Seth Apter's Blog, page 34

When Blogging is Like a Class Reunion...

I have been maintaining an Art Blog Directory for...well, a very long time. It is one of the ways that I try to connect our stellar community. Any and every blog that is related to art, craft and creativity is welcome to be listed. 
Once or twice a year I do housekeeping and delete any blog that has been inactive for 6 months or longer. That time came again this past weekend. As I clicked through all 432 (!) links, I realized yet again that the heyday of the long form blog has passed us by. Replaced by social media sites that allow for easier posting, quicker viewing, and like-clicking, these original weblogs almost seem quaint at this point. Not quite as quaint as cassette tapes though. Maybe more like CDs.
I ended up deleting 70 inactive blogs. 15% of the total. Some were very familiar to me, being from the pioneers of art blogging. Many had moved on to posting only on Facebook or Instagram. Some people posted that they were ill and couldn't keep up. Some just disappeared without a trace. There were a few new ones and many old friends that are as consistent now as they have been for many years. It was almost like having a class reunion.
Blogging for me started it all. And I continue to be dedicated to posting and sharing info and images in a way that requires allows us the opportunity to stop for more than a few seconds, breathe and take in all that art and creativity offers. Glad there are at least 366 other people who still do that too.

Make it Artsy Premieres!

Oh yeah. There is a new TV show in town. It is called Make it Artsy and it premieres on PBS Thursday, September 29. 

Hosted by the one and only Julie Fei-Fan Blazer, the first season consists of 13 episodes that cover all-things art from collage to book making to sculpture to calligraphy to fabric art to painting to stenciling to journaling...well - you get the idea. 
I am happy to be one of many guest artists on the show. Look for an all star team including Dina Wakley, Laurie Mika, Roxanne Coble, Rebekah Meier, Joe Rotella, Jenn Mason and many more.

Head over to the Make it Artsy website to learn more about the show. Click here to be taken directly to the page that reveals the theme of each episode plus the guests and projects as well. And note the listing there of the 13 segments that you can already preview on their YouTube channel - including 2 of my segments. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Because it is being presented on PBS, every local affiliate has the option to pick up the show. Or not. I live in NYC for example and the show will not be on air. BUT WAIT...we all can still watch as each episode will be uploaded to their website and their YouTube channel as well. You can also get the entire series on DVD.
My segments air on Episode 2 (assemblage), 12 (collage) and 13 (paint techniques). I will post again with a look behind the scenes and video segments during the run of the show.
See you every Thursday on Make it Artsy!

StencilGirl & Impression Obsession Giveaway

What is better than a blog hop? A blog hop hosted by TWO of the coolest companies out there.
StencilGirl Products & Impression Obsession 
What is even better than a blog hop with a giveaway? A blog hop with TWO giveaways.
Scroll to the bottom of the post for giveaway details
I was extremely excited to be a part of this bog hop as I am a designer for both companies and have an opportunity to share ways in which my StencilGirl stencils and my Impression Obsession stamps were designed to work together. In fact, all my product lines were designed to coordinate so I decided to include my dies from Spellbinders and my paint from PaperArtsy as well.
Fly By
This piece is all about layering. Starting with a 9x12" sheet of watercolor paper, I slathered on layers of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics. I knew I would eventually be making marks on the painted surface and these paints accept every pen I have ever thrown at them. I randomly stamped the surface with Impression Obsession stamps to add extra design and dimension.

I love text and decided to start this piece by pouncing several colors of paint and ink through my 6x6" You Got This stencil. There is also a newly released 4x4" mini version of this stencil as well. The main color used was Mahogany - one of the four colors in my own limited edition set of PaperArtsy paints.

After this, I got to layering. I started by pouncing Midnight, a second color in my PaperArtsy paint set, through the circle stencil that is part of my large, Urban Outsiders stencil. Forgot to take a picture of this, but here is the stencil used on another background. 

Within and around these stenciled circles, I layered both hand painted paper circles stamped with a number of my circular Impression Obsession stamps and hand painted loops and circles, die cut using an assortment of my circular dies from Spellbinders. I also added die cut stars as well. I used black and white gel pens to add outlines and marks to the layers.






As a finishing touch, I added more marks to the surface and edges of the watercolor paper using gel and paint pens.



-------------------Products Used
StencilGirl Products
You Got This
Urban Outsiders
Impression Obsession
Impression Obsession Secret Code
Grid 
Solar Eclipse
Atmosphere
Spin Cycle
Stratosphere
Raindrop
Letter Spin
Number Spin
Word Spin
Word Salad
Spellbinders

Robo Ring
Splatter Proof
PaperArtsy
Limited Edition Paint Set
-------------------Giveaway
The blog hop takes place from 9/26 to 9/28. StencilGirl Products and Impression Obsession are each giving away two $25 gift certificates. To be eligible to win one of these four prizes, leave a comment on any post in the blog hop. If you visit every participant and comment on each blog, you will have more chances to win! Giveaway closes on 9/30 at 11:59pm Central Time. Winners will be announced 10/2 on StencilGirl's Facebook page.
Visit all the blog hoppers and be sure to leave a comment. Make a note to visit StencilGirl Talk over the course of the next two days to see the links for the other participants. Good luck!
September 26 StencilGirl TalkSeth Apter (you are here)Mary Beth ShawJeanne StreiffDaniela DobsonKittie Caracciolo

The Week Links: 118

Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week. Earlier posts in the series can be found here.

