Friday, March 23, 2012

31/31: Leslie Marsh


31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
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There are boxes and bags of family photographs sitting on a shelf in my house. Some of them simply make me smile, while others make me curious about the stories.


This becomes art when I take the hidden, the forgotten, the sometimes damaged, and bind them into books people may be compelled to pick up.



My shoebox inspirations become bound expressions of life. I'm a photographer too, and I've got my own shoebox.


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I am in awe. I am amazed. I am gobsmacked. This is how I feel when I see Leslie's books on her blog. Now Leslie is also a sensational photographer and wonderful artist, but it is her books which take my breath away. The beginnings of my life in art was making books. So they are close to my heart. And Leslie's books make my heart beat just a little bit faster.

I have spent time with Leslie on a number of occasions including at a workshop I took with her and a workshop I took from her. From these times, two things have stood out. Firstly, she is simply a great human being: generous, genuine, kind. Secondly, she is oozing with talent. Hers is a good example of seeing art on the Internet and saying wow. And then seeing the same art in person, and being speechless. Take it from me, she is a master book artist. I cannot wait to see her future work unfold, page by page.
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GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED

66 comments:

erika husselmann said...

Love books, love bookmaking, absolutely LOVE Leslie's photos - thanks for introducing me ;-)

liberal sprinkles said...

wow wow, I love love these books! Thank you for introducing me to Leslie's works, I'm going over to check out her blog now!
Grace

Carol said...

You've done it again, introduced us to another fascinating artist! And a book artist to boot. Fantastic. I can see I'll be very sad when your 31 days are up!

Judy said...

I too think Leslie is both a wonderful photographer and book maker. Another perfectionist and it shows in her stunning artwork.
She also happens to be one of the loveliest, open and honest women I have met in the mixed media circuit.
Yet another great choice of artist.

Anonymous said...

Hi Seth! This is my first visit to your blog. I've been reading Nina's blog and she had a link to yours and had written about your book. I was so excited about your book, I ordered it before I knew about your giveaway, but I'd still like to be entered. I am subscribing to your blog...have seen some of your art in somerset publications in the past, and heard of you/read of you here and there. now, consider me a regular reader. I can't wait to see your book. Thanks for writing it!
Sue Chesley

Suzanne said...

How exciting that you have published a book! Good luck with it Seth, and thanks for the inspiration.

Annette said...

Gorgeous photographs.. wow and the books are awesome...
hugs

Luthien Thye said...

amazing! her books are indeed amazing Seth. i just love her bindings! and her photography ... such a treat when you arrive at her blog ... those beautiful huge photographs. when i grow up i wanna make books like her :)

Janet Ghio said...

These books are fabulous! I'm going to go check out her blog!

Lottie Anderson, BFA said...

Leslie's books have the feel of time jewels. Almost magical. How lovely.

thanks for sharing

Kim Hambric said...

Wow! Her books are just stunning.

Annie said...

WOW and WOW and WOW again, beyond stunning. Inspires me to make books, something I have never done, but think about a lot. Thank you for Leslie. xoxo

Maureen said...

Absolutely love those books, especially the shoebox inspirations!

Carol said...

I love being introduced to or reminded of artists I admire. Thank so much!

jinxxxygirl said...

So very nice to meet Leslie. Thank you Seth for all you do!

mansuetude said...

that top book has got me !

I love to see Leslie's photography too.

Jill Zaheer said...

What a great spotlight on Leslie and love looking at the textures and hues on her books. The details are equisite. And not only am I so excited about learning so much about all these fabulous artists, but each day- I learn a new superlative adjective to describe their works and talents. Today's word for Leslie is "gobsmacked".

Maggie Crawford said...

Wow, bookmaking is one of my passions, and Leslie's book take my breath away too.

susan in seattle said...

Leslie is a wonderful, very talented photographer. Love the 1000 Faces project! It takes a special person to capture the essence of a stranger.

Robert said...

Leslie Marsh's books invite exploration! Their lovely colors, textures, and visible bindings make one want to pick them up and hold them. Her self portrait in The Pulse of Mixed Media is rich with imagery from an early life spent growing up in three different states (love the Nebraska farm buildings across the bottom of this piece, and the fact that Leslie shows herself-quite literally-'rooted' to the entire scene: this land; these people!). Her photography is equally amazing! I especially enjoyed the series where she repeatedly 'captures-the-moment' with Kiran and Atticus! Delightful!

Cat said...

Leslie's books are, well, true works of art!! They are spectacular! Thank you for featuring her work and introducing me to a new artist. But that is what you do, isn't it--I can't wait to get your book. I'd love to win it but if not I'll definitely be buying it!! Thanks, Seth!!

donna joy said...

I love her books too-they are so visually stunning to look at on her blog so i can only imagine what it would be like to see in person~

Unknown said...

works as valuables!!! would carry in place of bag

onesmallstitch said...

I have only recently started making books - Leslie's are amazing, treasures to enjoy, cherish and pass on.

Lynn Cohen said...

What a gift all this art! I feel washed in beauty!

Thanks Seth for sharing them with us.
I love your duck drawing story!

Leslie's books are stunning and so is her photography!

Rebeca Trevino said...

the photographs and books ARE beautiful.

