Seth Apter's Blog, page 78

View Finder

I love making my own books. Over the years I have shifted away from using complex binding methods and now generally use more simple -- and sometimes purposefully wonky -- bindings. That was the case with today's book, which was inspired by windows and the changing views as we look through them.
Using the border die from the Vintage Brocade Die set from Spellbinders, I cut double-sided, decorative paper into 7 ½ x 2 ¼ inch strips. These will serve as the pages of my book. I love the curved corners and plan to use these in landscape mode.

I also cut black card stock into two strips using the same die. These will serve as my back and front covers.

The Spellbinders Scratched Lines Texture Plate was used to add some texture to the front cover piece.


Using dies #1, 2 and 3 from the Spellbinders A2 Curved Matting Basics B die set, I cut windows into each of the pages in random locations. This led to the book's title View Finder. 

As you turn the pages of the book, you will be able to see through each window onto the subsequent and previous pages. This will add a lot of dimension and interest to the book.

I will put aside most of the pieces from the cut window to use in another project but I will hold onto four pieces to use to decorate my cover.

Sorting through my stash of found objects and embellishments, I chose a vintage watch face to be the focus of my cover design. I also used both a vintage element and a circle die cut from Spellbinders Standard Circles Large set to stack with the watch face.

I selected a number of other elements, mostly metal, to use as well.

Trying out several different designs, I finally settled on one and glued the pieces to the cover. For a finishing touch, I randomly splattered the cover with some white paint.

Using waxed linen thread and a needle, I bound the book using a simple Japanese Stab binding.


The book is now complete and ready to be used as a journal.






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Supply List
Spellbinders Paper Art Supplies:
GC-001 Spellbinders® Grand Calibur® Die Cutting and Embossing Machine
GLLD-007 Spellbinders® A Gilded Life Vintage Brocade Die
GLT-001 Spellbinders®A Gilded Life Scratch Lines Texture Plate
S5-172 Spellbinders® Nestabilities® A2 Curved Matting Basics B 
S4-114 Spellbinders® Nestabilities® Standard Circles Large

Cross Promotional Partners: 7 Gypsies Postale Paper Pad

Other: card stock, assorted embellishments, vintage watch face, needle, thread, paint, adhesive

The Week Links: 6

Join me every Sunday when I will share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week.
Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5

And here is Week 6...


Barbara Carleton shares 10 quick tips to better organize your studio on the Arts Business Institute blog.
Love, love, love the 100 Years Later series from artist Maico Akiba seen on the blog I Need a Guide. Clever idea and amazingly well executed patina. Decay, distress, and grunge at its best.
The largest paintbrush I have ever seen. In action.
Jean Pederson shares her thoughts on how best to prepare for an art exhibition on the Artists Network blog.

Kari McKnight-Holbrook from the blog Backporch Artessa does the happy dance and has a giveaway for either her DVD or her stamps. Click here to leave a comment to be eligible.

Jeane Myers from ARTIT talks about "that moment" when in the middle of creating you just know.

The Power of Possibility

I believe in possibility: the idea that at any moment, something unexpected can unfold and lead to inspiration and new direction. The key is both being open to seeing each opportunity and willing to take the risk. There is magic to be had when you are ready to walk through the open door.
Not surprisingly, one of my most memorable experiences in this regard took place in Sedona, Arizona. It is said that “spiritual vortices” are concentrated in this part of the United States. I am convinced that the way the following events unfolded is a true example of the magic that can occur when one is open to possibility.

In the late 1990s, I took a weeklong trip to Sedona. Red rocks, jeep tours, glass-bottom helicopter flights, and hiking. And, of course, photography. That plays a big part in all my trips but, as you will see, especially in this instance.
We had a hot air balloon ride scheduled early in the trip but it was cancelled due to high winds. We decided to spend the day outside of Sedona and drive to the rim of the Grand Canyon. First possibility.

We drove off with no specific plan in mind. Along the way we passed this unusual building that looked like it might be a church. It was a tiny, almost triangular structure that was all roof. A fortress of shingles. There was one large cross soaring above the apex. Without a word, we pulled over. Second possibility.
When I stepped out of the car, I saw a black film canister on the ground. Remember those? I picked it up and opened it. Third possibility. Inside was a roll of undeveloped film. In that instant I knew that I would develop the film and wished there was a way to return it to the photographer. Upon entering the church, I soon forgot all about that. We could barely fit into this little space. Hanging from every nook and cranny were notes that had been left by hundreds of people asking for help and guidance. It was an incredibly moving experience. 

We all added our own notes -- fourth possibility -- and quietly drove on to the Grand Canyon.

