The Mixed-Media Artist: 5 years old

Five years ago today, North Light Books released my second book The Mixed-Media Artist. 

It is hard for me to believe that 5 years has passed since this hit the shelves. Writing and publishing a book is a surreal experience that has included so many highlights for me: signing the book contract, holding the completed book in my hands for the first time, seeing the book on the shelves of book stores, and receiving positive feedback from readers. On the flip side, tracking sales and amazon reviews can sometimes be daunting. All part of the deal.

For those of you who are not familiar with my book, it highlights the artwork and creative process of over 40 all-star artists. This is not a traditional how-to book, but rather a journey through the personal inspirations, motivations and creative perspectives of the artist.

Inside its pages you will find:

ART

Juana Almaguer: Finding Balance. The face I show the world is incomplete, ill-formed, vulnerable and changing. Through my art, the world becomes less random, more fixed and cold, but reliable...very reliable. And to the world alone I show my face and find balance.

Juliana Coles: Self-Portrait with Love. As an artist there are so many things I look at in this piece that I feel I should do better - especially if I want to impress my audience. But I don't want to impress you with how good I am; I want to impress you with my bravery; I want to impress you with my ability to talk about the hard things and find my way through it. I think people will like me better if I make something pretty or "whimsical," but I can't. Please don't look away because I have something important to say. I'm talking to you: the woman like me who needs me to tell it like it is because she doesn't have the tools to articulate it. She doesn't have the words or the images to express it, but she knows what I am talking about. I am talking to you and your wound. You are not alone.

Anca Gray: Crash Course in Thoracic Surgery. The bits and pieces will fit. Take great care not to lose even one, torn and bruised as they may be. Hold them up to the sun, one by one, while whistling a familiar tune. As far as the mending itself goes, use what you have on hand, It will do. Pause often for tea breaks. In time, healing is sure to take its course. Eventually, a new song will bloom, just below the surface.

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

What do you do to make sure you are always growing artistically?

Keep my eyes wide open. Cultivate an attitude of curiosity. Believe in the possibilities of amazing things I have not yet personally experienced. Study, learn and try to understand the things I see around me. Look through the eyes of another. Practice spontaneity. --Tracy Verdugo

What is the one thing you dislike the most about the art world?

I don't love the fact that I basically have to sell myself in order to sell my work. Consumers seem to buy into the personality of the artist as much as the work. I'm a bit of an introvert. I'd rather just sit in my studio and create. -- Jason Twiggy Lott

What has been the most uplifting and/or devastating reaction of someone to your work?

In one show, I had an artist statement hanging in two parts. Ones side started with the word "lie" and spoke of the lies we believe about ourselves. The other side started with the word "truth" and spoke of the intrinsic worth of our experiences. One couple held their little girl and read the truth statement out loud to her. It moved me to tears and still does when I think of it. -- Crystal Neubauer

TIPS and TRICKS

Making an image transfer onto encaustic -- Supria Karmakar

Creating layered backgrounds with gesso and glazes -- Seth Apter

Using monoprinting leftovers for ATCs -- Marit Barentsen

ARTIST PROFILES

A motto I live my artistic life by: "You must make an effort to put something in motion" -- Jeane Myers

3 things I am inspired by: The tin box in the movie Amelie, the way that shadows dance, the caramel aroma of fallen leaves in October -- Elizabeth Bunsen

4 things on my studio table: buckets of rusted crews and washers, a pile of sticks, wire, reference books -- Geoffrey Gorman

BLOG SURVEY RESULTS

Have you ever purposely withheld info from another artist to keep your process private?

Absolutely not. I am happy to share...50%

This has never come up for me yet...18%

I will only do this with certain, specific people...17%

I have done this on occasion...14%

I almost never share my process...1%

Do you have trouble identifying you artistic style?

Yes. Although I know it intuitively, I have a hard time describing it...33%

No, even though my artistic style changes all the time...26%

Yes, I find this very difficult to do...24%

No. I have a very clear understanding of my artistic style...17%

Do you have an updated artist statement?