And here is Week 118...


1. Always amazed by the photography of Susan Tuttle.


2. Instagram Love: Zhi Qi Ni


3. More Instagram love: John Borrero.


4. This is wallpaper. Yes...wallpaper.



5. Roben-Marie Smith shares a 30-minute video tutorial showing you how to make a pocket tri-fold book.


6. Alfie Date, a 109-year-old Australian, knits sweaters for injured penguins.

7. Flashback Link 2009: Waste Not - an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art from Beijing artist Song Dong in NYC that every "collector" should see.

Make it Your Own: 6

One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching how every participant creates artwork that is truly their own. At the end of every workshop, no two pieces are the same.

This was recently evident in my UK workshop sponsored by PaperArtsy. 

The class was developed especially for the event but is most similar to my Mixed Media Mashup workshop.  Everybody used the same supplies: PaperArtsy Paints and Stamps, Spellbinders Die Cuts, and StencilGirl Product Stencils. And yet, everybody's artwork was uniquely their own, as you can see below (sorry to those artists who have canvases I did not photograph).

New Stencil Minis

Hey folks. Excited to share that StencilGirl Products has just released 3 "new" stencils in my collection. I put the word new in quotes because while the designs are familiar, the size is not.

These 4 x 4 inch minis are a combination of mask and stencil, providing a unique twist to your artwork.

They each include some grungy shapes elements and a designed edge, all of which can be used on their own.
And because the letter font is consistent across all the stencils, you can mix and match and make your own words as well.
These stencils - as well as the same designs in 6 x6 inch size - are available as a preorder now in my online shop (shipping within the next week) or at StencilGirl Products.

Round Top Round Up

Won't you join me at Art Retreat on the Prairie in Round Top, Texas in November?

This five day retreat takes place in beautiful Round Top - population 90.

I am joining Richard Salley, Lyn Belisle, Robin Cornelius, Anne Mitchell, Eva Sherman, Kim St. Jean, Debbie Maddy, and Nellie Wortman to offer a smorgasbord of workshops in mixed media. jewelry, book making, fiber art, encaustics and more. And given that this is a retreat, there are also group meals and outings, vending, and a very special wine crawl.
I am happy to offer:
A Book of Moments


50 Ways to Leave Your Layer


52 Card Pickup


Registration is now open.
Hope to see you there!

Card Play

Spent this past weekend teaching at Blue Twig Studio in Colorado Springs. I had a wonderful time in all 4 classes, with a crew of creative and fun people.
One of the workshops I taught was 52 Card Pickup. That is my favorite class, but don't tell the other workshops cause they might get jealous.  

This workshop is all about making layers, making a mess, creating random with abandon, and learning a ton of mixed media painting techniques.



In the end, these cards come together in a year-long collaged journal.

If you have been unable to take this workshop in person, it is also available as an immediate download or DVD. 

Have a peek below...

The Week Links: 117

Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week. Earlier posts in the series can be found here.

And here is Week 117...


1. What it feels like to be inside a rainbow. From Liz West.


2. The Genius Loci series from Anastasia Savinova. 


3. Excited to see the work of Brian Dettmer at his current NYC exhibition at PPOW Gallery.


4. Check out Donna Downey's Find Out Fridays here.

5. Check out the NYC views from the 86th floor penthouse in the tallest residential tower in the western hemisphere.

6. 3D transparent graffiti from Milane Ramsi.

7. Flashback link 2011: Wish I could walk back into this exhibit of the work of Jose Parla.

Make it Your Own: 5

One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching how every participant creates artwork that is truly their own. At the end of every workshop, no two pieces are the same.


I also find it exciting when I come across artwork online that incorporates my product lines. Seeing how different people use these items in such creative ways is always inspiring. I love the wide variety of styles and unique choices. Click each link below for more details on each and click here to see other posts in this series.

Linda Lucas (Spellbinders Drip Drop Die Set)
Jenny Marples (Spellbinders Robo Square Die Set, Robo Bar Die Set)
Andrea Ockey Parr (Spellbinders Ring Around Die Set)
Kim Schofield (Impression Obsession Asteroid Belt Stamp)
Marleen van Meerendonk (StencilGirl Products Stencils Discovery, Techno Circle; Spellbinders Robo Star Die Set)
Gwen Lafleur (StencilGirl Products Stencils Numbers, You Got This)
Donna Bowman (Impression Obsession Starburst Rubber Stamp; Spellbinders Robo Star Die Set)