Roots Journal Page {with Hot Picks Stamps by Seth Apter}

Hi everyone, Seth here. Happy to be sharing my third post as a guest designer on the PaperArtsy site. I am a mixed media artist from New York City and love to create with a variety of mediums and using a multitude of techniques. My work includes painting, assemblage, collage and book arts. Today I am highlighting a page from my journal, which is the place I am most free to experiment, develop ideas, and simply play.

My journal is a 9 x 12 inch wire bound book filled with 140lb watercolor paper. I start every page with a layer of black gesso as I love the depth it provides when I add more layers. And for me, layering is what it is all about. if you do not have black gesso you could start with Little Black Dress. 

I began this page by collaging a bit of torn paper to the surface, thereby adding texture and dimension before I even add any paint. The surface was then covered with loose layers of Caramel, Inky Pool and Concrete Fresco Finish Paint. The evergreen color was made by mixing Caramel and Inky Pool. One of the best qualities of this paint is that it is a highly matte finish. This allows me to use any and every writing tool on the painted surface. Once painted, I collaged a small vignette in the corner that included a black and white photograph of the bare branches of a tree along with some hand-altered paper.

This small addition determined the direction of the entire journal page.

My next step was to create a second collaged vignette using another black and white tree photograph. Once adhered to the surface, I used a series of PaperArtsy rubber stamps and a variety of ink pads to add detail to the surface. I did not use an acrylic block as I wanted the background to look grungy. The stamping adds a great deal of dimension to the journal page. The stamps I chose were from the PaperArtsy sets Hot Picks HPXT01 and Eclectica ESN03, as well as Minis 72. I also scribbled on the page using wax pastel crayons.

HPXT01

ESN03

Minis 72.

Once the background was completed, I added more collaged elements, additional mark making, and rub-on letters to share the sentiment of the page: putting down roots.

The background and marks were intentionally made randomly to reflect the chaos that sometimes occurs in life before we choose to settle in and settle down.

Thanks a million for taking the time to follow along!

Seth

A huge thanks to Seth from all at PaperArtsy, we adore this page. The use of photographs is a wonderful idea, even more so using trees. There is something very special about tree images, they speak to us. These layers of paper and paint and stamping are so deliciously grungy. 

We would love you to join in with our monthly challenge. If you are inspired by any of this month's guests who have blogged between Nov 1st 2014 and Nov 30th  2014 then join in and link up your creativity HERE. You will go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. You need to add your link by 19:00 (London time) Nov 30th 2014