Welcome to 2019. And to my last official post on The Altered Page. 2018 was a year of change for me and that theme will continue into the new year. Wasting no time, the first change starts now.
My online life started on August 10, 2007 when I uploaded my first post to The Altered Page. Back in the day, long-form blogs were the way to go. The only way to go. People had the patience to read, many supportive comments were left and responded to, and a community was born. Some of my strongest artist friendships began in those early years and continue to thrive today.
But, as we all know, social media continued to develop and micro-blogging sites began to become popular. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - to name a few - started to change the face of the online community and make social exchanges more user-friendly and speedier. Why read 5 paragraphs and click through to leave a comment when now you could simply see a picture and click thumbs-up?
I have come to embrace the quick forms of social media in my life as an artist as they allow me to connect with my community while not taking all my time away from actually creating. Seems like many other people agree as more and more long-form blogs have been neglected and closed. But at the same time, I continue to love the depth and breadth that my blog was designed to encouraged. And truthfully, I have always found that I came to truly know people via blogs in a way that has never been equaled by FB or IG.
So what's a guy to do? Why not keep both?
And I am. But not here.
I have made the decision to move my blog to my website and drop the name The Altered Page. This has not been an easy choice but it came down to one simple concept: control. With so many constant changes to the algorithms of many social media platforms, it seems like years of work in developing a community can come crashing down in an instant. For example, it took me many years and much effort to create a Facebook Business Page with 14,000+ followers. But it seems like it only took Facebook one minute to change the algorithm so that only a fraction of a fraction of my followers now see any of my posts. Not going to chance that on my blog. Combining it with my website gives me, and only me, the choices.
While I may lose a good number of followers in the transition, you know what? I am ready to be Seth Apter online rather than The Altered Page. Truthfully, I cannot even remember how I came up with that name except for remembering that all my first choices were already taken!
Hoping that whenever you find this post, you will take the time and take a chance to head over to my new blog. Maybe even have a read and, if you are so moved, to follow along on my continuing adventure by receiving each new post in your inbox. And, since we know nothing ever disappears from the Internet, if this is your first visit to my old blog, maybe stay a while and see what happened over the last 11+ years.
And no matter where your next click takes you, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making my journey in art so fun, exciting and satisfying.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Link Love: December
DECEMBER
A Museum Lover's Guide
In Full View
21 Facts About...
The 25 Most Memorable IG Posts
Not that I like the stuff....
(photo credit - when listed - found in original link)
Monday, December 24, 2018
The Happiest...
The Happiest of holidays to you all.....
May your future be bright and your days filled with light.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Top 10 Blog Posts 2018
Every December, I spend time looking ahead but also reviewing the past. For the last five years, I have looked back over the previous year's blog posts to see which were the most popular based on hits. In doing so, I can better keep track of the pulse of the art community. Click the following links if you are interested in seeing what was popular back in the day: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. for 2016 and here for
I was excited to see that 5 of the top 10 blog posts involve my Baked Texture embossing powder from Emerald Creek. The other posts include 2 posts from my artist issue series Apter's Chapters, as well as posts related to workshops, tutorials, exhibitions and a charity auction.
I was excited to see that 5 of the top 10 blog posts involve my Baked Texture embossing powder from Emerald Creek. The other posts include 2 posts from my artist issue series Apter's Chapters, as well as posts related to workshops, tutorials, exhibitions and a charity auction.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Predicted Trends of 2018
At the end of 2017, I hosted an informal, totally random survey asking people what one trend they thought would be big in 2018. Now that we are nearing the end of the year, we can see if their predictions came true.
1. Roots. No, not the ones underground, but our origins. There was a strong theme related to "rekindling the love and passion of our roots." Whether that was a general idea or related to a specific art domain, it seems that people want to be in touch with all things handmade, non-commercial, and traditional.
2. Mixed Media. While mixed media is an art movement that goes back to the early 20th century, mixed media as we know it today is hot and getting hotter. Whether it is blending media, layering, combining found objects with commercial products, mixing fibers and paper, or other approaches, mixed media was on the mind of many of the artists who shared their trend predictions.
3. Fine Art Mediums. There has been a steady increase in recent years in the embrace of traditional, fine art mediums within the mixed media and craft worlds. This appears to be continuing with many people noting watercolor paints, portraiture, encaustics, drawing, color mixing, and referencing the color wheel as continuing and coming trends.
4. Nature. All things natural appear to be on the horizon. Think raw surfaces, such as wood, stone, tile and brick, metallics, eco dyeing, water themes, all-things rust, and botanicals.
5. Imperfection. Artists seem to be more and more comfortable embracing the imperfect and it looks like this trend will continue into 2018. Whether patchwork in textile arts, nonrealistic faces in portraiture, or repurposed and up cycled materials, imperfection is the perfect trend.
6. Paint. Paint seems to be the art supply of choice for 2018. Whether watercolors, acrylics or the hot trend of acrylic pouring, paint is definitely our passion.
7. Fiber Art. Perhaps reflecting the trend of returning to our roots, fiber art is everywhere. Stitchery, embroidery, hand sewing, quilting, fringe, patchwork, eco dyeing, and stitching on paper are all hot, hot, hot.
