Seth Apter's Blog, page 59
June 23, 2015
Assemblage Heaven
Yes, Virginia, there really is an assemblage heaven. At the home of artist Clarke Bedford, right in the heart of Hyattsville, Maryland.
When I was teaching a few weeks ago at The Queen's Ink, Patti Euler (the incredible owner of there incredible shop) took me on a field trip to Clarke's home. Wow. Wow. Wow. After staring in amazement and taking hundreds of pictures, I had the opportunity to meet Clarke and step inside the mixed media paradise that he calls home. He is as articulate and intelligent as he is talented and creative. It was an experience I will never forget.
June 20, 2015
The Week Links: 55
Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week.All previous links can be found here.And here is Week 55...
15 creative exercises for color exploration and play from Traci Bautista.
Check out this tiny art studio built by Derek Diedricksen at the Empty Spaces Project gallery in Putnam, Connecticut.
Check out Michael deMeng's video clips on his YouTube channel from his ongoing series "Tips from a Messy Studio."
Love the illustrations in these two books from 1899 and 1935 posted by Jose Naranja.
Inside the Rauschenberg warehouse (and some cool videos) from the New York Times Magazine.
Outsider Art on the inside: musings also from the New York Times Magazine.
Leonardo da Vinci's to-do list. Circa 1490.
June 18, 2015
The Other Georgetown
When talking about Georgetown, most people think of the district in Washington, DC. But there is another Georgetown. In another Washington. Washington state. Last month when I was teaching in the Pacific Northwest, I stayed in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. It was the perfect gritty, urban spot for me. It reminded me of Brooklyn. With microbreweries.
It had graffiti...
Amazing shops...
District
Kassie Keith Curiosities & Home Decor
Kirk Albert Vintage FurnishingsA trailer park mall...
...with Amber and John, the coolest couple ever, from Seek and Restore...
And just the right amount of urban photo ops...
June 16, 2015
Basquiat at the Brooklyn Museum (and more)
Living in NYC comes with many perks - not the least of which is being able to see so many different works of art from just about every artist. Last week I visited the Brooklyn Museum...
to see the exhibit Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks.
I have noticed from previous postings about Basquiat on my blog that many people love his work. And many do not. I find it utterly fascinating, endlessly compelling and thoroughly satisfying. I guess you can tell I fall into the group of lovers.
This exhibit was unique in that it focused on 8 notebooks that Basquiat created in the 1980s.
He worked only on one side of each page and the works were exhibited as individually pages both framed on the wall...
and in low cases.
His notebook of choice seems to have been a basic composition book.
The exhibit also featured other work, including crayon drawings...
ink drawings...
collage...
and of course paintings.
----------------------
There were quite a few other interesting exhibits at the museum, including:
KAWS: ALONG THE WAY, an 18-foot high sculpture
and The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago.
to see the exhibit Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks.
I have noticed from previous postings about Basquiat on my blog that many people love his work. And many do not. I find it utterly fascinating, endlessly compelling and thoroughly satisfying. I guess you can tell I fall into the group of lovers.
This exhibit was unique in that it focused on 8 notebooks that Basquiat created in the 1980s.
He worked only on one side of each page and the works were exhibited as individually pages both framed on the wall...
and in low cases.
His notebook of choice seems to have been a basic composition book.
The exhibit also featured other work, including crayon drawings...
ink drawings...
collage...
and of course paintings.
----------------------
There were quite a few other interesting exhibits at the museum, including:
KAWS: ALONG THE WAY, an 18-foot high sculpture
and The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago.
June 14, 2015
A Case of Curiosities
A Case of Curiosities
Mixed Media Retreat
Taos, New Mexico5 days, 6 nights3/13/16-3/19/16
Roxanne Evans StoutSeth Apter
Mabel Luhan Dodge House
Imagine. Each day awakening to a gourmet breakfast with creative souls and art lovers like yourself. Next imagine immersing yourself into creating, playing, exploring and art making to your heart's content.
Our projects begin with a simple wooden and latched case, a box measuring 12" x 15". This case will have many compartments of different sizes that will house unique art pieces that you will make - handmade books, paintings, collages, assemblages, scrolls, shrines and tapestries...
We will stitch and weave, connect and construct, assemble and build, write and sketch - all the while creating our own case of curiosities.
For details and registration information, please contact Roxanne or myself via email.
Taos, New Mexico5 days, 6 nights3/13/16-3/19/16
Roxanne Evans StoutSeth Apter
Mabel Luhan Dodge House
Imagine. Each day awakening to a gourmet breakfast with creative souls and art lovers like yourself. Next imagine immersing yourself into creating, playing, exploring and art making to your heart's content.
Our projects begin with a simple wooden and latched case, a box measuring 12" x 15". This case will have many compartments of different sizes that will house unique art pieces that you will make - handmade books, paintings, collages, assemblages, scrolls, shrines and tapestries...
We will stitch and weave, connect and construct, assemble and build, write and sketch - all the while creating our own case of curiosities.
For details and registration information, please contact Roxanne or myself via email.
At Pratt: 52 Card Pickup
I am thrilled to now be an official instructor within the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies at the Manhattan location of Pratt Institute.
I taught my first class there this past weekend - 52 Card Pickup - and had a truly creative day. The attendees worked hard but fun was had too.
The space was comfortable and large, with great natural light.
This workshop is all about layering...
...layering...
...layering...
