Seth Apter's Blog, page 90

30/30: Dan Eldon - A Tribute

I am excited to announce that my new book The Mixed-Media Artist is now shipping from the North Light Shop online. You can also purchase the eBook at North Light as an immediate download. The book will be shipping from other online sites and will be available in stores very soon!------------------------------------

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.

------------------------------------Dan Eldon: A Tribute


"What we see in his artwork rings true with what he once scribbled in a journal as a personal mission statement, To explore the unknown and the unfamiliar, distant and near and to record in detail with the eyes of a child..." Hugh Milstein




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From the first moment that I decided to propose this second book, I knew that I wanted to honor Dan Eldon. He and his story have inspired me for many years. I consider him a pioneer in so many ways, including as a journal artist. But even more so, I look up to his adventurous spirit, dedication, fearlessness, and sense of duty. He truly is an example to us all.

In 2008 I had the opportunity to see his journals and artwork up close and in person when a traveling exhibition landed in NYC. I blogged about that visit here. It truly was a peak art experience. Following my blog post, I received an email in response from Kathy Eldon, Dan's mother. Her story, and the work that his entire family has done since Dan's death, is equally inspiring. Kathy has just released a book which I would highly recommend.



If you do not know who Dan Eldon is and what his story is all about, run - don't walk - over to the Dan Eldon website for details. I guarantee you will be moved and inspired. You can also visit Creative Visions Foundation, started by Kathy and Amy - Dan's sister - to learn more about this organization which utilizes the arts to create meaningful change in our world.
------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies.The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

30/30: Jennifer Coyne Qudeen

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.

------------------------------------Jennifer Coyne Qudeen


"I am a mark maker,


storyteller, surface design explorer, a rust junkie


and a thorough believer of asking what if?"

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I first "met" Jennifer online in 2011 when she participated in my Buried Treasure collaborative project. I felt an instant connection with Jennifer at that time as I realized that we shared a common interest: rust. She is the self described rust junkie. While most people outside of the mixed media art community might not understand why this was so exciting to me, I know many of my blog readers will absolutely get it.

Jennifer creates the most wonderful surfaces in fascinating ways -- as can be seen in the pictures in this post and in those she contributed to the book. I was lucky enough to meet Jennifer at an art exhibition in NYC last year. It was great to connect with her in person and share some art time together. And I can say for sure that she is every bit as interesting as the surfaces she creates!
------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

30/30: Nettie Edwards

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.

------------------------------------Nettie Edwards


"I describe myself as a Digital Scrapsmith because at heart, I'm a mixed media artist but I get impatient waiting for paint and glue to dry, so I combine live media with digital: layering hand made effects and textures with photographs.


For the past three years I've been doing this with my iPhone and iPad, which means that although I have a beautiful studio, I can also do arty activities whilst taking a bath.


You may consider this a little obsessive: I couldn't possibly comment..."

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Nettie and I first connected online back in early 2009, about the time she started blogging. She was one of the participants in my Disintegration Collaboration (DisCo). Nettie is a digital magician. I have been constantly amazed at her digital work. She is an extraordinary photographer who brings a gifted eye for design to all the images she creates. I have always felt that Nettie was ahead of her time, creating complex digital collages and digital images that portended the whole iPhoneography movement.

I admire Nettie for many reasons but most of all because she puts so much of herself into her work. Her photographs always carry a personal meaning and a sense of deep emotion. I get that sense that there is a story behind every single image and every choice. Her photos are complex and meaningful and often challenge the viewer to look deeply inside. I am happy to be able to say that the pieces she has contributed to the book are no exception.
------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

30/30: Juana Almaguer

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.

------------------------------------Juana Almaguer


"I must have paper. I love the feel of rice paper and pages from vintage books. Each sheet has a story that I want to tell.


And, I love the sound the pencil makes. It's meditative and comforting.


Drawing is like chicken tacos for me: I'm addicted."

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I cannot remember how Juana and I initially crossed paths online but I do remember being bowled over by her artwork when I first saw it. She has a special way of mixing media and styles, whether it be drawing, collage, and painting or abstract and figurative. I find her work to be quite introspective and extremely compelling. There is something extra special to me in her ability to create faces and bodies that both tell a story and elicit strong emotions.

