Seth Apter's Blog, page 49
December 26, 2015
The Week Links: 82
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 82...
1. Thrilled to have accidentally come across the artwork of my friend Patricia Larsen in T - The New York Times Style Magazine. Saw the piece and immediately knew it was hers!
2. The beauty of marble quarries, as photographed by Tito Mauraz.
3. Amazed by the layers in this piece from Riikka Kovasin.
4. If I were in Vienna, this is what I would want to see first.
5. Top 10 Art Exhibitions of 2015 from Design Boom.
6. The Best in Art of 2015 from The New York Times.
7. 2015: The Year in Art -- from Artsy and Planet Art.
December 24, 2015
Let There be Light
Sending out greetings of the season to my peeps. Wishing happy and healthy times to each of you!
December 23, 2015
How do you Spell...
Spellbinders is introducing its new designers this and next week. Founder Stacey Caron was highlighted Monday and Becca Feeken was in the spotlight yesterday. Today is my day.
Head over to their blog to read my interview and hear more about my collection. And stay tuned for the release of the entire line in about 2 weeks.
Head over to their blog to read my interview and hear more about my collection. And stay tuned for the release of the entire line in about 2 weeks.
December 19, 2015
The Week Links: 81
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 81...
1. A Wall of Color, A Window to the Past
2. The (art) Journaling Game
3. Stir indigo while adding water once a week for 120 day.
4. 58,000 dog tags hang - one for every US soldier who died in the Vietnam War.
5. These shots are details from the most amazing miniature environments from Rick Araluce.
12.5 x 6.5 x 4 inches
16 x 8 x 3.75 inches6. The 100 Gates Project is transforming closed storefronts in NYC into street art.
7. Porcelain replicas of sticks from Katie Ridley Murphy.
December 17, 2015
DeeVeeDees
There are some new DVDs in town filled with some pretty impressive instructors displaying their techniques. I am happy to be sharing "tape-time" with people like Dina Wakley, Pam Carriker, Mary Beth Shaw, Quinn McDonald, Gina Rossi Armfield, Kristen Robinson and more. These two new DVDs are compilations, with segments culled from previously-released videos.
Top 10 Art Journaling Techniques
Available at Interweave as a DVD or video download
I am 1 of 9 artists featured on this compilation DVD, with my segment taken directly from my earlier DVD Easy Mixed Media Techniques for the Art Journal. My technique focuses on using gesso to create textured backgrounds and making acrylic glazes to add layers of transparent color.
"Hosted by Amy Jones, this instructive video gives you safe place to play with what you know, and what you want to try. From using acrylics to conte crayons, textured items to old photographs, you are in control of your artistic choices. You no longer have to be afraid of messing up your art piece, or spilling paint over your blank sheet, for this video equips you with the skills necessary to turn your mistakes into flawless designs! Find your favorite form of art journaling and make your way through the Top 10 Art Journaling Techniques."
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Top 10 Doodle, Drawing & Mark Making Techniques
Available at Interweave as a DVD or video download
I am 1 of 8 artists featured on this compilation DVD, with my segment taken directly from my earlier DVD Easy Mixed Media Surface Techniques. My technique focuses on using splattering, dry brushing and mark making to enhance your surface.
"Scratch your way into art through mark-making techniques, splatter your painting into existence with watercolors and acrylics, and find your Zen in pencil sketching and doodling. This video, hosted by Amy Jones, will study different mixed media instructions from a variety of ArtistNetwork.TV favorite video workshops. Bu bringing the diverse art forms together, you will become skilled in multiple areas and end up with a toolbox full of doodle, drawing, and mark-making techniques."
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These DVDs, along with my previous two, can be purchased through my online shop, at multiple online outlets as both DVDs and immediate video downloads, and at many of your favorite art and craft stores.
Top 10 Art Journaling Techniques
Available at Interweave as a DVD or video downloadI am 1 of 9 artists featured on this compilation DVD, with my segment taken directly from my earlier DVD Easy Mixed Media Techniques for the Art Journal. My technique focuses on using gesso to create textured backgrounds and making acrylic glazes to add layers of transparent color.
"Hosted by Amy Jones, this instructive video gives you safe place to play with what you know, and what you want to try. From using acrylics to conte crayons, textured items to old photographs, you are in control of your artistic choices. You no longer have to be afraid of messing up your art piece, or spilling paint over your blank sheet, for this video equips you with the skills necessary to turn your mistakes into flawless designs! Find your favorite form of art journaling and make your way through the Top 10 Art Journaling Techniques."
