Mixed Media Artists Archives - Page 2 of 10

Interview with Mixed Media Artist, Seth Apter

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This article was written by Madeline Faiella

Seth Apter is a mixed media artist who seems to know what it’s all about. I was able to tie down this busy man long enough for this interview. I think you will find it interesting, inspiring and fun to read.

MF: How did you become to like mixed media art?
SA: There is both a freedom and a challenge in working in mixed media that have always been very compelling to me. The freedom lies in the fact that there is literally no limit to the materials and techniques that can be used. The challenge lies in the same place in that the endless choices need to somehow be self-limited, blended, and ultimately transformed into a cohesive piece of art. I find the creative possibilities in this process endlessly exhilarating.

MF: What is your definition of a true mixed media piece?
SA: The technical definition of mixed media art is simply a work that is created using more than one media. For me there is a deeper, more complex nature to mixed media that is quite challenging to put into words. I always have trouble adequately describing it to others. There is a story and a sense of history that can found in the layers of materials that make up a mixed media piece. There is a process of concealing and revealing that goes into the work that adds elements of mystery, energy, and excitement. Every layer, even ones that are not visible in the end, is equally important and integral to the final piece.

MF: What is your favorite part of working?
SA: The process of making something from nothing is what it is all about for me. I absolutely love the hunt, whether for found objects, art materials or new techniques. I love the initial moments when an idea comes and a sense of excitement and possibility is sparked. Finding other elements to add to the work and dealing with the challenge of making all the layers and disparate components seamlessly blend is always an exciting challenge. And finally being able to step back and see the results of the entire process complete is thoroughly satisfying.

MF: How do you set up your studio for working in a nurturing / empowering environment?
SA: My studio is as much an art installation as it is a workspace. I surround myself with my many collections and finds, artwork of my own and other artists, creative objects that I have been gifted, and an expansive inspiration-wall filled with stuff that both has personal meaning and keeps me inspired.

MF: How long have you been an artist?
SA: I came to art relatively later in life, beginning in 2000. At some point since that time, I began to label myself an artist rather than somebody who is simply playing around and making things.

MF: What influences do you have?
SA: I have endless influences including the environment and energy of NYC where I live as well as a large group of artists whose work can be found anywhere from museums to blogs and from galleries to the walls of abandoned buildings.

MF: How do you engage with your audience?
SA: I feel strongly about connecting to and engaging with people in terms of my art. I have an online presence that allows me to do this daily via my website and blog, as well as through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Not only do I share finished artwork, but I share works in progress, behind the scenes glances, photos from my workshops, my experiences as an artist living in NYC and the artwork of the many other artists I admire. Those who follow me online know that I do my very best to respond to every comment and email I receive. I am also fortunate to be able to connect with many people in person through my frequent workshops. I fully believe that without the community that has resulted from these connections, I would not be a working artist today.

MF: How do you keep your authenticity while working?
SA: I do my best to remember that regardless of the nature and purpose of any particular project (be it a journal page, an artwork for exhibition or submission, or a blog post), ultimately I am creating both from and for myself. What I do has to be an expression of me or it is not worth doing.

MF: How long did it take for you to develop your voice as a mixed media artist?
SA: I feel that while I have a strong point of view and have been told that I have a recognizable style, I am still and will forever be developing my voice as a mixed media artist.

Thank you Seth

Seth Apter is a mixed media artist, instructor, author and designer from New York City. His artwork has been shown in numerous exhibitions and published in multiple books and magazines. He has two books (The Pulse of Mixed Media and The Mixed-Media Artist) and two DVDs (Easy Mixed Media Surface Techniques and Easy Mixed Media Techniques for the Art Journal) released by North Light. His workshops have been held throughout the United States, Mexico and Australia. He is a designer member of CHA, a blogger for Spellbinders Paper Arts, a stencil designer for StencilGirl Products, and has an ongoing column called The Creative Pulse in Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine. You can see more of his work on his blog at thealteredpage.blogspot.com and on his website www.sethapter.com.

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Madeline Faiella is the owner of Madeline Faiella Designs, LLC. She works traditionally and digitally in Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Her work is featured on home décor, electronic devices, stationary, fabric and more. She is licensed, published, appeared on TV and radio and has written continuing columns for newsletters. She also has a line of non-toxic acrylic paint “Art Jacket” Her art education hails from The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and the many years she absorbed during her years of travel around the world.Her work is available for purchase and for licensing. See more her work at www.madelinefaiella.com

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Filed Under: Mixed Media Artists Tagged With: Artist, interview, seth apter

The Story behind Linnie Blooms and Linda Barutha

By MMA Team Leave a Comment

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This article is written by Michelle G. Brown

It’s not very often that we see something new in crafting that leaves us completely impressed, mesmerised and totally wondering why we didn’t think of that! That was how I felt when I came across the Linnie Blooms booth at CHA Winter Show 2015. The booth was filled with lovely stitched canvas pieces. That was not remarkable in itself; what was remarkable was here was a range of alterable, mixed media items, made from canvas and recycled ephemera, with stitching and I didn’t have to do any of the sewing! The products were all made up – I only had to decorate them!