I have been lucky enough to have met Juana twice, both times in Washington state. Earlier this year, she attended a two-day workshop that I gave on Whidbey Island. I felt privileged to see her creative process in person and to see how she integrated her own style seamlessly into the workshop project. She was a great addition to the workshop and every bit as wonderful as a person as she is as an artist.
------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

30/30: Nathalie Nayer

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.

------------------------------------Nathalie Nayer


"My journals are filled with contradictions. I see them as an intimate place where I can combine order and silliness. I get to be wild and organized at the same time.


I can paint an abstract background in just one minute and then spend hours on an industrial scene with one felt-tip pen.


I enjoy working with straight black lines next to a random collage or a shy photograph. That's what I like above all. The juxtaposition of messiness and order to form that ultimate combination that feels just like me."

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I first met Nathalie in 2012 at the CREATE mixed media art retreat in New Jersey. We connected right away at one of the opening events and then she took one of my workshops later in the week. I was immediately blown away by Nathalie's talent. She had several of her journals with her and I was totally transfixed by her unique style. Her seamless combination of order and chaos resonated with me instantly and completely.

I was inspired seeing her approach to art at the retreat. She was very focused and truly seemed to be able to completely lose herself in the process of painting and drawing. There was a depth and seriousness to her art that was quite compelling. I found Nathalie to be incredibly sincere and humble. Not only is she an accomplished artist but she is also a physician. Talk about working both sides of the brain.
------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

Twitter Book Launch Party

Join me on Wednesday October 16th when I will be celebrating the release of my book, The Mixed-Media Artist . I am holding a Twitter Launch Party from 9-10pm EST, where you can talk in real time to many of the contributing artists from the book. Everybody is welcome, but you need to have a Twitter account to join in. For this party, all tweets need to include the hashtag #mmartist.

Like any party, you need directions to get there. There are two routes that you can take:
1. If you already use (or are willing to join) a Twitter client such as TweetDeck or HootSuite, you can sign up to follow the hashtag #mmartist. In doing so, all the tweets that include #mmartist will automatically show up on your account. But...so will all the other tweets you normally get. Remember, at the party your tweets must include #mmartist to be seen.
2. If you join TweetChat, you can spend the hour in a TweetChat room where you will only be able to see the tweets from people at the party and no other tweets from those people you follow. Signing up is quick and easy and I highly recommend this approach, even if you already use TweetDeck or HootSuite. You can try it out now.
It is simple. Sign up with TweetChat in advance here by linking your Twitter account. When the party starts, sign into your TweetChat account and enter hashtag #mmartist. This will automatically take you to a "private room" where all the other Launch partygoers will be. Chat in real time for the hour and when the party is over, just close the page.
No need to dress up for this party. Just come as you are!
If you have any questions at all about this, please feel free to email me.

30/30: Marina Rios

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.

------------------------------------Marina Rios


"I feel like I was made for this - my mind naturally comes up with endless possibilities for con-nections and combinations, my hands are dextrous and I love to sit all day. Like all artists, I feel a need to synthesize what I've experienced of the world into a sort of unified human artifact.


I take a scoopful of western history, mix in some tribal materials, grunge it up for character and sprinkle it with wonder and philosophy.


Then I run to share it with my friends yelling, Look what I made! Lookit, lookit! I made this! All by myself! Loooook!"

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When choosing artists to include within the book, I spent some time surfing the net in hopes of finding some participants who were totally new to me - and perhaps also new to many of the readers of the book. When I saw Marina's work, I knew that I hit the jackpot. Her approach to jewelry making taps into the very essence of mixed media. Her choice of materials really resonated with me and I keep finding elements in her work that inspire me to get into the studio and create.

I was so pleased by her response to my invitation, which was an unqualified yes! As you might be able to tell by her artist statement above, Marina is a very enthusiastic person and a passionate artist. She carries with her a sense of curiosity, discovery and adventure which absolutely is represented in her creations. It has been great to get to know her better via emails and I hope to one day get a chance to meet her in person.
------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
 For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

30/30: Nava Waxman

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.
------------------------------------Nava Waxman


"My awareness is expressed through my work in issues around the body, along with nature and abstract elements. My work explores symbolic mapping systems with the objective to express visual form to abstract thoughts and feelings, emphasizing sexual and spiritual energy.