Upon returning to Sedona, I dropped the film off to be developed. When I picked it up, I excitedly looked through each picture. What I saw were shots of two different events: a birthday party and a group of women quilting. I sensed that one of the women in the pictures was the one who lost the film. In that moment, I knew that the reason I found the film was so that I could return it to her. Thinking she was a local as the photos weren’t typical tourist shots, I went into a quilt shop in town and explained to the owner what had happened. She sorted through the pictures and unbelievably, when she reached the last photograph, let out a gasp. One of the women in the photo was a customer, although she did not know her name or where she lived. I left the stack of pictures along with my name and address in hopes that the customer would return to the shop.
The vacation ended and real life began. Time passed with no word and I had pretty much given up on reuniting film with photographer. Several months later, however, a letter from Sedona arrived. Inside was a note, thanking me for finding the film and taking the time to try to return it. The letter was from the photographer of the lost film: the woman in the picture. She had returned to the shop and was given her photos. She was effusive in her praise. But for me, I had not done anything special. I had just been open to the power of possibility.
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Rewind: A new series, with periodic reposting of an edited version of a previous post. A longer version of this article was originally posted online in 2008 on Lisa Hoffman's site Gypsy Bonfire. But today I am curious to hear if you have a story of possibility to share...

The Journey is the Inspiration

I have been working with the crew at daneldon.org on an online project called The Journey is the Inspiration. People who have been touched by the story of Dan Eldon are sharing their thoughts and/or artwork as a way to honor and celebrate his legacy. Not familiar with Dan? Do yourself a favor and read about his life here.

We are two months into this project. If you haven't yet visited the postings or have missed a few along the way, follow these links to hear personal stories that exemplify the continuing influence of Dan the artist, the activist, and the adventurer.

Week 1: Seth Apter
Week 2: Mary Beth Shaw
Week 3: William J. Charlebois
Week 4: J. Dean
Week 5: Shazdeh Omari
Week 6: Patrick AhernWeek 7: Chelsea Nicole
Week 8: Emily Cline

Postings will continue weekly every Thursday. Please stay tuned. If you have your own story that you want to share and be a part of this project, please click here for more information.

Paint Mojo

I am so happy to share with you that Tracy Vedugo's new book Paint Mojo is now shipping. As I write this, it is ranked Number 1 on Amazon in both the mixed media and the painting categories.
Paint Mojo
This is a special book for so many reasons. It is a a coiled-bound hardcover book, beautifully designed and filled with joyful color. It is quite unique and unlike any other mixed media book I have seen. It talks of stories and symbols. And of finding and applying your own personal meaning to artwork. There are many tutorials from both Tracy and the contributing artists. But this is more than a how-to book and also includes stories that are both personal and universal, sidebars with quotes and tips, and beautiful images that excite and inspire. This is a book to treasure, savor and return to again and again.
I was thrilled when Tracy contacted me well over a year ago and invited to be a contributing artist. My contribution is a project I call Unfolding Dreams -- an accordion book that contain my dreams and represents my possibilities. Here are some images of my work. A full step-by-step tutorial is found in Tracy's book.

Art is...

Art for me has always been about community and connection. I could never be the type of artist that stays isolated in the studio. Whether it is through online interaction, art collaborations, or actual in-person meet ups, other folks are always close by. For this, and so many other reasons, the Art is...You retreats have always held a special place in my heart.


They say you always remember you first and I have had a lot of firsts at Art is...You: first retreat as a student in 2010, vendor in 2011, and instructor in 2012. And I can barely contain my excitement to attend and teach at my first international retreat this August: Art is...You Australian Mixed Media Road Show.


These retreats are so special and unique in large part because of the two people who developed and run the whole show: Sallianne McClelland and Ellen Legare. They work hard year round so that all the attendees and instructors have the time of their lives.

If you have attended one of their retreats, you already know what I am taking about. If not, pick up the current issue of Mingle from Stampington & Company.


Rice Freeman-Zachery Freeman has written a very special feature about Sal, Ellen and the Art is...You family. It is sure to make you want to join the family too!

The Week Links: 5

Join me every Sunday when I will share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week.
Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4

And here is Week 5...


Take a walk though Williamsburg (Brooklyn...not Virginia) with Connie Freedman from Artseat.
Catherine Scanlon and Mandy Collins have released a 44-page eBook titled Mixed Media: A Journey into Visual Journaling + Mail Art. It is available free on Issuu.
Loving this mixed media scrapbook page from Nadia Cannizzo on the UmWowStudio blog. It is all grungy, drippy, splattery, and layery. And she includes a step-by-step video too!
So many artists struggle with time management and actually finding time to make art! Head over to this post on Nathalie Kalbach blog for a very interesting read on how she keeps up with her deadlines, all of life's responsibilities and still carves out time to create for herself.
To celebrate the release of her new book Printmaking Unleashed, Traci Bautista is hosting a virtual book launch party that you can all be a part of. Details on how to play along can be found on her blog here.
Artist Chris Cozen reminds us here how important it is to push the process and step out of your comfort zone.

The "A" Word

At pretty much every art workshop I run, there are attendees who have a difficult time using the "A" word and calling themselves artists. This issue is certainly not limited to students though. In my recent book  The Mixed-Media Artist , contributors were asked "at what point did you begin referring to yourself as an artist?" This question elicited quite a range of responses. A good number felt uncomfortable calling themselves artists and preferred not to use that label at all.

Why is it that so many creative people who make art do not self identify as artists? What is it about this label that seems to strike fear in the hearts of so many?

