2021 Topic 8: Adopt the pace of Nature.... with ESA {by Amanda Pink}

2021 Topic 8: Nature's Treasure

 

Amanda makes the most amazing Grunge Paste Textured backgrounds, and on this occasion both infusions and paints build up the depth for a bespoke Seth Apter flower to sit on top and how cool is that rustic flower centre!

~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Amanda Pink (ink-a-pink) with you today, and I'm here to share with you a mixed media art panel that I've created for the current topic: Natures Treasures. 

Surrounded by so many of 'Natures Treasures', inspiration for this topic is definitely in abundance but I knew that what ever I made would be influenced to some degree by the stamps I would be creating with. They were Seth Apters new release (June 2021). Lucky me!! I'm always happy to create with Seths stamps but at first glance I wasn't sure how I would use them as they didn't seem (to me) to lend themselves to the topic, especially in any obvious way. Then I looked closer! I could create a flower with one of the stamps and possibly a textural 'tree bark' effect with another which would tie in with my leaning to create something inspired by my woodland walks and all the texture beauty and earthy rustic colour that surround me as I walk. 

Unbeknown to each other and miles apart, it turns out both Seth and I created flowers using  the same stamp from his new stamp sets.  Our flowers do differ though, guess that's nature, right? You can see Seths flower here and it really is a beaut! 

My creativity began with the background panel.  

Wanting this to bear some semblance to textured tree bark when finished I covered a piece of thick kraft card with PaperArtsy Grunge Paste, not worrying about even coverage as I wanted it to be rough and rugged. 

I then stamped into the grunge paste using the stamp I thought might create the effect of tree bark from PaperArtsy Seth Apter (ESA22).

 Being able to stamp into Grunge Paste offers so much creative potential.

I guess I would be considered a 'newbie' to this technique (I know where have I been hiding) as I've only tried it a few times before and seldom with pleasing results. From what I understand to get the best results it helps if you lightly spritz the stamp you're using with water first so thats what I did. I also used an acrylic block which helped too as it allowed me to firmly press the stamp into the paste.  

The result certainly pleased me this time. 

Note: When you're finished stamping be sure to clean your stamps of any debris.

 

PaperArtsy Infusions are a great medium to use to colour textured Grunge Paste. I used Rusty Car and Black Knight for those earthy rustic colours. 

Their water reactive properties allow them to be dripped down and moved around the background with ease. 

Those water reactive properties also allow for seamless blending when the infusions merge together. 

I especially love how they seep into the peaks and troughs of the texture creating a natural sense of light and shadow. 

To enrich and strengthen the depth of colour I also blended in (quite randomly) some PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics 

My choice of colours were  (Mahogany, Inky Pool, French Roast). All three are either translucent or semi- opaque so due to these properties they will still allow the infusion colours already laid down to be seen. To accentuate the stamped texture I caught the 'lumps' and 'bumps' with PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics (Fuzzy Cactus,Gold Rush) and a very light touch of gold gilding wax.   

 

The 'broken text' stamp, also from PaperArtsy Seth Apter Set 22 (ESA22) stamped in PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics (Gold Rush) provided a touch of extra detail and interest. 

Note: Clean your stamps straight away after stamping with frescos. 

The photo above gets you closer to the depth and layers of colour /tone and their nuances as well as the lumpy bumpy texture and stamped detail.  

Moving onto the flower.

In contrast to the richness of the texture and colour of the 'tree bark' effect background I wanted the flower to be more delicate and neutral but I also wanted some unity between the two. 

So I brayered a piece of PaperArtsy Smoothy with PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics (Heavy Cream, Honey Dew, Blue Moon) and added some detail using PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylic (Gold Rush) with one of the stamps from PaperArtsy Seth Apter set 24 (ESA24). 

The brayered card was then repeatly stamped with the 'pod' design stamp from PaperArtsy Seth Apter Set 24 (ESA24) . My flower was to be multi layered / dimensional so I needed  to make sure I had enough. 

The design of the 'pod' was easy to cut out, but I have to hold my hands up and say that  for 'my own' flower I did cut away the outer fine lines (hope you don't mind? Seth).  

The 'pod' petals were given some additional PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylic (Gold Rush) touches before being transformed into a flower. 

Now for a few featured words that became my projects title. 

 I stamped one of the Nature quotes from PaperArtsy newly released Alison Bomber Set 21 (EAB21) onto a leftover piece of the brayered card I'd used for the flower. 

I chose to split the quote up so when situated in opposing corners of the background panel it gave balance to the finished design. 

It's something I really like about Alison's quote stamps. You can cut them anywhere within the quote or between the lines of the quote and there will still be space between the cutting points.  

Finally, the finishing touches. 

The flower was speckled with some PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylic (Mahogany)  splatters and embellished at its centre with some rusty hardware. These are from my stash of 'street swag' (as I call it) - naturally rusted and (to me) real treasure!

I enjoyed creating my 'Natures Treasures' mixed media panel and was pleased with how it turned out.  I'm always happy playing around with texture and colour and love creating projects like this that are the sum of a few parts.

I was impressed with how the dimensional flower turned out, and all from just one stamp!! 

I think I managed to create a kind of 'tree bark effect' with the stamps and mediums used but I guess you'll be the better judge of that !? 

So glad I gave the Grunge Paste stamping another go. The water proved to be a game changer. If you haven't tried it yet, or you have but (like me) with limited success I encourage you to give it a go / another go. 

Have fun playing around with Infusions too. They really are little bottles of magic that have all kinds of creative potential. They're really good friends with water too!

Thanks for spending time with me today/ tonight. 

