Seth Apter's Blog, page 37

Planning versus Intuition

My Creative Pulse column in the July/August issue of Cloth Paper Scissors focuses on two approaches to the creative process: planning versus intuition.


Some excerpts:

When you create art, do you set out to make something specific, or is where the piece ends up a surprise each and every time? Your answer to this question will no doubt be influenced by many factors, including your chosen art form, creative process, and even your personality.

Creativity can seem mysterious. If you ask 10 artists to describe their creative processes, you are likely to hear 10 different responses. In general, creative people can be divided into two broad categories: artists whose creative output is the result of rigorous planning and foresight, and artists who create from intuition and spontaneity. Both groups are creative, but they approach are making from a different perspective.

Much of my love for mixed media comes from the fact that I believe it naturally lends itself to a more intuitive approach. I rarely start a new work with any idea of what it might look like when it's completed. For me, that would be frustrating, as part of the pleasure of working in mixd media is the unexpected twists and turns that a piece takes along the way.

And how about you? Do you create through planning, intuition or both?

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You can read the entire column in the magazine, available for purchase on newsstands or online here,  or in the downloadable version here.

Nine

Today is a birthday of sorts. I am nine years old. Well...my blog is anyhow.

My first posted image
On August 10, 2007 I started my online presence when I put up my first blog post on The Altered Page. I had a vision in mind and strangely, as you can read in the text of my first post pasted below, that vision remains the same today.

"Welcome to The Altered Page. I see this blog as one more element of my mixed media artwork. Much like the paper, gesso, acrylics, and other components of each piece, I believe the conversation that I am hopeful that this blog will generate will become an integral ingredient to the creative mix. I have been involved in mixed media art, book binding, photography, and mail art for about 4 years. I love to include old, distressed and rusty found objects, text, layers and texture in my art. Over the past 1 1/2 years I have participated in a number of swaps through Yahoo Groups, an experience that has greatly widened my artistic community and allowed me to see first hand so many different creative styles. I also feel lucky to be living in New York City, where there is amazing art everywhere you look. Right now, I have 3 goals in mind for this blog. First, to share my art and receive feedback in return. Second, to share artists, websites, stores, books, ideas, and creations that I have found. And third, to share great art finds from the museums, galleries, and streets of New York. Thanks for coming along for the ride!"

Page from one of my first mixed media books - posted in 2007
I call this a birthday, rather than an anniversary, because my life as an artist was in many ways started with my first blog post. As I always say, I would not be where I am today without the Internet and the community that I have connected with as a result. I would not be the same without all of you!

One of my first mixed media panels - posted in 2007
As I have grown up, my online connections have been extended from my blog to so many other platforms - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. YouTube, Periscope, and the like. But the common denominator is YOU. And for that, I send out my thanks, my appreciation, and my endless gratitude.

Thank you all!

Dimensional Die Cutting

Happy to have a guest post on the Spellbinders blog talking about techniques to create dimensional die cuts.



It's all about the layers...

New Art Stamps Just Released

I am so very excited to announce that my newest collection of stamps with Impression Obsession has just been released and is shipping now.

For the first time, I have designed 5.75" square, cling red rubber stamps. Impression Obsession calls them Cover-a-Card stamps as they can cover a handmade card with one impression. For me, they are perfect for creating background texture on mixed media work and in my journals.
Scratched

Encircled
Splattered
I have also released 4 new stamp sets, each containing 3 red rubber cling stamps.
Ringtones
Grid
Charred
Rebus
Billboards

Destiny
Everything
Future
Spinners
Letter Spin
Number Spin
Word Spin
Triptych
Find
Moments
Time
All 4 sets and the 3 Cover-A-Card stamps are available now from my online store. The stamps are also available individually as cling or wood mounted from the Impression Obsession shop as well as in stores and other online shops as well.
Happy creating!

The Week Links: 112

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 112...


1. The largest collection of paper peepshows has just been donated to the V&A Museum in London.

2. Sol LeWitt's advice to Eva Hesse is what every creative needs to hear.

3. Robyn Gordon talks about the importance creating a clearing within the busyness of life.

4. Check out the Henry Mercer Collection of hardware from Sibella Court.


5. Ballpoint Art. This book by Trent Morse looks to be a cool compendium of art created using a ballpoint pen.

6. Loving the pops of color in this trailer from Mary Heilmann's exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in London. 