------------------
Top 10 Doodle, Drawing & Mark Making Techniques
Available at Interweave as a DVD or video downloadI am 1 of 8 artists featured on this compilation DVD, with my segment taken directly from my earlier DVD Easy Mixed Media Surface Techniques. My technique focuses on using splattering, dry brushing and mark making to enhance your surface.
"Scratch your way into art through mark-making techniques, splatter your painting into existence with watercolors and acrylics, and find your Zen in pencil sketching and doodling. This video, hosted by Amy Jones, will study different mixed media instructions from a variety of ArtistNetwork.TV favorite video workshops. Bu bringing the diverse art forms together, you will become skilled in multiple areas and end up with a toolbox full of doodle, drawing, and mark-making techniques."
------------------
These DVDs, along with my previous two, can be purchased through my online shop, at multiple online outlets as both DVDs and immediate video downloads, and at many of your favorite art and craft stores.
December 16, 2015
December 13, 2015
A Cafe Giveaway
Artists' Cafe volume 9Happy to share that my work was recently featured in Artists' Cafe Volume 9. This yearly publication from Stampington & Company culls articles from previous issues of Somerset Studio, Sew Somerset, Art Journaling, Somerset Apprentice, and Somerset Workshop. This is one of my favorite magazines as it it really is like a "greatest hits" issue. And because the articles comes from 5 different magazines, there is a wonderful variety in the projects that are shared. For example, this issue highlights encaustic work from Serena Barton, art journal pages from Finnabair, mixed media work from Lynne Perrella, stamp carving from Pam Carriker, journaling from Dina Wakley, and so many more.
My project featured in the magazine was from a collaboration I completed with Sarah Whitmire between 2008 and 2011. We each created our own handmade and handbound books, which we traded back and forth via mail for the three years of the project. Our theme was nature and sometimes we created our own pages and other times we both worked on the same page.
Here is a glimpse into my book...
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GIVEAWAY
Stampington has generously donated a copy of Artists' Cafe Volume 9 to give away to one of my lucky readers. All you need to do is to leave a comment to this blog post and you are eligible. Comments close end of day on Friday 12/18. The winner will be contacted by email so please be sure I have your email address.
December 12, 2015
The Week Links: 80
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 80...
1. I wouldn't mind making this Japanese paint supply store my studio.
2. I find the photography (website and Instagram) from Kara Rosenlund absolutely stunning.
3. Austrian photographer Thomas Windisch has traveled the world to capture images of abandoned places. First seen in this post on Creative Boom.
4. Are you familiar with the magic that Elizabeth Bunsen creates?
5. Have always loved the stunning and majestic books from Leslie Marsh. Read more about Leslie here in this interview in Live an Artful Life magazine.
6. Watch Gerhard Richter in action. My question --- how does he know when to stop?
7. Chiharu Shiota in the Japan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Stunning! First seen on This is Colossal.
The (art) Journaling Game
Artist and good friend Orly Avineri has done it again. Not only does she share her thoroughly authentic journal pages on her blog, teach life-changing workshops (ask any of her students), and self-publish her own unique books -- she now has created a very special tool that will be useful to every artist: The Journaling Game. And if that isn't incredible enough, she is giving away a copy to boot.
In her own words...
A few years ago I was teaching in a beautiful art retreat in the mountains, a place where the joy of creating didn't stop at the end of the class but continued into the night. Retreat buddies gathered in their cabins to journal together.
I started noticing that it wasn't easy for anyone to be in a group setting and have ideas how to begin, continue or end their pages. Then an idea came to visit me. How about if each of use took a turn in giving the rest of us a prompt. It was not only working out but it was contributing to a light, non-judgmental, fun evening.
Since that day it was known to be The Journaling Game and inspired many gathering to be joyously creative and lively.
This prompted Orly to create something that could be used beyond her workshops and shared with all.
I've designed a deck of cards based on that idea. Each card has a close-up taken from one of my journal pages on one side and on the other, not really technique but more of a prompt, a starter, a process that can take you in many directions if you run with it.
There are 48 cards in the box, 3.5" x 3.5" in size. Each deck costs $28 (+shipping and handling) and can ONLY be ordered through her online store (US only).
