Seth Apter's Blog, page 5
August 9, 2018
What Goes Around...
Retreat Circle Stencil
My newest stencil from StencilGirl Products. Cause you can never have enough circles.
Journal pages from my talented class at the StencilGirl and Friends retreat at Ephemera Paducah.SaveSave
My newest stencil from StencilGirl Products. Cause you can never have enough circles.
Journal pages from my talented class at the StencilGirl and Friends retreat at Ephemera Paducah.SaveSave
August 7, 2018
Apter's Chapters: Save the Independents
Just over a year ago I put up a post called Shop Mom and Pop. I was lamenting the closure of several independent art shops in NYC and encouraging creatives to shop at their local brick and mortar store for their supplies. It definitely struck a nerve as it is now my second most read blog post from 2017.
Today I make the same plea after just receiving news of the closing of The Stamp Addict, an independent craft shop in San Diego, CA - one that I was scheduled to teach with in 2018 for the first time. Sadly, this is occurring more and more often - both in the United States and Internationally. And I guarantee that as I write this, there is a group of owners who are now considering closing shop. Perhaps they have been on the fence for sometime but 2018 might just be the year that they have no choice but to close.
The reasons are of course familiar (e.g., the convenience of the Internet, lower prices online, the tempting 40% off coupons, amazon.com, etc.). But every time a mom and pop shop closes...
--we miss out on a very personal shopping experience.
--we lose a community.
--we no longer have the opportunity to ask product questions from knowledgeable staff.
--we have one less place to take workshops and see demos.
--we lose the opportunity to see (and often try) a product in person.
...not to mention that there are fewer places for teaching artists to find work and that the shop owners lose their livelihood.
More than once I have heard from former owners that former customers share words of sadness and disappointment when the closing announcement was made -- but many of those same customers hadn't shopped regularly at their store for years. I say it is time to show support while the doors are still open. There is no easy way to to turn the tide, but we as a community can make a difference.
Amex already sponsors Small Business Saturday, which this year will be on November 24. But why wait? And why only make this effort once a year?
I say we all make it a point to head to the our local (or semi-local) independent craft or art shop this month and buy something. Or buy many things. Say hello and thank the owner. And buy something. Or many things. And then go back again any other day and buy more.
And if you are a shopper (and who are we kidding - if you are reading this, of course you are), leave a comment and share the name and/or link to your favorite shop(s). Let's get this party started!
Today I make the same plea after just receiving news of the closing of The Stamp Addict, an independent craft shop in San Diego, CA - one that I was scheduled to teach with in 2018 for the first time. Sadly, this is occurring more and more often - both in the United States and Internationally. And I guarantee that as I write this, there is a group of owners who are now considering closing shop. Perhaps they have been on the fence for sometime but 2018 might just be the year that they have no choice but to close.
The reasons are of course familiar (e.g., the convenience of the Internet, lower prices online, the tempting 40% off coupons, amazon.com, etc.). But every time a mom and pop shop closes...
--we miss out on a very personal shopping experience.
--we lose a community.
--we no longer have the opportunity to ask product questions from knowledgeable staff.
--we have one less place to take workshops and see demos.
--we lose the opportunity to see (and often try) a product in person.
...not to mention that there are fewer places for teaching artists to find work and that the shop owners lose their livelihood.
More than once I have heard from former owners that former customers share words of sadness and disappointment when the closing announcement was made -- but many of those same customers hadn't shopped regularly at their store for years. I say it is time to show support while the doors are still open. There is no easy way to to turn the tide, but we as a community can make a difference.
Amex already sponsors Small Business Saturday, which this year will be on November 24. But why wait? And why only make this effort once a year?
I say we all make it a point to head to the our local (or semi-local) independent craft or art shop this month and buy something. Or buy many things. Say hello and thank the owner. And buy something. Or many things. And then go back again any other day and buy more.
And if you are a shopper (and who are we kidding - if you are reading this, of course you are), leave a comment and share the name and/or link to your favorite shop(s). Let's get this party started!
August 6, 2018
Baked Texture Skins
There are so many techniques that can be applied to my Baked Texture embossing powders from Emerald Creek and I am learning more and more everyday. Sometimes I find new approaches online, shared by another artist using the powders. Sometimes it is through my own experimentation.
Today, while attempting an idea that was an epic fail, I ended up creating Baked Texture skins. So simple and so cool. Just follow the recipe below.
Start with a non-stick, teflon craft mat. Pretty sure that 99% of you peeps have one (or more). My mat is taped to a moveable glass board.
