Concertina CD Art Book with NEW Seth Apter Stamps {by Tracy Hickman}

Hi everyone,

Tracy Hickman @anonymous.palette and @tracyhickman_artist here with you today highlighting 3 fabulous new Eclectica stamp sets designed by Seth Apter for PaperArtsy.

I created an 8 page Concertina Artist Book to fit inside a CD case as an upcoming birthday gift to my father who’s is turning 83 years young this year along side a disc filled with all his favorite tunes. (My Dad has a vintage car with a CD player ;)

The Passage Of Time circle stamp in PaperArtsy Eclectica by Seth Apter (ESA45) kicked off the idea of a project with a visual theme of time and its progression. Seth in jest dared me to use all the stamps so this hatched the multiple page concertina format and the stamps slowly building on the pages to help force the sense of time and marks growing over the years.

I experimented with creating alcohol inks with Infusions to color stamped transparencies on the front and back pages and loved the stained glass effect created, (more on this later ;) Also loved incorporating some vintage elements and a hidden slide pull of the word 'Fearless' in PaperArtsy Eclectica (ESA43), not to mention having fun with all the glorious stamping.

The vintage photo of my Dad as a kid set the tone for the palette and I wanted to convey celebration with these mid value hues: PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics - Caramel, Agave and Spanish Mulberry. I used 3 lighter value paints in each color and 3 darker value paints for stamping noted below…

Creating the Concertina: Using a paper trimmer, I grabbed 2 pieces of 300 gm Watercolor paper to cut these down to 4 pieces. These measured 4.5” tall by 4.75” wide when folded in half to fit inside of the CD case. 1” wide white Artist Tape was run vertically between the 4 folds to connect. I love this tape as it can be stamped on or painted over and wonderful in journals.

I did create a simple mock up using copy paper to flush out the idea and sizing that was very helpful, measure twice and cut once! The size of the 1 3/4’ square corresponds to the dimensions of the amazing grid frame in PaperArtsy Eclectica Set by Seth Apter (ESA43). I centered and cut out the first square with a blade then would pencil through the cutout onto the next page and cut to make sure all the squares lined up perfectly. The openings are cut slightly bigger than the stamp.

This is where the fun really started! Using a small circle gel plate, I stamped the 3 PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics - Caramel, Agave, and Spanish Mulberry, starting them spread out farther at the beginning and increasing the amount of circles as they progressed, playing up the progression of time. The PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics are necessary for a project like this so the book pages don’t stick together inside the case.

Let the stamping begin! After laying out the stamps in order of use, I got to work with the 3 lightest values of my selected hues: PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylics - Sand, Fuzzy Cactus, and Haze (a fave). Adding white to the background colors would have been easy butt I was in a time crunch. The stamping also started out more sparse and gained momentum toward the end further enhancing a sense of time My first job.

Below, I chose the remaining stamps with the darkest of the hues, PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics - Toffee, Jade, and Plum, accelerating the amount of stamping again as the pages progressed. I probably added just a smidge too much on page 3 but sometimes the project wants what the project wants!

Add some stamping with Embossing Powder for some sheen and added dimension. I chose 2 stamps from PaperArtsy Eclectica by Seth Apter (ESA44) to direct the eye and add some additional contrast. WOW! Embossing Powder Inspired by Seth Apter - Space Dust (WW06X) and Emerald Creek Baked Texture Powder - Well Rustic Indigo was used on two of the stamps. See below.

Now for some embellishing… I used transparency film to stamp the grid frame stamp in PaperArtsy Eclectica by Seth Apter (ESA43), one of the major focal points in this project. The back of the film has a texture to it, and that is the side where you want to stamp. When turned over you have a beautiful smooth crisp image through the shiny front of the transparency. HIV I stamped a bunch (as not a great stamper) knowing I needed 2 full stamped grid frames for the front and back and 12 additional frames with the center grids cut out for the 6 internal pages.

Now for the alcohol ink experiment using PaperArtsy Infusions 😍. I selected Golden Sands, The Sage, and Raspberry and sprinkled them into 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, available at any pharmacy. Using about as much alcohol as I would add to watercolors, I painted the colors onto the textured side to the transparency film for a beautiful stained glass effect.

The six circle stamps spread across all three stamp sets were die cut and embossed with Lindysgang - Boogie Down Black Embossing Powder. Waxed book twine was sandwiched between 2 circles to be glued between the black frames from the back and later trimmed. The word stamp ‘Be Fearless’ from PaperArtsy Eclectica by Seth Apter (ESA43) was embossed with Emerald Creek Baked Texture Powder - Rustic Indigo and the words cut in two for the back cover.

