jury. All submissions that meet the requirements of the open call will be accepted*. So scratch that off as a reason for not submitting. (*The fine print says that I do have the right to pass on any entry if given reason to but I am assuming and hoping that this will not happen)
Twist #3: This open call is a mail call. Snail mail and not email. Entries must be mailed to me:
Seth ApterPO Box 2036New York, NY 10021
There is no official deadline but send your entries in as soon as possible because one day I will just announce that no more entries will be accepted.------------So by now you are probably saying "why is he telling us the rules before he is even telling us what the project is?" My answer...now I know that everybody has actually read the rules.
The Pulse of Mixed Media: Online Open Call

The Pulse of Mixed Media presents the results of a survey in which artists were asked questions that they had to answer in words or provided with prompts that they had to respond to with art. Here we combine both. Below you will find 3 questions from the book, one of each from the three different sections in the book. 
1. The Artistic Ingredient: If your artwork could talk, what would it say?
2. Passion in Action: Who has had the most impact on your creative life?
3. Secrets Revealed: What is one thing you have never shared with the creative community?
For this open call, you can chose 1, 2 or all 3 of the questions and answer them individually. Your answer must be presented on a 5" x 5" square, which could be a piece of paper, cardstock, canvas, wood panel, fabric...could be anything. Your answer must be in words, which can be written, typed, drawn, sewn, painted, etc. Since we are artists, I encourage you (but you do not have to) also make your submission visually interesting...in any way you desire. 
Entries will be photographed and presented on my blog. Please include your name, email address (for my records only and will not be posted anywhere) and one link to your online site with your entry. You have the option of submitting anonymously as well. All submissions must be mailed. Emailed jpegs will not be accepted.
Select entries will follow me around the United States and Canada and become part of my artist panels, book signings, and exhibitions. Please note: no entry will be returned to you.
Please read through the instructions here carefully. If you have any questions, please comment on this post or email me at shap97@gmail.com.

31/31: Roxanne Evans Stout

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.
------------------------------------Roxanne Evans Stout


Through my art I would like to convey the feeling of connecting, timelessness and re-creation.


When I look at nature, or walk down a street in an old town...everything makes itself noticed to me...from a decaying leaf, a white moth on a metal wall, the expression on a person's face, to the colors in the air and all around me. I love the process of layering, of adding glazes of color and taking away.


As an artist I am constantly learning and growing. Art is my passion, my love, my soul.



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Roxanne and I started blogging within a few months of each other and I came across her blog when we were both newbies. As soon as I found her, I knew I had found something special. From that first visit to my most recent, I find that visiting River Garden Studio is more like visiting a magical place rather than a computer site. Roxanne fills each and every post with creativity, beauty, grace, and love. Roxanne and I have worked on a number of projects together and she is every bit as wonderful as her blog would suggest.
Along with 4 other artists (Supria Karmakar, Veronica Funk, Rita Vindedzis and Jill Zaheer), Roxanne and I worked on an altered book project called Inner Works. She and I also collaborated on two different handmade book projects with the theme of Autumn and ultimately used these pages to create a self-published book called The Winds of Change.
Although we have yet to meet, that will change very soon. Roxanne will be making the cross country trek from Oregon to New York to be part of my Artist Panel at The Ink Pad later this month. I am looking forward to experiencing her magic in person.------------------------------------ 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: Don Madden

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.
------------------------------------Don Madden


I'm running out of time.


I should have been an artist all my life.


Actually, I always have been an artist but it was just hidden under my corporate three-piece suits. Now I have ideas of pieces I want to make, of art I want to create, of techniques I want to try and, based on my age, I need to be working at a much faster pace.


Don't ask me to chat or to share my feelings or talk about my art -- I'm busy and don't have time for all that. And no hugging!

------------------------------------
Don is one of only five "dudes" among the group of 31 spotlight artists. If you are already familiar with his artwork then you know that among his creations are those he calls the "dudes" - examples of which are shown in the images in this post. If you are already familiar with Don himself, then you know he, much like his art, has the perfect balance of humor and seriousness. And when you know Don, then you know Susan: his blog wrangler more formally known as his wife. They come as a matched set.

Don has fully immersed himself into the world of art, having arrived late to the party after a career in the Air Force and selling life insurance. He works hard to make up for lost time and spends his days creating unique sculpture, much of which is figurative, that is deeply etched with history and emotion.

I had the serious pleasure of spending a very laughter-filled afternoon with Don and Susan when they came to visit New York City a number of years ago. Don and I connected immediately, talking about what it is like to be among the few men in the mixed-media blogging world. Seeing art and people watching with Don and Susan was definitely an unforgettable experience. Let's do it again sometime dude!------------------------------------ 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: Lynne Perrella

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 Perrella


Within in the open unguarded moments of childhood we discover what we truly resonate to.


As long as I can remember I have enjoyed working with paper, glue, paint, and found objects.


My goal is to maintain the same excitement and uncluttered instincts about making art that I felt in childhood.



------------------------------------
What can I say about Lynne Perrella? She is an artist and an instructor. She is an author and a columnist.  She is an illustrator and a designer. But most of all she is a trailblazer. She was the force behind True Colors, which changed the face of mixed media art as we know it. She is creative, kind, generous, and innovative and has been a source of inspiration to me long before I began blogging. And she has been a consistent supporter of me in my career as an artist.

I have met Lynne twice, having had the luck of taking two different workshops with her in 2007 and 2009. She is a wonderful instructor, who found the good in every student and in each piece of art that was created. But I have to say that the highlight of the workshops was seeing her own art in person. As sensational and spectacular as it is online, it is even better "live." For the second workshop, Lynne brought in her white journal from True Colors. Seeing that in person at that time in my development as an artist was priceless. Thanks for that Lynne!