8. Text. Text-based art will continue to be big in 2018. Handwritten and creative lettering, asemic writing, journaling, and using text for story telling are likely to be seen everywhere in the coming year.
9. Journaling. The trend that keeps on giving. Journaling has not yet peaked and will continue strong next year. In recent years, a variety of approaches to journaling led the way. In 2018, bullet journaling and creating your own handmade journals seem to be in the lead.
1. Roots. No, not the ones underground, but our origins. There was a strong theme related to "rekindling the love and passion of our roots." Whether that was a general idea or related to a specific art domain, it seems that people want to be in touch with all things handmade, non-commercial, and traditional.
2. Mixed Media. While mixed media is an art movement that goes back to the early 20th century, mixed media as we know it today is hot and getting hotter. Whether it is blending media, layering, combining found objects with commercial products, mixing fibers and paper, or other approaches, mixed media was on the mind of many of the artists who shared their trend predictions.
3. Fine Art Mediums. There has been a steady increase in recent years in the embrace of traditional, fine art mediums within the mixed media and craft worlds. This appears to be continuing with many people noting watercolor paints, portraiture, encaustics, drawing, color mixing, and referencing the color wheel as continuing and coming trends.
4. Nature. All things natural appear to be on the horizon. Think raw surfaces, such as wood, stone, tile and brick, metallics, eco dyeing, water themes, all-things rust, and botanicals.
5. Imperfection. Artists seem to be more and more comfortable embracing the imperfect and it looks like this trend will continue into 2018. Whether patchwork in textile arts, nonrealistic faces in portraiture, or repurposed and up cycled materials, imperfection is the perfect trend.
6. Paint. Paint seems to be the art supply of choice for 2018. Whether watercolors, acrylics or the hot trend of acrylic pouring, paint is definitely our passion.
7. Fiber Art. Perhaps reflecting the trend of returning to our roots, fiber art is everywhere. Stitchery, embroidery, hand sewing, quilting, fringe, patchwork, eco dyeing, and stitching on paper are all hot, hot, hot.
8. Text. Text-based art will continue to be big in 2018. Handwritten and creative lettering, asemic writing, journaling, and using text for story telling are likely to be seen everywhere in the coming year.
9. Journaling. The trend that keeps on giving. Journaling has not yet peaked and will continue strong next year. In recent years, a variety of approaches to journaling led the way. In 2018, bullet journaling and creating your own handmade journals seem to be in the lead.
10. Artivism. An historic trend that seems to reflect the times, creating art and craft for the purpose of political expression, activism, and protest has returned in a big way in 2017 and looks to continue into 2018.
So what do you think? Were any of these predictions correct? And if not...what trends were evident to you in 2018?
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Workshop Update 2019
I completed my 2018 workshop schedule late last month and am already looking forward to getting back on the road and beginning again in 2019. My updated schedule and all the details can always be found on my workshop page but you can have a quick read through this post to see my most recent updates for the first half of the year.
Hoping you will find a workshop that works for you!
1/17: Creativation - Phoenix, AZ: Perfectly PaperArtsy w/Raquel Burillo - registration open
(available to trade show attendees only)
1/18: Creativation - Phoenix, AZ: Get Baked! - workshop full
2/8: The Queens Ink - Savage, MD: Joker's Wild - workshop full
2/9-10: The Queens Ink - Savage, MD: Bento Box - workshop full
2/14-16: PaperWorks - Tucson, AZ: For Your Eyes Only - workshop full
2/20-21: The Queens Ink - Savage, MD: Bento Box - registration open
(repeat class added after first one filled)
2/23: The Ink Pad - NYC: Get Baked! - registration open
3/17-23: MDLH - Taos, NM - A Case of Curiosities w/Roxanne Evans Stout - retreat full
(waitlist closed)
4/5: Valley Stamp & Scrap - Neenah, WI: Photo Op - workshop full
4/5: Valley Stamp & Scrap - Neenah, WI: Get Baked! - workshop full
(add your name to waitlist)
4/6: Valley Stamp & Scrap - Neenah, WI: 52 Card Pickup - workshop full
4/12: Stamplistic - Amherst, OH: 52 Card Pickup - registration open
4/13: Stamplistic - Amherst, OH: 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer - registration open
4/27: Pratt Institute - NYC: Mixed Media Surface Design - registration open
5/1-6: Tinker Tailor Artist Maker - Redwood City, CA - registration open soon
(art retreat sponsored by Eat Cake Create)
5/18: Amelia's Creative Crafts - Studley, England: Get Baked! - workshop full
5/19: Amelia's Creative Crafts - Studley, England: 52 Card Pickup - workshop full
5/25: Handmade at Helen's - Dumfries, Scotland: Get Baked! - registration open
5/26: Handmade at Helen's - Dumfries, Scotland: 50 Ways to Leave Your Layer -
6/6-6/9: Port Townsend School of the Arts - Port Townsend, WA: Bento Box -
retreat full (add your name to waitlist)
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
IG: My Top Nine
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