Awareness of the body's form is explored through the creation of disparate parts, familiar yet strange, animate and inanimate, inviting recognition while remaining enigmatic and open. Body parts, objects, calligraphy, nature and biological entities are echoed, creating a distinction between things that are not yet clear and where boundaries between identities are fluid. I work with various medium such as drawing, painting, collage and calligraphy. The work is entirely based on my existence and personal perception about my identity as a woman.


I seek to release the female form from its stereotypical state, which is often limited due to preconceptions. In doing so, I transform the familiarity of the subject from its literal identification to a metaphorical, visual perception. I challenge myself to create a relationship between oppositional forces and how they transform the recognized image into an anthropomorphic object."

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In 2011 I spent an afternoon at an art exhibition in NYC called The Artist Project as part of my role as an Arts and Culture reporter for the website NearSay NY.  I saw the work of several artists there that had a big impact on me. Nava Waxman was one of those artists. In describing her work on the NearSay website, I wrote "Encaustic and mixed media materials on wood panels combine in these pieces to create highly detailed, dreamlike landscapes that capture both your eye and your imagination. The worlds that she creates invite you to step into them."

Nava's work was so memorable to me that when it came time to determine the artists that I wanted to invite to be a part of this book, she was definitely on the list. Other than having exchanged emails at the time of the review on NearSay, I had no contact with Nava. I was thrilled when she agreed to be part of the book. And even more thrilled when I saw the work that she contributed.
------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

30/30: Trudi Sissons

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.
------------------------------------Trudi Sissons


"My biggest dream as a schoolgirl was to be able to buy the largest pack of Laurentian pencil crayons available.


I would bring them to school and the teacher would allow me to stay in at recess so I could sharpen each pencil in the good pencil sharpener.


Some things never change."

------------------------------------
Although I have never met Trudi, I have known her for almost as long as I have been online. She participated in my very first online version of The Pulse in January 2008 - just 5 months after I started blogging. Since that time, I have been involved in many projects she has hosted and she has been a part of many of the projects that I have developed. She has always been a supportive friend, a generous artist, and an extremely good soul.

Trudi is equally adept in so many aspects of mixed media art too, whether it be digital art, painting, collaging, stitching, working with fabrics, box making, or more. She has a way with color and composition. Furthermore, her work always carries with it and elicits a strong sense of emotion and story. And what truly sets her apart is her imagination -- it is limitless.

As a bonus, Trudi put together a 48 second video that shows the steps she took from start to finish to create The Chairman, a piece she contributed to the book. Click play and be amazed...


------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

30/30: Geoffrey Gorman

30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book  The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists . See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.
------------------------------------Geoffrey Gorman


"A broken tree branch, bleached from sun and rain, makes me think of weathered bones: wings, legs, backbone, and hip bone.


Old stained strips of cloth act like bandages and clothing, hiding and holding it all together. Found and lost objects assembled into curious and evocative shapes is what excites me. When I am making objects, I think of model airplanes made of balsa wood, then covered in thin transparent paper. Or I see decoys and shapes made to attract wild animals.


I also think of a forest of tall, dark tress covered in moss and moisture, a silent, meditative place. I try to give people just a starting point. Then it's up to them to add the narrative."

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Geoffrey Gorman's creations are like no other. He is able to put together flotsam and jetsam in such a way as to make magical creatures that I would swear have a life and a soul all their own. I have always just assumed that his imagination must be as big as his talent. I have seen his artwork highlighted in so many places and each time it is as powerful as if I had never seen his work before.

In 2011 I attended the International Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Fair in NYC. Not knowing that Geoffrey was exhibiting, I came across his work and immediately stopped dead in my tracks. Seeing his creations online and on magazine pages is pretty incredible. But seeing his work up close and personal is like having an art awakening. Geoffrey was there but he was surrounded by what I labeled Gorman Groupies. I circled back to the booth throughout the night, but always the groupies. I ended up leaving without meeting him.  However one of these days I am sure I will. Makes me think that I just might be a Gorman Groupie myself.
------------------------------------ GIVEAWAY
For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November.