GIVEAWAY
For a chance to win a deck of The Journaling Game please leave a comment on the post on Orly's blog, tell her if you've played before and please remember to include your email address in case you are the one to win. A randomly selected winner will be announced by Orly in 48 hours, that is Monday at 5pm Pacific time.
December 10, 2015
Spellbinders CHA Roundup - Day #5
BLOG HOP AND GIVEAWAY
Every year in December, craft and art companies across the globe begin to share details about their new product lines that will officially be unveiled at the annual Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Conference and Trade Show in January. Soon after, the products are available to all to buy and use.
This year is a very special year for me as I have teamed up with Spellbinders Paper Arts to create my very own collection of products to be released at CHA that are designed for artists, crafters, journalers, scrapbookers, cardmakers, and all other creatives too. In other words, for everybody.
The idea for this line began nearly two years ago and I couldn't be more excited that the first of my many planned releases is nearly here. This week, Spellbinders has hosted a blog hop where all their amazing designers have revealed one or more items from their new collections and shared creative tutorials with you as well. Today, the last day of the hop, is my turn. If you missed the earlier posts, you can find them here:
Stacey CaronBecca FeekenTammy TutterowYana SmakulaDebi AdamsLoretta LockDonna SalazarJennifer IngleSeth Apter (you are here)Teresa Horner
This blog hop is just the beginning. There will be other events and giveaways prior to, during and after the January CHA Show. You can sign up for updates and find all the details and dates here.
Read on for the first of many upcoming product reveals. Details on how to join today's giveaway can be found at the end of this post.
--------------------------------
MEMORY KEEPER
The inspiration for this project began with my new Spellbinders Drip Drop die. This set consists of two dies but I chose to only include one, which I ran through the Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing Machine. The paper I used to cut the shape was my own hand painted paper from my stash.
I wanted to add depth to this die cut and make it dimensional. Using Drip Drop and teal cardstock, I cut nine more of the same shapes.
I stacked and glued them together, placing the die cut from my hand painted paper on top.
This gave me the dimension that I wanted and shifted the die cut from a piece of paper to more of an actual object.
I decided to create an embellishment to place within the circle of Drip Drop. I chose a hand painted paper and die cut the correct sized circle using the Standard Circles Small die set. I highlighted the circular shape by stamping with two of my new rubber stamps, one from the Turnarounds 1 set and the other from Turnarounds 2.
My next step was to create a background to highlight the die cut stack and stamped circle. I chose a piece of simply painted paper and ran it through the Platinum Machine along with my new Gridiron Embossing Folder. I rubbed an ink pad over the raised surfaces and further highlighted the texture by shading the embossed circles with a gel pen.
As the pieces were coming together I decided to place these elements on a larger surface to create a more substantial artwork. I took two cradled wood panels (8" x 10" x .75") and painted the outside surfaces and the insides.
I then attached the two panels together using hinges and a clasp.
This created a book-like container that opened and closed.
At this point, I went hunting through my drawers, boxes and table tops to find a grouping of embellishments, found objects, hardware to alter, and other random doohickies and thingamajibs to complete the piece.
In the end, I created an artwork that combines some of my new Spellbinders products with both commercial embellishments as well as altered and found objects. In other words...mixed media!
MEMORY KEEPER
--------------------------------
Supply List
Spellbinders Paper Art Supplies:
PL-001 Spellbinders® Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing MachineS4-116 Spellbinders® NestabilitiesTM Standard Circles SmallS4-621 Spellbinders® Drip Drop Die SetSEL-002 Spellbinders® Gridiron Embossing FolderSBS-032 Spellbinders® Turnarounds Set 1 Cling Rubber StampsSBS-033 Spellbinders® Turnarounds Set 2 Cling Rubber Stamps
Preferred Partners:
Imagine Crafts StazOn midi ink pads, Sakura gel pens
Other:
Cradled wood panels, metal hinges, metal clasp, screws, acrylic paint, gesso, gilders paste, paint brush, hand painted paper, adhesive, scissors, tin snips, embellishments, found objects, vintage book covers, rub-on letters, beads, needle, thread
--------------------------------
GIVEAWAY
Spellbinders is giving away the die set and embossing folder used in this artwork. You are of course more than welcome to leave a comment on this post but in order to be eligible for the giveaway, you must click the link below and follow the directions there within 48 hours of this posting.
For Giveaway Entry, click HERE.
For official contest details, click HERE.