No, I have not written an artist statement...41%

Yes, I have an updated artist statement that I use...36%

I have written an artist statement, but it is out of date and may not reflect where I am now...23%

The Exquisite Corpse: Part II

Last month I had the pleasure of co-teaching a five-day workshop with Holly Dean in Burritt's Rapids, Ontario - just outside of Ottawa. The workshop was originally called The Exquisite Corpse...but almost nobody signed up. We changed the name to Lovely Creatures and filled the seats. You can read about the town, the class and the experience here.

This post features the book I made in the workshop.

Measuring approximately 4.25 x 10.50 inches, this handmade book is based on The Exquisite Corpse, a game where three people draw on the same piece of paper - without seeing what the other has drawn. One draws a head, one a torso, and one a set of legs. The drawing is then unfolded to the amusement of all.  

The cover includes layers of collage, acrylic paint, ink and Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture, which gives it a faux encaustic and almost leather-like look.

Inside, the concept on the Exquisite Corpse was captured in the form of a flip book in three sections - head, torso and legs.

Turning each section individually leads to a variety of combinations of exquisite corpses lovely creatures. Here are just a few...

Happy to say that in 2019, I will be offering this as a 3-day workshop called Exquisite Creatures. Stay tuned for locations.

In This Century

An artist book...

(sold. thank you)

Books Undone

I am honored to be part of the juried exhibition Books Undone: the art of altered books

This show, being held at The Gallery at Penn Collage in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, opens on January 11 and runs through February 28. 58 book works from 27 artists will be on exhibit. There is an opening reception on Thursday, January 18 from 4:30-6:30. I would love for you to stop by at some point during the exhibition but if you are unable to, you can see the full exhibition catalog here.

My artist statement for the show:

For me, books are the most intimate of artwork. As a book is held and pages are turned, the reader and the book become one. There is a symbiosis occurring each and every time. There are secrets that lie waiting inside every pair of closed covers, and a book must be touched - no, demands to be touched - in order for its mystery and story to be revealed. My books reveal fragments of a life. Bits and pieces of meaningful, and some not so meaningful, elements that tell my story. They beckon you inside, waiting for you to turn the pages, open the flaps, find hidden treasures inside pockets, and life the veil obscuring the flotsam and jetsam of my world.

I am thrilled to have three books on exhibit and that the gallery allows visitors to touch and look through the books (with gloves provided).

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

DESCRIPTIO

DISPATCH

Also excited (and a bit anxious) to be offering two of these books (Descriptio and Dispatch) for sale. This is an unusual opportunity, as this is the first time since an exhibition in 2011 that I have placed any of my books on sale. Email me at shap97@gmail if you are interested in details.

By the Book

Two very exciting events are happening this month, both related to books - an area in art very close to my heart.

MIXED MEDIA ART BOOK GROUP

Marjie Kemper has started the Mixed Media Art Book Group on Facebook. In August, members of the group used Dina Wakley's book Art Journal Freedom as inspiration and created any number of artworks based on any project in the book that resonated with them. Marjie also provided weekly prompts. Over 380 images were shared. 

For the month of September, the last month of the group, Marjie has selected my book The Mixed-Media Artist as inspiration.

I am excited to see the work that is inspired by the pages of this book which, if you are not familiar, is not a traditional how-to book but rather an intimate look at the creative process of the artist. 

Intrigued? There is plenty of time to join the group and play. If you need additional incentive, anybody uploading their work in the group will be eligible for some goodies based on random draw...

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MINI ALBUM MAKERS CHALLENGE

Autumn Clark has just started a new challenge blog all about books - the Mini Album Makers Blog. The site offers images of and tutorials for artist books from a very talented design team. This month reveals the first challenge and I am the sponsor. The challenge happily has few rules and limits. You simply upload images of a completed artist book and link back to your site so people can see all the details. There is already some beautiful work shown. 

At the end of the month, a participant will be chosen at random to win a prize package provided buy the sponsor. I mean...who wouldn't want stamps and stencils?