That was my first introduction to Lindy Barutha and her company Linnie Blooms ~ Mixed Stitched Media Products. Their range includes both substrate items – 12×12 panels, stitched journals and mini folios, as well as canvas embellishments, in the shapes of flowers, butterflies and many other designs. Included with the canvas stitched pages are recycled ephemera, like old encyclopaedia pages, sewn into the pages to give them their unique feel.

Linnie Blooms debuted at the CHA New Exhibitors section, although Linda has been building Linnie Blooms since mid 2013. Based in Wisconsin, Linda has always been a creative one and loves to create her own designs, which she is now sharing with the world. As the business has grown, Linda has had to move from sewing all of the pieces herself, to having a few sewing assistants. Now Linda works with a US based company, who employs people with disabilities, to make all of her elements and pieces. Linda feels very strongly about keeping her projects made in the United States.

Once the excitement of CHA had quietened down, I caught up with Linda, via Skype, to see how Linnie Blooms is going. Linda excitedly informed me that her new Design Team had been selected for 2015, with artists and crafters from across the USA, as well as Canada and Spain. Linda is also working with two major online retailers to provide stitched kits; the details are still being finalised, so we need to stay tuned for updates. As well as all of this, Linda will also be releasing over 40 new products and kits by the end of April 2015. These include a stamp set, with a stitched sunflower and greetings, more new stencils and masks and canvas die cut words.

When it comes to decorating our pieces from the Linnie Bloom range, we can use our current art supplies. We don’t need any special fabric supplies – “I just use acrylic paints to add color,” Linda tells me, “and thinned with a little water so that the canvas doesn’t go too stiff. You don’t need to use fabric mediums unless you plan on washing your creation”. And when it comes to joining pieces together, we don’t need to sew a stitch, unless we want to.

“If I’m in a hurry, and I usually am,” says Linda, “I just use a hot glue gun to stick the flowers or leaves down. If I have time to let the pieces sit, I’ll use Aleene’s Fabric Fusion, but Mod Podge or any glues will work”.

One of Linda’s favourite kits is the “Watch me grow” kit which uses a 12”x12” stitched canvas panel as the substrate. You add the scrapbooking papers and photos to capture the first 12 months of a baby’s life or any other event you would like to capture. This makes either a great gift or a lovely keepsake to put on display as your child grows through those first 12 months.

The next few months will continue to an exciting time for Linda and Linnie Blooms. In April, CHA will be featuring an online workshop, hosted by Linda, which features the Linnie Bloom kits. Linda is also heading to Chicago for the Society of Decorative Painters Conference in May 11 to 16, 2015 and the CHA Paper Arts Plus show in Illinois, July 21 to 23, 2015.

Keep an eye out for the Linnie Bloom range – you can browse through their online store or through your local retailer.

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Michelle G. Brown is passionate about mixed media art and enjoys sharing her knowledge and techniques with you to allow you to express your own creativity. Michelle understands that many of us have an inner need to create. By learning a few basic techniques the amazing world of mixed media art is accessible to everyone!

Michelle lives with her husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia. When she is not creating or on Facebook, she’s at karate training. Just to make sure she’s properly busy, she has also adopted the From Picture to Page Scrapbooking and Papercrafts Show.

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Filed Under: Mixed Media Artists Tagged With: canvas elements, stitched art journal, watch me grow

Mixed Media Artist Janelle Nichol

By MMA Team Leave a Comment

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This article is written by Michelle G. Brown

When I first came across the work of Janelle Nichol work, somewhere on the Internet, I wanted to know more about her. I loved her pieces that I saw; they were delicate and feminine, and with a distinctive look that combines mixed media with fine art painting. I had a chance to catch up with Janelle via Skype so we could chat about her work.

Janelle lives in Alberta, Canada with her family, and I was delighted to discover that Janelle is actually a self-taught artist. While she has always been creative, and also has a previous career in music teaching, she has only been painting and collaging for about five years, and as what she considers “seriously” for three years. Her style includes collage and paints, and she just loves trying things, which fits perfectly under the “mixed media” genre.

With a focal point around women and children, Janelle’s style has been described as abstract folk art. Her work shows a strength and softness in the same piece. One of her favourite comments from an art show customer was that her work “celebrates women for who they are”!