7. Thoughts from Julie Fei-Fan Balzar on art...

New Spellbinders Collection

So very excited to announce my second release of products from Spellbinders. Available now from their online shop, the collection includes dies, cling rubber stamps, and stamp and dies sets. The collection will also be available in my online shop in August.
ETCHED DIES Compatible with most die cut machines. Find the compatibility guide here.
Road Map
Citrus Slice
Icicle Stripes
Fragment X
 Cross Bars
Triplex
 Pathways
CLING RUBBER STAMPS
Tattered Screen
Spatter
Morse Code
FrameUps 1
FrameUps 2
FrameUps 3
FrameUps 4

STAMP AND DIE SETSEach of my 2 sets consist of 3 rubber stamps and a matching circle die.
Word Circles 1
Word Circles 2

Bundle Up

Are you ready to play? Interweave has put together a cool bundle of my products that are perfect for mixed media play. And speaking of bundle...the price will save you one too.
This includes...
 all 4 of my recently released workshop DVDs
You get a copy of my second book The Mixed Media Artist
Two stencils from my collection at StencilGirl Products

One set of three stamps from my collection at Impression Obsession
As an extra bonus, you also get the eMag Folded Books and Paper Art. I'm not in this one...but it will get you to play too!
Click here for details and to order at a savings of nearly $60: Seth Apter’s Mixed Media Play Bundle [image error]
There is also an all-digital version available without the stamps and stencils: Seth Apter’s Mixed Media Play Digital Collection [image error]

The Week Links: 111

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 111...


1. I love these linen and chalked stones wrapped by Alice Fox.

2. Geoffrey Gorman has a new website and looking at it reminds me of how stunning and powerful his work is.


3. Every Tuesday for the past year, Marjie Kemper has shared tutorials from other artists. In her farewell post for this project, she includes the link to all the tutorials.

4. Mesmerizing video for a new collection coming from Ikea (yes...Ikea).


5. Would love to be able to see Metamorphosis: The Art of the Altered Book at the Fuller Craft Museum in  Brockton, MA.


6. The Art of Found Objects: Interviews with Texas Artists (Joe and Betty Moore Texas Art Series)[image error], written by Robert Craig Bunch and releasing in October, looks like it could be a very fascinating read.

7. Loving the organic fiber work from Aude-Marie Franjou.

Workshop Update

Spend a day, or more, creating, learning and having fun in one of my upcoming mixed media workshops. You will be surrounded by folks who get you, not to mention a load of art supplies to play with. 


August
Belmar Arts Council - Belmar, NJ--8/5 Photo Op - 3 seats left--8/6 Brick by Brick -3 seats left
The Queen's Ink - Savage, MD--8/12 Mystery Class - registration open --8/13 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer - workshop full--8/14 A Book of Moments - workshop full
Papercraft Clubhouse - Westbrook, CT--8/20 Mixed Media Mashup - workshop full/waitlist available--8/21 Collage Camp - registration open
September


Art From the Heart - Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK--9/10 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer - workshop full--9/11 Mixed Media Mashup - workshop full

Blue Twig Studio - Colorado Springs, CO--9/16 Photo Op - registration open--9/16 Background Noise - registration open --9/17 52 Card Pickup - registration open--9/18 Mixed Media Dossier - registration open
October
Art is You Retreat - Stamford, CT--10/6 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer
--10/7 A Book of Moments
--10/9 Dimensional Stenciling
--Registration Open

Pratt Institute - New York, NY
--10/15 Principles of Collage - registration pending
November
Art Retreat at the Prairie - Round Top, TX--11/4- 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer--11/5 - A Book of Moments--11/6- 52 Card Pickup--Registration open

The Week Links: 110

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 110...


1. Loving the complexity of the surfaces created by Deidre Adams.


2. Mesmerized by these mixed media vessel forms from Gizella K Warburton.


3. Juts discovered these textile sketch books from Lynne Butt.


4. Escobedo Soliz weaves colorful ropes across a courtyard at MoMA PS1 in New York.


5. Love this journal spread from Anna Rogalska.

6. Love these (and all the other) shots by Debi Treloar that were featured in Imperfect Home[image error].  



7. Love the simplicity of this collage by Waldemar Stremple.