Swipe an embossing pad across a section of the pad in the size that you want your skin. If you are using this technique for layering, it works best with a translucent embossing powder. I chose Vintage Beeswax.
Pour the powder over the sticky section and tap off the excess. Because my mat is taped to the glass board, it is easy for me to tip the whole contraption. Of course you are going to pour the excess back into the jar for next time. Melt the powder with a heat tool and resist the urge to touch the hot, molten skin.
In order to get the skin fully made, repeat these steps two more times. So once cool, swipe the skin again with your embossing pad. Add more Vintage Beeswax and tap off the excess. Heat it and watch the magic happen. Doing this three times gives you a sturdy skin.
Peel off and voila. Notice that there are several holes and a bit of a feathering at the end. I think this makes the skin more natural but you can always add extra powder and melt again if you prefer a smoother surface.
I chose to print out a photo of a book page I recently made and sized it to match the dimensions of the skin.
Laying the skin over the piece adds dimension, texture, shadowing, depth and a bespoke, vintage touch.
I attached the skin to the paper using brads - and sandwiched thin beads in between for added interest. I also stamped the word Ethereal, from my new Impression Obsession Journal Jargon 5 stamp set, and slipped it under the skin for an extra detail. I adhered this to a slice of watercolor paper that was painted and embossed with my Patina Oxide Baked Texture.
Ethereal
(sold. thank you)
Today, while attempting an idea that was an epic fail, I ended up creating Baked Texture skins. So simple and so cool. Just follow the recipe below.
Start with a non-stick, teflon craft mat. Pretty sure that 99% of you peeps have one (or more). My mat is taped to a moveable glass board.
Swipe an embossing pad across a section of the pad in the size that you want your skin. If you are using this technique for layering, it works best with a translucent embossing powder. I chose Vintage Beeswax.
Pour the powder over the sticky section and tap off the excess. Because my mat is taped to the glass board, it is easy for me to tip the whole contraption. Of course you are going to pour the excess back into the jar for next time. Melt the powder with a heat tool and resist the urge to touch the hot, molten skin.
In order to get the skin fully made, repeat these steps two more times. So once cool, swipe the skin again with your embossing pad. Add more Vintage Beeswax and tap off the excess. Heat it and watch the magic happen. Doing this three times gives you a sturdy skin.
Peel off and voila. Notice that there are several holes and a bit of a feathering at the end. I think this makes the skin more natural but you can always add extra powder and melt again if you prefer a smoother surface.
I chose to print out a photo of a book page I recently made and sized it to match the dimensions of the skin.
Laying the skin over the piece adds dimension, texture, shadowing, depth and a bespoke, vintage touch.
I attached the skin to the paper using brads - and sandwiched thin beads in between for added interest. I also stamped the word Ethereal, from my new Impression Obsession Journal Jargon 5 stamp set, and slipped it under the skin for an extra detail. I adhered this to a slice of watercolor paper that was painted and embossed with my Patina Oxide Baked Texture.
Ethereal
(sold. thank you)
August 4, 2018
Small Talk: 2
It's a small world after all. My comfort zone in art is small. Really small. There is something about creating an entire world in a small space that I find intriguing.
Didn't officially measure this book, recently made in Australia using scraps laying on my work table. But I know it is less than 2 x 2 inches.
(sold. thank you)SaveSave
Didn't officially measure this book, recently made in Australia using scraps laying on my work table. But I know it is less than 2 x 2 inches.
(sold. thank you)SaveSave
August 3, 2018
Small Talk: 1
It's a small world after all. My comfort zone in art is small. Really small. There is something about creating an entire world in a small space that I find intriguing.
TRIBAL
This container is a vintage Gillette blade holder and measures 1 x 1 ⅞ x ⅜ inches. The three pieces inside are even smaller.
(sold. thank you)
TRIBAL
This container is a vintage Gillette blade holder and measures 1 x 1 ⅞ x ⅜ inches. The three pieces inside are even smaller.
(sold. thank you)
July 31, 2018
NEW: The Beehive
Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture from Emerald Creek is a translucent blend of clear & multi-toned yellow and brown powders which, when heated, fuse together to add an antiqued look to any surface. Of the 7 embossing powder flavors that made up our first release, this is the "clear" best seller.
With multiple layers of full surface coverage, Vintage Beeswax creates a faux encaustic look.
This technique requires more applications than is typical for traditional embossing powders. As a result, people kept asking for a larger jar of VB.
Ask and you shall receive. The beehive: 120grams of Baked Texture heaven. More than 7 times the size of the original jar.