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And speaking of books, stay tuned for a page-by-page reveal of my newest artist book: As it Had Been

Creative Strength Training Giveaway

I was recently provided with a copy of the book Creative Strength Training written by Jane Dunnewold to review. As I started to read the introduction, I found myself compelled to turn the pages and keep reading. What struck me first about the book was that it was very different from other art books I have read. While it is filled with creative exercises, this is not a typical art instruction book. And that I like.

Jane introduces a series of "cross training" exercises to help you grow as an artist, break through obstacles, explore your limitations, and discover who you are as an individual, creative person. These exercises involve both art making and writing. She accurately notes that many artists might resist the writing component...but that aspect of the exercises really seems to facilitate a deeper exploration of yourself as an artist.

The book includes the results from many other artists who have already completed the same exercises  and it was fascinating to see the very distinct approaches and styles that each one took. The majority of the featured artists were new to me and I loved being able to get to know a whole new group of creatives.

The chapter titles give the reader a quick idea of what the focus of the book includes: Defining Creative Stamina, Overcoming Stumbling Blocks, The Power of Limitations, Learning to Make and Take Time, What does Alignment Look Like to You?, Making Work Distinctly Your Own, Each of Us is Fascinating, and Discovering Grace through Acts of Making.

Giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Erin O' Brian who won a copy of the book.

I was fortunate to be provided with a second copy of this book to giveaway. To be eligible, simply leave a comment to this post and make sure I have a way to reach you should your name be drawn. International readers are of course eligible too. The giveaway closes on Sunday 11/6.

Art Journal Giveaway

I am thrilled to be a contributing artist in a new and unique book written by Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli titled Art Journal Your Archetypes.

The book explores the process of art journaling, introduces the concept of archetypes, and shows you approaches to combine these two areas. An archetype is partially defined as "an inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective experience." Common archetypes include Artist, Visionary, Goddess, Healer, Lover, Mentor, Rebel and Warrior. Knowing your archetypes helps you to better know your self. Art journaling does this too.

Gabrielle provides a test to find out your guiding archetypes and then helps you to express those in your journal. Despite the focus on archetypes, this is truly an art technique book as the majority of pages take you through illustrated, step-by-step tutorials for art journaling techniques.

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I am among a number of guest artists - including Nathalie Kalbach, Jessica Sporn, Mary Beth Shaw, and Orly Avineri - who have contributed journal pages we created based on our archetypes. Happy to share my pieces below:

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The Giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner: Shelby Pizzarro.

Gabrielle has generously provide me with a copy of the book to giveaway. To be eligible, simply leave a comment to this post and make sure I have a way to reach you should your name be drawn. The giveaway closes on Friday 10/28.

And for a second chance to win, head over to this post on Mary Beth Shaw's blog and leave a comment as well.

Keep on Playing

Last month,  Interweave put together a cool bundle of my products perfect for mixed media play. The bundle included DVDs, books, stencils and stamps. I am excited to say that the bundle has sold out. But, you can still get a special digital bundle -- and save a bundle of money in the process. 

This includes...

 immediate downloads of all 4 of my recently released workshop videos

a digital copy of my second book The Mixed Media Artist

the eMag Folded Books and Paper Art. I'm not in this one...but it will get you to play too!

Bundle Up

Are you ready to play? Interweave has put together a cool bundle of my products that are perfect for mixed media play. And speaking of bundle...the price will save you one too.

This includes...

 all 4 of my recently released workshop DVDs

You get a copy of my second book The Mixed Media Artist

Two stencils from my collection at StencilGirl Products

One set of three stamps from my collection at Impression Obsession

As an extra bonus, you also get the eMag Folded Books and Paper Art. I'm not in this one...but it will get you to play too!

Click here for details and to order at a savings of nearly $60: Seth Apter’s Mixed Media Play Bundle 

There is also an all-digital version available without the stamps and stencils: Seth Apter’s Mixed Media Play Digital Collection