A vintage paper target from my stash of ephemera happened to be the perfect size and came out to play to frame the transparency for the front cover along with a rusted key glued and sewn with that same waxed book twine to add to the hidden word “Fearless”.

There were quite a few steps, and some missteps along the way, (I accidentally glued the transparency upside down on the back cover and had to redo the front stained glass piece to match so it lined up. Also, I “misplaced” the plus stamp in PaperArtsy Eclectica by Seth Apter (ESA43) somewhere in my disaster of a studio but, I know right where it goes and will add when found, I’m not gonna let Seth down! But, overall so much fun to make! Check out the finished pages and concertina.

Love love love this stained glass effect using PaperArtsy Infusions with alcohol ink!

The stamps start out more sparsely…

The stamping gaining momentum and center circles building in contrast as well, and yes they spin!

The heaviest amount of stamping with all colors and added embossing powder for the finale.

And who doesn’t love an interactive pullout!

My Dad’s favorite quote is “Fear Not The Risk” and “Be Fearless” seemed the perfect punctuation to this CD Concertina Artist Book showcasing these new PaperArtsy Eclectica Stamp Sets by Seth Apter (ESA43), (ESA44) and (ESA45).

So loved working with these stamps, all three will be future go to’s for sure. I’m also looking forward to using these CD cases (they are really affordable and come in multi packs) for future concertinas. How awesome would these CD cases look on a shelf or coffee table filled with art? And, my husband while admiring, informed me that they also make cardboard box covers for these that would be fun to adorn as well.

Stay creative Peeps! 🎨

Tracy

Instagram: @anonymous.palette

Instagram: @tracyhickman_artist

NEW PaperArtsy Products: Eclectica³ Seth Apter {June 2021}

 Eclectica³ Collection {Seth Apter}
June 2021 New Product Announcement

A note from Leandra...

We have a busy week ahead for you, and kicking it off is the Master himself of layering magic, Seth Apter! I can get absolutely absorbed watching Seth nonchalantly splat, stamp and splodge paint onto a surface and yet manage to turn every date he has with paint into a brand new, unique creation. It is wonderful to see how he evolves his decisions at whim, by deliberation or just because. His freedom to explore is liberating. I hope some of this expression rubs off on your and how you create too, because, it's FUN!

Don't forget we have Seth sharing his ideas live in PaperArtsy People shortly after this post publishes. It's nice for you to meet the designer and hear directly about this new release, so I hope you can catch him either live or via replay.

These stamps are available EXCLUSIVELY from our approved stockists for the next 3-4 months. You will not find them on the PaperArtsy website, so check the list at the foot of this post to find a retailer online or near you.

Hi my friends. Seth Apter back on the blog with you today. And that can mean only one thing...

...it is new release time and I am over the moon, majorly chuffed, super excited and beyond thrilled because today I am not only sharing my three all-new stamp sets, I am also revealing four new paint colors in my PaperArtsy collection. So...let's get to it.

My new stamp collections were designed from, and created using multiple sources of inspiration. As always, my home of New York City inspired many of the designs. Views from my window, sights on my long walks, the classic fire escapes of the brownstones, and the jumbled excitement of the city all played a part. But so did more internal factors related to the current times we all live in and have lived through. And, perhaps most simply of all, some of these stamps developed out of marks made in recent artwork.

As my work is primarily abstract, I wanted these sets of stamps to be able to serve as abstract focal points, detailed elements, and background marks -- all at once.

  New Stamps

Price: RRP €21.92 +VAT
Size:5" x 6" (13 x16.5cm)
All stamps are individually trimmed onto cling foam, presented in a clear hanging bag
with a laminated storage/index sheet.
  

Eclectica³ Seth Apter Set 22 (ESA22)

 

Let Your Light Shine

Text plays a big role in mixed media art and journaling and my stamp sets always include words and phrases. The star of this show is an abstracted view out my studio window of the skyline of NYC and the acknowledgment of both the literal and figurative light that shines in the city. Plus take note of the degraded text stamp that adds interest to the background and pulls the viewer in to see what it might say.

As always, my stamps can be layered and used together. One example is using the long, border stamp at the bottom of the stamp set as a bit of a grounding for the focal point. I also like to use even the smallest section of each stamp on its own. This is evident on the right edge of the artwork in the picture below which was made using just the very edge of the large grid stamp in the upper right corner of the stamp set.

 

Together Again

I love using repetition in design. Repetition for me is akin to familiarity and that translates to comfort. Plus repetition guides the viewers eyes round the artwork.

Like many of the stamps in my sets, these wonky squares have gaps within the design so that the background shows through and/or you can layer additional colors within the spaces.