Janelle’s go-to materials include the full range of mixed media materials, with gesso, paints, tissue paper, gelato’s, intense blocks, sprays, Distressed inks and stains all being part of her collection. Anything that adds texture also features; moulding paste, sequins, glass beads and all sorts of unexpected ephemera can be seen when looking closely at her pieces.

When I asked about Janelle’s mixed media process, she tells me she will often start with a sketch and a vision that includes the images and the mood, feelings and colours of the piece.

Then she creates the background, which can take on a life of it’s own but will stick to the colours and feel in her vision. This maintains the mood Janelle is trying to achieve with each piece. Tracing her sketch onto the mixed media background adds the focal point and Janelle then paints in her figure. Here we can see these steps as this piece “A Meditation” progresses:

Creating a background

Sketching in the main figure

Painting in the figure

Detail hidden in the finished piece

The final piece “A Meditation”

Once Janelle has finished a mixed media painting, she will take high quality photos which allows her to turn her paintings into cards and prints. Then Janelle changes to her “business” hat, where her images are added to her website. Janelle does all of the work herself and she likes the balance that being an artist and business women provides. While the paint is drying, Janelle promotes her work through her website and Facebook page, and prepares for the numerous shows she does.

There are a number of shows that Janelle regularly exhibits at and it gives her a chance to engage with the public, as well as meet other artists. The show customers love seeing her work in “real life” as all of the depth and texture always looks better to see a piece of art in person. The shows also give Janelle a chance to put her face to her work and helps the sales process. It has taken a few years to build up to the number of shows Janelle is currently doing.

Our discussion then turned to the future for Janelle. She is currently working on the 2014 Fall shows, along with a book that will include her work with inspiring quotes, “like a coffee table book”, which is currently planned for a Fall 2015 release. Janelle’s head is full of ideas for new mixed media paintings and calendars and so many projects and opportunities, including looking into teaching online classes, as well as a secret “new thing” that is in process but now quite ready to reveal to the world, just yet (she promises we will be amongst the first to know when it’s ready to go!)

Whatever Janelle turns her hands to next, we will certainly be following along.

You can see more of Janelle’s work on her website: JanelleNichol.com or her Facebook page.

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Janelle loves sharing her mixed media process and in this video you can watch her create at least four different backgrounds, with different sized canvases using a variety of mixed media techniques! I lost count of the number of media she uses: gelatos, sprays, inktense blocks, distress inks and stains, paints, tissue paper, markers, gesso, stencils – a that’s just for the backgrounds!!

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Michelle lives with her husband and two boys in Melbourne, Australia. When she is not creating or on Facebook, she’s at karate training.

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Filed Under: Mixed Media Artists Tagged With: Canada, collage, Janelle Nichol, Mixed Media Painting

Story Behind the Artist ~ Gaby

By MMA Team Leave a Comment

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This article was compiled by Michelle G. Brown

Michelle first came across Gaby’s work at the Designer Showcase at the Craft & Hobbies Associates Winter Show in 2014. Michelle was drawn to the combination of the illustrations and industrial in Gaby’s work and wanted to learn more about the artist behind the Showcase.

Hi! I’m Gaby, illustrator, artist and pattern designer. I started Gaby&Co in September 2012 when I began commuting on the Metrolink Trains for the first time. I traveled to and from Downtown L.A. Monday-Friday to my graphic design job. I enjoyed my 1- hour commute because I was able to see many urban industrial sites. I already photographed urban buildings and colorful distressed metals, and in September I started to draw them as well. I began posting weekly illustrations on my website, which have now turned into daily sketches of street objects I come across while I travel.

I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in graphic design and a minor in photography in 2004. I always enjoyed taking art classes of all mediums while in college and continued to take night art classes after graduation. I enjoyed working as a full time graphic designer during the day and then working on hands-on art at night. In the evenings I’ve taken photography classes, painting, ceramics, jewelry making/soldering, jewelry enameling, DIY design/collage, children’s books illustration, silk screening and a couple more classes I might be forgetting about.

In September 2012 I started to illustrate, urban buildings specifically because I was so attracted to them. That same month I created my website gabyandco.com as part of my commitment to post weekly illustrations. Early 2013 I began creating products with my illustrations and decided to attend my first DIY event, Patchwork Craft Show in Long Beach, CA.

To help me prepare, my husband helped me silkscreen my illustrations on cotton fabric by using our homemade silk screen station. My mom, who is a wedding dress designer, taught me how to sew zip pouches and helped me sew a few for the show. I was so proud of the first run of Gaby&Co zip pouches!

I also printed my first zine of illustrated buildings. I had a fun time at Patchwork and sold some of items, which meant the world to me. It made me realize that people are interested in my products.

Ever since Patchwork I have silk screened and sewed more products and have been lucky to be a part of other shows like Unique LA, the CHA Show, LA Zine Fest and look forward to participate in more.