...layering...
...and then layering some more.
Some of the cards I made as part of my demo.
Lost in collage.
Even more layers.
A very talented crew!
I return to Pratt to teach Making an Artist Book on Saturday and Sunday July 18-19. More information can be found on page 4 of the summer catalog.
I taught my first class there this past weekend - 52 Card Pickup - and had a truly creative day. The attendees worked hard but fun was had too.
The space was comfortable and large, with great natural light.
This workshop is all about layering...
...layering...
...layering...
...layering...
...and then layering some more.
Some of the cards I made as part of my demo.
Lost in collage.
Even more layers.
A very talented crew!I return to Pratt to teach Making an Artist Book on Saturday and Sunday July 18-19. More information can be found on page 4 of the summer catalog.
June 13, 2015
The Week Links: 54
Join me every Sunday when I share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week.All previous links can be found here.And here is Week 54...
Berndnaut Smilde photographs rainclouds. Indoors...
Kelly Kilmer shares tips on collage.
Dina Wakley shares tips on loosening up when painting.
Finding your purpose from Danny Gregory.
Digging the look of these 2 mixed media cards (and video) from Rikka Kovasin.
Inside the cool Melbourne home of David Bromley.
The new issue of The Woven Tale Press is available free here.
June 12, 2015
The Mix of Media - Part 1
Part of the beauty of being a mixed media artist is the freedom that goes along with it. With mixed media...anything goes. There is of course the choice among materials and supplies that are traditionally associated with art. I could lose myself in an art store for days. But by definition, mixed media also includes everything else. And I mean everything.
Something bought in the hardware store? Check. Something found at the thrift shop? Check. Something picked up from the street? Double check! The fact that it is an art form based on inclusivity really resonates with me.
Much of the work I create is focused on making the effort to seamlessly blend all the disparate pieces. It is easy to put a grouping of art supplies and objects together. It is not easy to do it well.
My goal is always to turn these seemingly individual items into an integrated whole, as if all the little pieces were destined to find each other. I want every element of my artwork to look as though it belongs with every other. I know the work is done when I feel that there is a relationship between every aspect of the work, no matter how small.
Oxide
Something bought in the hardware store? Check. Something found at the thrift shop? Check. Something picked up from the street? Double check! The fact that it is an art form based on inclusivity really resonates with me.
Much of the work I create is focused on making the effort to seamlessly blend all the disparate pieces. It is easy to put a grouping of art supplies and objects together. It is not easy to do it well.
My goal is always to turn these seemingly individual items into an integrated whole, as if all the little pieces were destined to find each other. I want every element of my artwork to look as though it belongs with every other. I know the work is done when I feel that there is a relationship between every aspect of the work, no matter how small.
Oxide
June 10, 2015
Bella Crafts Connections
I am thrilled to be a part of Bella Crafts Connection - a new retreat that will be held from September 24-27 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. This will not only be my first time teaching in Minnesota...but the first time visiting there as well.
The retreat has 20+ instructors and 50+ workshops to choose from. Plus a Meet & Greet with the instructors and a three-day marketplace. I will be vending throughout the entire retreat and teaching two workshops on Friday 9/25...
Mixed Media Layer Conveyor
An Artist's Journal
Details and registration information can be found here. And I hope to see you there!
(If you register before July 29th, you will be eligible for a discount)
The retreat has 20+ instructors and 50+ workshops to choose from. Plus a Meet & Greet with the instructors and a three-day marketplace. I will be vending throughout the entire retreat and teaching two workshops on Friday 9/25...
Mixed Media Layer Conveyor
An Artist's JournalDetails and registration information can be found here. And I hope to see you there!
(If you register before July 29th, you will be eligible for a discount)
June 8, 2015
Interweave: Behind the Scenes
This past March I had the pleasure to be able to spend the day at the Interweave offices in Sudbury, Massachusetts. These are of course the people behind the magazines Cloth Paper Scissors and Artists & Makers, assorted art and Craft books, videos, eBooks and webinars, and the popular online community Cloth Paper Scissors.
Come on inside with me...
It was a wonderful visit with a very special team of people that included Paige Martin, Anita Cook, Barbara Delaney and Jeannine Stein.
I also had a chance to spend a little time with Cate Prato.
You might have noticed from the last two pictures that all of us wore black and green. No...there wasn't a memo. We all just seemed to be perfectly in synch!
There wasn't a photo shoot that day but this is part of the area where the magic happens.
It was fun to explore the space and discover all the creative goodness that was everywhere.
Books...
Art...
Videos and magazines...
More magazines...
And even more...
I was welcomed with open arms and totally inspired by all the stuff on the shelves and the entire team. They are a special group of people and it is no wonder that they produce such wonderful items as a result.
Come on inside with me...
It was a wonderful visit with a very special team of people that included Paige Martin, Anita Cook, Barbara Delaney and Jeannine Stein.
I also had a chance to spend a little time with Cate Prato.You might have noticed from the last two pictures that all of us wore black and green. No...there wasn't a memo. We all just seemed to be perfectly in synch!
There wasn't a photo shoot that day but this is part of the area where the magic happens.It was fun to explore the space and discover all the creative goodness that was everywhere.
Books...
Art...
Videos and magazines...
More magazines...
And even more...I was welcomed with open arms and totally inspired by all the stuff on the shelves and the entire team. They are a special group of people and it is no wonder that they produce such wonderful items as a result.