It seems that the word itself has taken on mythic proportions and magical connotations. People who have children easily identify themselves as parents -- regardless of how effective they are in that role. And those in school comfortably call themselves students -- even if they have a failing grade. But simply making art does not seem to be the only ingredient that enables all people to call themselves artists.

For some, issues related to confidence, ability and self criticism hinder their acceptance of the label. Some people feel it sounds pompous and self-important. They may think of themselves as artists but rarely, if ever, say that to others. There are those who feel that unless it is their career and profession, they do not have "the right" to call themselves an artist. Many people feel comfortable calling themselves an artist only when that label is applied to them by others. And there are no doubt many other reasons as well.

Maybe it is formal education and/or training that separates the artist from the non-artist? Well if that were the case, how do we explain Outsider Artists? Perhaps it has to do with recognition in the form of sales? If that were true, what about Vincent Van Gogh who sold only one painting while he was alive. How about exposure in the form of exhibitions and acceptance by the art community? Well that would not explain Martin Ramirez, whose artwork was exhibited for the first time more than 40 years after his death or Paul Cezanne, whose work was rejected by The Paris Salon for six consecutive years.

Our self-identity is based on how we see ourselves. We create it with every thought we have and every choice we make. Rather than looking for external evidence in the form of degrees, exhibitions, sales, or recognition, I believe that it is up to the individual to decide when (and if) they are an artist. Each of us who creates can make the choice to embrace -- or avoid -- the label of artist or just plain say that it doesn't matter one way or the other.

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Some of these thoughts were previously shared in 2010 in an article I wrote called "A is for Artist." But today I am curious to hear your thoughts...

Orly Avineri Stencil Release Giveaway

StencilGirl Blog Hop and Giveaway
I am over-the-moon excited to be a part of the blog hop to celebrate the newest artist in the StencilGirl family: Orly Avineri. Orly is a journal artist, friend, sometime workshop co-instructor and full time inspiration. 
In honor of Orly, StencilGirl is hosting a blog hop and GIVEAWAY (details below) in which Orly and 9 other artists share creations made using her 5 newly released stencils. I was provided with Orly's 9 x 12 inch Subliminal Skull stencil. I love it - and all of her other designs, as they are real, raw and perfect for art journaling and mixed media work.

Onto the art...
I started with a 7 ½ x 11 inch sheet of cold press water color paper, to which I added gesso, acrylic paint and acrylic glaze to create an abstract background.
Once the surface was dry, I randomly glued on torn bits of vintage paper which was covered with either script or print.
More acrylic paint and glaze were added to the surface, which was then sprayed with black ink.
I continued to work over the surface with paint, gesso and ink until I was happy with the pattern, texture, and dimension on the paper. 
Laying Orly's Subliminal Skull stencil over the sheet, I used a sponge to pounce white gesso through nearly all of the stencil.
I then used a black gel pen to outline the entire white design to add additional depth and dimension.
Once the stenciling was complete, I began to add different elements to different parts of the artwork. I used black rub-on letters to add text to the background and used a rubber stamp to add text to select sections of the white gesso added through the stencil. 
I used many different markers, gel pens, pencils and crayons (both wax and oil pastel) to write text and to create handmade marks, scratches, and designs.



I used the tip of an awl to scratch into the surface.
And I had to have some drips and splatters using acrylic paint.
In the end, I was left with... Remains of the Day
Onto the blog hop and giveaway...
Stop by the blogs of all the participating artists to see what they have created. While you are at each one, plan to leave a comment because StencilGirl will be giving five lucky people one of Orly's 5 new stencil releases each. The more sites you comment on, the greater your chance of winning. Comments close on Sunday June 29th, 11:59pm Central Time.
The order of and links to the participants are:

StencilGirl TalkOrly AvineriMary Beth ShawSeth Apter (you are here)Carolyn DubeMary C. NasserKirsten ReedGwen LafleurLinda KittmerJanet Joehlin
Maria McGuire

The Week Links: 4

Join me every Sunday when I will share some of my favorite links I discovered in the previous week.
Week 1 
Week 2
Week 3

And here is Week 4...

Anybody who is creative (in other words -- everybody) should read these thoughts on being an artist written by Annie Coe from the blog Blissful-Bohemian, as well as the comments to the post. She speaks to the balance between the work one must do and the need to slow down. 
Shawna Lemay, an author and photographer from the blog Calm Things also shares her thoughts on the challenge of being an artist and writer in our world today. Her words are spaced between stunning images of used paint brushes and though-filled quotes.
For all the painters out there, Wen Redmond has an interesting post with many helpful tips about alternatives to clogging your sink when you need to dispose of your acrylic paint.

I am inspired by the beauty of the work, the studio and the photography of artist Mae Chevrette on her blog To Go into the World. Love those blues!

Thinking of self-publishing a book? Biz Ladies has a post on Design Sponge that includes some good advice that hill help get you started.

Liz Steel has a wonderful post about the tools she uses for sketching, which includes suggestions for pens, pencils, brushes, sketchbooks, and other supplies.