Keep on Creating 

Take Care 

Amanda

x

Blog: ink-a-pink
Facebook: Amanda Pink
Instagram: p1nkart

Pinterest: PinkArt 

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/

Sign off

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Natalie May Scrapbooking, Dover Gardens, SA https://nataliemay.com.au/

Scrapbook Superstore & More South Penrith, NSW https://www.scrapbooksuperstore.com.au/

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Time To Create, www.timetocreate.com.au

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Simply Scrapbooking, Prince George, BC https://www.facebook.com/simplyscrapbooking/

Scrap Addicts, Edmonton, Alberta https://www.scrapaddicts.ca/

Scrap and Bean, Edmonton, Alberta http://scrapandbean.com/ 

Scrapbooking Fairies, Drayton Valley, Alberta https://www.scrapbookingfairies.com/

The Paper & ink Boutique, Calgary, Alberta https://www.paperandinkboutique.com/
The Scrap Yard, Calgary, Alberta, https://www.thescrapyardcalgary.com/ 

Denmark

Hobbyboden Scrapworld Samso www.hobbyboden.dk

France

Eirl Bancon Cartoscrap, Midi Pyrenees, https://www.cartoscrap.com/blog/

Fee Du Scrap, Saint Sébastien-Sur-Loire, https://www.feeduscrap.fr/

Horizon Creatif, Ste Jalle h.creatif@gmail.com

Katzelkraft, Ingwiller http://www.katzelkraft.fr/en/

Kerglaz, Basse Goulaine, https://www.kerglaz.com/  

Kerudoc Creation, St Yvi www.kerudoccreation.com

Quartier Serre Teston, Ste Jalle, hcreatif@gmail.com

Scrap by Nini,  Uzerche, Limousin https://scrapbynini.fr/ 

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Stempeloase Munich, Munich www.stempeloase.de

Stempelfee Shop, Hilden www.stempelfee-shop.de

Stempellaedle, Stuttgart, www.stempellaedle.de/shop

Greece

Scraps N Pieces, Kallithea www.scrapsnpieces.gr

Italy

Immagine SAS di Rapaccini, Rome, www.immaginelab.com

Il Negozio Della Mamma Di Cle, Torino, clelia27@liberio.it

L'artistica Glo, Cinisello B (Mi), www.artisticaglo.it

Marte Savona, Savona, www.martesavona.it

Pezze E Colori, Lissone, http://www.pezzeecolori.it/ 
Piccole Passioni, Siena, www.piccolepassioni.it

Scrap it Easy, Rome, https://www.scrapiteasy.com/it/

Japan

Tiny Dots, Funabashi-shi, Chiba www.facebook.com/TinyDots

Netherlands

Doe@ding,Spijkenisse https://doeading.nl/

Hobbycompleet de Duif, Leeuwarden www.hobbycompleet.nl

Stampingcorner, Capelle Aan Den Ijssel www.stampingcorner.nl

Norway

Hobbygarasjen, Kopervik, www.Hobbygarasjen.no

Spain

Cien por Cien Manualidades, S.L., Bizkaia, Catalunya,  www.100x100manualidades.es

Endulze & Crista S.L, Pampalona, Navarra,  www.endulze.com

Ideas 10 Manualidades Y Scrapbook, Bilbao https://ideas10manualidades.com/

Marakiscrap, Tarragona, www.marakiscrap.com

Scrap & Papers Experiences, Barcelona, Info@casonadequintana.com

Scraphouse S.L. Barcelona www.scraphouseshop.es

The Paradise Corner, Barcelona, www.facebook.com/theparadisecorner 

Taiwan

Mandy's Cards, Taipei www.facebook.com/mandy.card

United Kingdom

Amelia's Creative Crafts, Studley, Warwickshire  www.ameliascreativecrafts.co.uk

Art from the Heart, Harrogate, Yorkshire www.afth.co.uk

Blade Rubber Stamps, London www.bladerubberstamps.co.uk

Crafts at The Malthouse, Herstmonceux,  East Sussex, http://www.themalthouse.co.uk/

Fave Rave, Stourbridge, West Midlands www.shabbychicstencils.co.uk

Loobi Crafts, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, www.loobicrafts.co.uk

Papermaze, Ipswich, Suffolk https://www.papermaze.co.uk/

Stampers Grove, Springbank, Lilliesleaf, Melrose,Scotland www.stampersgrove.co.uk
That's Crafty, Romford, essex www.thatscrafty.co.uk

The Artistic Stamper Craft Store, Faversham, Kent www.theartisticstamper.com

The Forget me not Kraft Kabin www.TheForgetMeNotKraftKabin.co.uk

USA

Artistic Artifacts, Alexandria, VA https://www.artisticartifacts.com/

Artistic Studio Creations, Fayetteville, Georgia www.facebook.com/ASCbyCrystal

Craftiness, Chatsworth, CA, https://www.craftinessonline.com/

Ephemera Paducah, Paducah, Kentucky www.ephemerapaducah.com

Everything Scrapbook & Stamps, Lake Worth, Florida www.everythingscrapbook.com

Frantic Stamper, Oregon www.franticstamper.com

Free Heart LLC, Denver, Colarado, http://www.freeheartllc.com/

Joggles, West Warwick, Rhode Island, www.joggles.com

PaperCraft Clubhouse, Westbrook, Connecticut, http://papercraftclubhouse.com/

Runaway, Art & Craft Studio, NE Salem, Oregon http://www.runawayart.com/

Simon Says Stamp, Columbus, Ohio www. simonsaysstamp.com

The Ink Pad, New York, www.theinkpadnyc.com

Topflight Stamps, Irmo, South Carolina https://topflightstamps.com/

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