Rebeca Trevino said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jo Murray said...

I take my hat off to book artists... and Leslie is one of the best. Each project requires dedication, concentration, application, ...and TALENT.

Leslie said...

Seth, I am so honored to be included in your first book. As someone pointed out earlier this week, it will surely not be your last! I'm also smiling and blushing at your kind post. Thank you, my friend.

Gobsmacked. Ha ha ha.

Anonymous said...

I consider Leslie a dear friend, and everything you said about her is how I feel too. Her work is amazing and leaves me speechless. You should see this amazing cloth she recently gifted me that she made. I have a great respect for her work and for her as a person.

sukipoet said...

wonderful books. thanks for the inteo

Bill said...

Another incredible book maker. Totally awesome!

GG said...

So glad I found your blog, linked from Lynne Hoppe's blog today. What fun to read about the wonderful artists you highlight in your book!
Gretchen

Sharmon Davidson said...

Again, you've introduced me to a fantastic artist. Her books are amazing, and you can bet I'll be exploring her blog further. I so admire book artists! Thanks, again, Seth!

Bev said...

Awe gobsmacked exactly thanks Seth love seeing Leslie's work...

hugz bev

Poetic Artist said...

Leslie's beauty in books just Makes me want to reach in and touch each one of them..AMAZING..

Barbara I. said...

Leslie's books are amazing. Thanks for sharing her with us, Seth!

Unknown said...

There's been a few artists' books featured lately in my blog hops and I just keep getting drawn further in. I've been making little tea bag paper books and working small (one tea bag equals one book with 4 pages about 15/16" wide by about 2" tall when closed) and so when I come across books like Leslie creates I am stunned in amazement. Really wonderful. I wish I could hold one of her books in my hands. Thanks for this Seth! *smiles* Norma

Judi said...

What a fantastic artist. Her book covers are wonderful. Thanks for introducing me to such a inspirational artist.

Laura said...

This has been so great seeing all these great artists and the focus being on one a day. Love Leslie's books, very inspiring. Next time one a day for a year

Beverley Baird said...

Such gorgeous, tactile books! Love her work!

Cathy said...

Her books are stunning!!!!

Frances said...

Intricate perfection and mystery combined.

Anonymous said...

Books are good! I like how she looks at them and love how she constructs them. So nice1

Melva said...

Leslie's books sure are works of art. They are beautiful. Thanks again for bringing Leslie to my attention.....

elle said...

Books have seduced me. These are more seductions. Thanks

Rusted Wings said...

so glad to 'meet' leslie....an amazing bookmaker and photographer she is!!! i shall love to learn more of her in the coming days on her blog. thank you again seth for this introduction.

Kate Burroughs said...

What lovely books! Love it!
Aloha, Kate

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I admit, this was my first visit to Leslie's blog. Of course, I fell in love with her books. Who can resist? I sure can't. And of course, I was overcome by the book covers she created.

Deb said...

Hi Seth -it's Deb from Maryland,still trying to keep it real. I've enjoyed all of the artists you've introduced us to, gone onto some of their blogs, videos, etc. It's all been very invigorating - not just another little "altered" doo-dad that says "Hope." OK, hope is good, we should all hang in there, but I'm so glad to see artists digging deeper! Thanks, dude.

Patricia Wolf said...

Stunning!!!

~Babs said...

Fantastic, not so simply fantastic!

Karen Cole said...

What a master Leslie is. Her hands work magic on her books and her photos of children.......wow

Darlene K Campbell said...

The photography of those babies (the new ones)are magical. I'm always drawn to books, so of course I'm impressed with Leslie's books.
Darlene

Therese D in Oz said...

Wow!! Leslie's books are just amazing. I have to go and check out her blog now. Thank you for sharing

Parabolic Muse said...

Seth, your write-up of Leslie is exact. Just kind, professional, fun to be around and also, incredibly talented. I so look forward to spending time with her again.

She surprised me with a book years ago. It holds an honored place in my studio.

Janine Whitling said...

Absolutely stunning books. And those tie-dyed eggs...WOW! i look forward to following Leslie's blog.♥

Patricia said...

What beautiful work, thank you for sharing....

Anonymous said...

ooooh, i absolutely LOVE leslie! i have followed her blog for so long i cannot even remember (not that i've been good at following anyone in the past several months but all the more to see when i have more time). i am always in awe too. she creates the most stunning and amazing books ever! and if i recall, she has a dog named atticus (we have a cat with the same name). i'm going to have to go visit her now -- it's been far too long!

Wen said...

I know I'm thinking too much- but how?

rivergardenstudio said...

Leslie's work is so amazing to me as well. Her books are full of mysteriousness and age old beauty. (I am actually lucky enough to own one!) Her photographs are magical just like her smile, and someday I will meet her for myself!
roxanne

Lynsey said...

Gorgeous altered books, I love the details in these. They carry an air of history.

Carol Sloan said...

I love her books! Haven't seen them in person but would love to!

Suzanne Bouchard said...

Leslie's work speaks to me a lot- the old leather books ( noble matter), the crown, the medieval feel ....beautiful inspiration

Emma said...

These books are fabulous, I hope I will learn from them, thank you.

lindacreates said...

These books are breathtaking. I am off to her blog. What a great choice for your book.