I am just one of many artists participating in this sneak peek. For another chance to win, make sure to check out the work of Teresa Horner who is also posting in the Blog Hop today.
Questions? Email ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us (no entries will be accepted at this email address)
Every year in December, craft and art companies across the globe begin to share details about their new product lines that will officially be unveiled at the annual Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Conference and Trade Show in January. Soon after, the products are available to all to buy and use.
This year is a very special year for me as I have teamed up with Spellbinders Paper Arts to create my very own collection of products to be released at CHA that are designed for artists, crafters, journalers, scrapbookers, cardmakers, and all other creatives too. In other words, for everybody.
The idea for this line began nearly two years ago and I couldn't be more excited that the first of my many planned releases is nearly here. This week, Spellbinders has hosted a blog hop where all their amazing designers have revealed one or more items from their new collections and shared creative tutorials with you as well. Today, the last day of the hop, is my turn. If you missed the earlier posts, you can find them here:
Stacey CaronBecca FeekenTammy TutterowYana SmakulaDebi AdamsLoretta LockDonna SalazarJennifer IngleSeth Apter (you are here)Teresa Horner
This blog hop is just the beginning. There will be other events and giveaways prior to, during and after the January CHA Show. You can sign up for updates and find all the details and dates here.
Read on for the first of many upcoming product reveals. Details on how to join today's giveaway can be found at the end of this post.
--------------------------------
MEMORY KEEPER
The inspiration for this project began with my new Spellbinders Drip Drop die. This set consists of two dies but I chose to only include one, which I ran through the Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing Machine. The paper I used to cut the shape was my own hand painted paper from my stash.
I wanted to add depth to this die cut and make it dimensional. Using Drip Drop and teal cardstock, I cut nine more of the same shapes.
I stacked and glued them together, placing the die cut from my hand painted paper on top.
This gave me the dimension that I wanted and shifted the die cut from a piece of paper to more of an actual object.
I decided to create an embellishment to place within the circle of Drip Drop. I chose a hand painted paper and die cut the correct sized circle using the Standard Circles Small die set. I highlighted the circular shape by stamping with two of my new rubber stamps, one from the Turnarounds 1 set and the other from Turnarounds 2.
My next step was to create a background to highlight the die cut stack and stamped circle. I chose a piece of simply painted paper and ran it through the Platinum Machine along with my new Gridiron Embossing Folder. I rubbed an ink pad over the raised surfaces and further highlighted the texture by shading the embossed circles with a gel pen.
As the pieces were coming together I decided to place these elements on a larger surface to create a more substantial artwork. I took two cradled wood panels (8" x 10" x .75") and painted the outside surfaces and the insides.
I then attached the two panels together using hinges and a clasp.
This created a book-like container that opened and closed.
At this point, I went hunting through my drawers, boxes and table tops to find a grouping of embellishments, found objects, hardware to alter, and other random doohickies and thingamajibs to complete the piece.
In the end, I created an artwork that combines some of my new Spellbinders products with both commercial embellishments as well as altered and found objects. In other words...mixed media!
MEMORY KEEPER
--------------------------------
Supply List
Spellbinders Paper Art Supplies:
PL-001 Spellbinders® Platinum Die Cutting and Embossing MachineS4-116 Spellbinders® NestabilitiesTM Standard Circles SmallS4-621 Spellbinders® Drip Drop Die SetSEL-002 Spellbinders® Gridiron Embossing FolderSBS-032 Spellbinders® Turnarounds Set 1 Cling Rubber StampsSBS-033 Spellbinders® Turnarounds Set 2 Cling Rubber Stamps
Preferred Partners:
Imagine Crafts StazOn midi ink pads, Sakura gel pens
Other:
Cradled wood panels, metal hinges, metal clasp, screws, acrylic paint, gesso, gilders paste, paint brush, hand painted paper, adhesive, scissors, tin snips, embellishments, found objects, vintage book covers, rub-on letters, beads, needle, thread
--------------------------------
GIVEAWAY
Spellbinders is giving away the die set and embossing folder used in this artwork. You are of course more than welcome to leave a comment on this post but in order to be eligible for the giveaway, you must click the link below and follow the directions there within 48 hours of this posting.
For Giveaway Entry, click HERE.
For official contest details, click HERE.
I am just one of many artists participating in this sneak peek. For another chance to win, make sure to check out the work of Teresa Horner who is also posting in the Blog Hop today.
Questions? Email ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us (no entries will be accepted at this email address)
