The Mixed-Media Artist: 5 years old

Five years ago today, North Light Books released my second book The Mixed-Media Artist. 

It is hard for me to believe that 5 years has passed since this hit the shelves. Writing and publishing a book is a surreal experience that has included so many highlights for me: signing the book contract, holding the completed book in my hands for the first time, seeing the book on the shelves of book stores, and receiving positive feedback from readers. On the flip side, tracking sales and amazon reviews can sometimes be daunting. All part of the deal.

For those of you who are not familiar with my book, it highlights the artwork and creative process of over 40 all-star artists. This is not a traditional how-to book, but rather a journey through the personal inspirations, motivations and creative perspectives of the artist.

Inside its pages you will find:

ART

Juana Almaguer: Finding Balance. The face I show the world is incomplete, ill-formed, vulnerable and changing. Through my art, the world becomes less random, more fixed and cold, but reliable...very reliable. And to the world alone I show my face and find balance.

Juliana Coles: Self-Portrait with Love. As an artist there are so many things I look at in this piece that I feel I should do better - especially if I want to impress my audience. But I don't want to impress you with how good I am; I want to impress you with my bravery; I want to impress you with my ability to talk about the hard things and find my way through it. I think people will like me better if I make something pretty or "whimsical," but I can't. Please don't look away because I have something important to say. I'm talking to you: the woman like me who needs me to tell it like it is because she doesn't have the tools to articulate it. She doesn't have the words or the images to express it, but she knows what I am talking about. I am talking to you and your wound. You are not alone.

Anca Gray: Crash Course in Thoracic Surgery. The bits and pieces will fit. Take great care not to lose even one, torn and bruised as they may be. Hold them up to the sun, one by one, while whistling a familiar tune. As far as the mending itself goes, use what you have on hand, It will do. Pause often for tea breaks. In time, healing is sure to take its course. Eventually, a new song will bloom, just below the surface.

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

What do you do to make sure you are always growing artistically?

Keep my eyes wide open. Cultivate an attitude of curiosity. Believe in the possibilities of amazing things I have not yet personally experienced. Study, learn and try to understand the things I see around me. Look through the eyes of another. Practice spontaneity. --Tracy Verdugo

What is the one thing you dislike the most about the art world?

I don't love the fact that I basically have to sell myself in order to sell my work. Consumers seem to buy into the personality of the artist as much as the work. I'm a bit of an introvert. I'd rather just sit in my studio and create. -- Jason Twiggy Lott

What has been the most uplifting and/or devastating reaction of someone to your work?

In one show, I had an artist statement hanging in two parts. Ones side started with the word "lie" and spoke of the lies we believe about ourselves. The other side started with the word "truth" and spoke of the intrinsic worth of our experiences. One couple held their little girl and read the truth statement out loud to her. It moved me to tears and still does when I think of it. -- Crystal Neubauer

TIPS and TRICKS

Making an image transfer onto encaustic -- Supria Karmakar

Creating layered backgrounds with gesso and glazes -- Seth Apter

Using monoprinting leftovers for ATCs -- Marit Barentsen

ARTIST PROFILES

A motto I live my artistic life by: "You must make an effort to put something in motion" -- Jeane Myers

3 things I am inspired by: The tin box in the movie Amelie, the way that shadows dance, the caramel aroma of fallen leaves in October -- Elizabeth Bunsen

4 things on my studio table: buckets of rusted crews and washers, a pile of sticks, wire, reference books -- Geoffrey Gorman

BLOG SURVEY RESULTS

Have you ever purposely withheld info from another artist to keep your process private?

Absolutely not. I am happy to share...50%

This has never come up for me yet...18%

I will only do this with certain, specific people...17%

I have done this on occasion...14%

I almost never share my process...1%

Do you have trouble identifying you artistic style?

Yes. Although I know it intuitively, I have a hard time describing it...33%

No, even though my artistic style changes all the time...26%

Yes, I find this very difficult to do...24%

No. I have a very clear understanding of my artistic style...17%

Do you have an updated artist statement?