Atlas of Dreams

 

As noted in the intro of this blog post, I wanted these stamps to serve as both backgrounds and abstract focal points. This piece uses two stamps from set ESA22 to accomplish that goal.

The design of these stamps allowed me to both color within the lines and add my own outlines and details. This enables me to make my mark and to add my own individual touch to the designs.

Eclectica³ Seth Apter Set 23 (ESA23)

 

Alchemy

If you have followed my work for a while now, you will know I am obsessed with circles. I was inspired by many other shapes for this release as well but set ESA23 is all about the circle. 

I couldn't resist a small circle stamp, with lots of crossing lines, a space inside for adding text or detail, and tons of movement. In this piece, the botanical images almost look as though they are being spun around the edges.

I have been wanting to include the word Alchemy in a stamp for quite some time. Its definition of turning base metal into gold is such an analogy to what we all do with our mixed media art. Happy to finally have the word in my collection.

Days Go By

During the pandemic, I have made big efforts to stay connected across a fragmented world via my time on the Internet. In thinking about representative this concept in a stamp (!), I drew and drew until all these interconnected, separate but overlapping circles emerged.

Also over the course of many long days during the pandemic, I sought to find the silver linings. One such thought relates to the fact that we all get to be here just once and we need to make/seek/find as many once in a lifetime experiences as we can.

Two Roads Diverged

Designing with the thought of making sure my multiple collections of stamps all work well together, I created this piece of work using four stamps from set ESA22 for background detail and my large stamp from ESA23 as the main image/focal point.

And once again, all the loops and gaps within the design all for the additional of color within to enhance your artwork.

Eclectica³ Seth Apter Set 24 (ESA24)

Remembrance

Words, shapes and numbers are the ingredients of most of my work and set ESA24 contains all three across a total of eight individual stamps. This piece uses the degraded and distressed text stamp for background detail and one of my favorite stamps from this release - a connected trio of wonky diamonds.

I aim to vary the font used in all my words both within and across stamps sets so that there is a great deal of variety for you to choose from. But all the text has a mixed media flavor to it.

All the Colors

I love organic shapes and meandering lines...but linear elements and straight lines also offer great appeal and repeatedly appear in my art. The stamp used below, inspired by the iconic fire escapes of NYC, is a good example.

And once again, a unique font adds more dynamic interest to the phrase ALL THE COLORS. 

Countdown

I love numbers in all their forms and needed to add a stamp that included all the single digits. 

I felt that the placement of the numbers within this grid offered many options for how you might use these numbers in your work.

Trifecta

After this piece was created, I realized that it managed to display nearly all of the stamp ideas I have shared above in it's very small 4 x4 inch space. I used stamps as abstract focal points, border elements, smaller details and text. I used repeating impressions of multiple stamps and just small segments of stamps as well. I colored within the lines, using the gaps in the pod-like stamps to add additional color.

I am particularly loving how these pods turned out - feeling organic and natural but at the same time including the repeating circles within lending to an controlled feeling as well.

And - because Leandra challenges her designers to create stamps that are versatile...I even used the pod stamp to create my very own flower.

Now that is truly one of a kind........... 

 

 

 Fresco Paints

Price: RRP €4.58 +VAT
Size: 50 ml

Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints are a matte finish paint, with opacity varying from translucent, semi-opaque or opaque (see the hand-painted chevron on each bottle).

These paints are low VOC, UV resistant, clean up in water and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, as well as perfect for all manner of surfaces: fabric, wood, card, paper, chipboard, leather and more.

They do not require an undercoat, these are chalk based, therefore every option is like a coloured gesso; the opacity determines the level of coverage. Thin with any PaperArtsy glaze to increase the translucency to your preference. 

 

We have 4 new rustic and nature-inspired paints from Seth Apter this month, they are full of sandy desert references. Everything natural, earthen, those washed out grasses and succulents are the vibe of this release. These neutrals are going to be a delight to use together, and sit beautifully within Seth's existing colour palette.

Seth says...If you scroll up and look through the artwork shown, you will have a very good idea of my new paint colors with PaperArtsy. The background layers for every piece were made using only some combination of my new colors along with Heavy Cream.

And just to show how well these colors work with my prior releases, the flower petals in the last piece of art shown above were filled in with Terracotta and Smoked Paprika - two shades that are the perfect complement to this new range.

 

In January 2020, Seth's paint collection became this rainbow of colour below, and with the addition of these new four,  his collection becomes 28 Fresco colours....

 

 

Thank you so much for reading through this post and seeing what this release offers. I am hoping you are inspired and have some ideas of how you would use these stamps and paints. If you do, please post in social media and tag me. I would love to see what the artist in you creates!

 

Seth

Socials...

Website: https://www.sethapter.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/SethApter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seth.apter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sethapter/

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