Available now from many of your favorite online and brick & mortar art/craft shops. Or simply head to my online shop where the shelves are filled with the new large jar...and the originals.
July 29, 2018
Art Down Under - Part 2
I found my recent trip to Australia very inspiring and was in an art making mode whenever I had a free moment. I am sharing this work in a series of posts. You can find the first post here and additional work below. Available pieces have just been added to my online shop.
Iron Mountain (available here)
Haiku (available here)
(Sold. Thank You)
(Sold. Thank You)
Bird of Paradise (available here)
(Sold. Thank You)
(Sold. Thank You)
SaveSave
Iron Mountain (available here)
Haiku (available here)
(Sold. Thank You)
(Sold. Thank You)
Bird of Paradise (available here)
(Sold. Thank You)
(Sold. Thank You)
SaveSave
July 28, 2018
Downloadable Collage Elements
As part of being the artist of the month for July at Cloth Paper Scissors...
I am offering downloadable, resizable and printable collage elements, each of which comes from a recent piece of my artwork.
They are available free here. And if you use them, I would love for you to share the results with me.
I am offering downloadable, resizable and printable collage elements, each of which comes from a recent piece of my artwork.
They are available free here. And if you use them, I would love for you to share the results with me.
July 27, 2018
Love Rust!
It is always exciting to see how artists use my products to create art and that is definitely the case when the artist is the company boss. Leandra Franich who, along with Mark Franich, runs PaperArtsy has made a wonderfully layered artwork using one of my just-released, PaperArtsy stamp set.
Pretty Rust!
She used many of the 12 new colors of Fresco Chalk Acrylics just released. See more images and read about the details of her work and the entire new release here.
Pretty Rust!
She used many of the 12 new colors of Fresco Chalk Acrylics just released. See more images and read about the details of her work and the entire new release here.
July 26, 2018
Phresh New Stamp Release
PHRESH
Thrilled to finally be able to share my newest release from Impression Obsession - four stamp sets to add to your ever growing collection.
JOURNAL JARGON FOUR
Which type of creative soul are you? What words best describe your creative direction? Are you a Traveler, Voyager, Seeker, Wanderer or Explorer always on a creative quest? Or perhaps you are more of an Illusionist, Inventor, Alchemist or Magician, making art magically appear. Maybe you are a Rebel or Revolutionary, using your art to make a change. You could be the Bohemian, Gypsy, Dreamer or Wayfarer, with an ever changing creative voice. Perhaps it is all about personal expression and you are in fact a Storytelller, or Archivist. But no matter who you are, there is no doubt in my mind that you are an Artist.
JOURNAL JARGON FIVE
We all have a story to tell. And for that we need language. Sometimes a photograph, a paint stroke, or a collage is the perfect vocabulary. But at other times, we need the perfect word. Take a look, as you just might find it here.
PHRESH PHRASES
First things first. Without a doubt, now is the time to think out of the box and to draw outside the lines. It's now or never but take one day at a time and fully live your past, present, (and) future.
GRUNGE GRIDS
There are a lot of words in this new release...but sometimes you just gotta make your mark with something more visual. Time to get your Grunge Grid on and make art!
Have a closer look at these - and my entire stamp collection - here.
Thrilled to finally be able to share my newest release from Impression Obsession - four stamp sets to add to your ever growing collection.
JOURNAL JARGON FOUR
Which type of creative soul are you? What words best describe your creative direction? Are you a Traveler, Voyager, Seeker, Wanderer or Explorer always on a creative quest? Or perhaps you are more of an Illusionist, Inventor, Alchemist or Magician, making art magically appear. Maybe you are a Rebel or Revolutionary, using your art to make a change. You could be the Bohemian, Gypsy, Dreamer or Wayfarer, with an ever changing creative voice. Perhaps it is all about personal expression and you are in fact a Storytelller, or Archivist. But no matter who you are, there is no doubt in my mind that you are an Artist.
JOURNAL JARGON FIVE
We all have a story to tell. And for that we need language. Sometimes a photograph, a paint stroke, or a collage is the perfect vocabulary. But at other times, we need the perfect word. Take a look, as you just might find it here.
PHRESH PHRASES
First things first. Without a doubt, now is the time to think out of the box and to draw outside the lines. It's now or never but take one day at a time and fully live your past, present, (and) future.
GRUNGE GRIDS
There are a lot of words in this new release...but sometimes you just gotta make your mark with something more visual. Time to get your Grunge Grid on and make art!
Have a closer look at these - and my entire stamp collection - here.