Lynne also has a beautiful way with words. I have read many of her articles and have always been enthralled by her descriptive language. We are all in luck today because today Lynne has reviewed a recent exhibition she has seen on Art Propelled, Robyn Gordon's website. AND there is a giveaway. If you leave a comment on Art Propelled, you will be eligible to win a print of an original artwork by Lynne! ------------------------------------ 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.

Take Your Pulse For Free

March is National Craft Month and CreateMixedMedia.com and North Light Books are celebrating in a big way. Every day this month, they will be offering giveaways, discounts, and projects.

Today they are featuring my new book The Pulse of Mixed Media. If you head over to the home page on CMM, you will find a link to a free download of one section of the book. You will find the answers from the artists I am currently featuring in 31 Artists/31 Days to just one of the many questions posed to them:

If you had your choice of fame versus income as an artist, which would you choose?
You will also be introduced to a feature of the book that just might include you! Throughout the book are questions and answers that I posed to all my blog readers last year in survey questions on the sidebar of my blog. These provide a fascinating look at the creative community that we are all a part of.
In addition, North Light Shop is offering a very special price on The Pulse of Mixed Media today only. And, if you click on the North Light icon on my sidebar and use the provided code, my readers get an extra 10% off the price of the book (and all other products that you buy).
Now is definitely the time to TAKE YOUR PULSE!

31/31: Jill Zaheer

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.
------------------------------------Jill Zaheer


I turned and the clock flashes 11:11 (the date my mom passed away), rainbows shine with the blink of an eye, I think of someone and they appear... these are all synchronistic events which play a major role in my creativity. I incorporate these occurrences into my works.


My art is an expression of who I am - reflected in my work through color, vibrancy, varied materials, layers, textures and ultimately, the optimism and excitement I have in life which can be seen in my smile.




------------------------------------
Jill is the only contributor to the book that I knew in my life before becoming an artist. In fact, we have known each - in one form or another - for nearly 20 years. We both live in NYC and originally met because many years ago we lived on the same block and saw each other every morning while we waited to take the same bus to the same location, as we both worked in the same place. Much has changed since then but when you fast forward many years, there is still something that we share: art.

Jill is a talented artist who has shown that she can create art in any media she works with. Her positive spirit is infectious and is reflected in her mixed media work that is full of joy, passion, energy and color. Her more serious side can be seen in her representational works of portraits and both urban and natural landscapes. We collaborated together, along with 4 other artists (Supria Karmakar, Veronica Funk, Rita Vindedzis and Roxanne Evans-Stout), on an altered book project called Inner Works. We worked together on a Global Guerilla Knit Project. And more recently, we collaborated on a poetry and art altered book project which you will soon hear more about.

Jill is generously hosting her own giveaway for this blog tour: a giveaway of a piece of my original art. So leaving a comment on her blog post gives you a chance to win twice! Thanks Jill.------------------------------------ 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: Julie Prichard

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.
------------------------------------Julie Prichard


I gravitate toward analogous colors, darkened hues, and monochromatic palettes rather than a bright cartoony plethora of paints which I find too distracting.


I always create with my eyes and inner self.


My hands are only a tool, a trowel... think Captain Hook... and I never smile at a Crocodile.



------------------------------------Julie may come from The Land of Lost Luggage but I was thrilled when I found her blog way back when. Julie is an artist, photographer, gemologist (who knew), workshop instructor, and soon to be author. We have pretty much been in contact in every way possible online and by phone but never in-person. But that is about to change as Julie is making the nearly 3,000 mile trek from San Diego to NYC (or from the country to the city as I like to say) to be part of my upcoming artist panel at The Ink Pad later this month. 
I have had the pleasure to collaborate with Julie and Lynne Hoppe on two projects: Graffiti Wall 2009 and 2010. During those years of collaboration I got to know Julie quite well and we have had many-a-conversation about the more challenging aspects of being artists and bloggers today. I am happy to be part of Artists for Respect, an effort spearheaded by Julie. I have always appreciated her willingness to take a stand and share her voice, no matter how difficult the issue. Even better, her "realness" is evident in her art, which really resonates with me. 
See you on the 31st Julie! ------------------------------------ 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: Danny Gregory

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.
------------------------------------Danny Gregory


My art is an opportunity to reflect on the everyday, from the clutter on my desk to my neighbor's fruit stand, from what I ate for lunch to my unfolded laundry. In recording and meditating on it, I find beauty and significance in the things I do.


I work exclusively in books, so the progression of my days unfolds with each page.


The totality is the sum of my days and my life.


I love the look of juxtaposed images and calligraphy, so my journals are diaries as well as sketchbooks.


------------------------------------
Danny Gregory. If you sketch, if you journal, and especially if you combine the two together...you know Danny Gregory. Artist, author, blogger, filmmaker and, as it turns out, great guy. You never know for sure what artists will be like when you meet them but with Danny, what you see is what you get. And that is because he is honest, direct, vulnerable, and just plain real in every piece of art he creates. He is humble too and in response to these words would probably say something like "I am just drawing things."

Living in NYC provides me with so many opportunities and in 2008 I jumped at the chance to take an extended course with Danny called Everyday Matters: Illustrated Journals as a Path to Creativity.  I learned so much from Danny during those sessions and not just about the technical side of drawing. He spoke about drawing without judgement and drawing for oneself, how an artist can commit, the importance of observation, how one cannot ever separate the "you" from the drawing, and a few of my favorites: surprise yourself...do what you can't...love mistakes...never complain - never explain...express yourself. Sounds like he is talking about life and not just about journaling. Got it...and thank you for that Danny!

Be sure to check out his site and his earlier post about his experience with the book.------------------------------------ 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.