No, I have not written an artist statement...41%

Yes, I have an updated artist statement that I use...36%

I have written an artist statement, but it is out of date and may not reflect where I am now...23%

Top 10 Doodle, Drawing and Mark Making Techniques

I am excited to be one of 8 artists included in a newly released DVD from F+W Media entitled Top 10 Doodle, Drawing and Mark Making Techniques. 

This video brings together segments from previously released DVDs that focus on mark making, doodling and drawing techniques perfect for mixed media art and journaling. My segment focuses on using splattering, dry brushing and mark making. This is culled from one of my earlier DVDs Easy Mixed Media Techniques for the Art Journal, which shows you step-by-step how to create the journal pictured below.

The other artists sharing their techniques on this new DVD include Mary Beth Shaw, Dina Wakley, Pam Carriker, Jean Pederson, Gina Rossi Armfield, Nita Leland, and Tiffany Lovering. 

Get more details and see a preview here.

And while you are visiting, check out The Mixed-Media Education Multi Pack, a specially priced bundle of mixed media publications that includes the downloadable version of my book The Mixed-Media Artist - along with eBooks from Joanne Sharpe and Gina Rossi Armfield, a workshop DVD from Diana Trout and an issue of the magazine Cloth Paper Scissors.

Book Reviews

It is always exciting -- and surreal as well -- for me to come across one of my books on the shelves in a bookstore. It never gets old and reminds me of just how fortunate I am.

On the shelves in Barnes & Noble in Manhattan Beach, California

It is equally exciting when I see reference to my book on the pages of a magazine. 

I am honored that my newest book The Mixed-Media Artist is among the first to be included in Book Club, a new section within the current March/April 2014 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine. For each of the books included, sample pages and artwork are shown and thoughts from the author are provided. In addition to my book, No Excuses Art Journaling by Gina Rossi Armfield and Delight in the Art of Collage by Lisa M. Pace are also included.

There is also a review of the book in the Cover to Cover section of the current Spring 2014 issue of Scrapbooking & Beyond. It begins with "You'll want this book by the bed or your easy chair - it won't go on the shelf any time soon." I love the fact that the book is being introduced to the scrapbooking community as I like to bring mixed media to as many different creative people as possible.

A review of The Mixed-Media Artist can also be found in issue #7 of the online Mixed Media Art Magazine. If you are not yet familiar with this magazine, check out the link. And stay tuned for an upcoming post sharing more from this great publication.

Thank you to the people behind these publications who have helped get the word out about my book. And thanks to all those who have sent me such positive feedback about what they have found on its pages.

In the Amazon

Now shipping from Amazon. Sweet!

The Mind of the Mixed-Media Artist

Head on over to the Cloth Paper Scissor blog to read some Q & A between Cate Prato, the online editor at Interweave, and myself about the mind of the mixed-media artist and see some discoveries from my new book about being an artist today.

And stop by the the Interweave store where you will find my wish list of art supplies for this holiday season. See which products I cannot live without! And use code WISHLIST10 to save 10% off my picks.

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My self portraits from my book The Mixed-Media Artist.

Oxide

...the face we show the world is but a shadow of our innermost and true selves...

Archaeological Dig

Freud has likened psychoanalysis to archeology, describing it as the unearthing of meaning layered beneath an expanse of ruins. This resonates with me, in all the different bits and pieces of my life, including art...

The Gallery 14

The third section of my book The Mixed-Media Artist introduces fourteen gallery artists who reflect the unique and very personal style that is seen in all artists who collectively work in mixed media. Each of them is highlighted below, along with their picture, their link, an artwork captured from their online site, and some thoughts about what they mean to me.

Let the gallery exhibition begin...



Brian Kasstle

A maker of introspective, layered, meaningful, color-saturated and passionate journal pages. Brian and I first connected online back in 2009 and have been supporters of each other's journeys ever since. We will finally get to meet in person in 2014 when I head out to California to teach. I so admire his ability to seamlessly use color, image, and texture to create pages that come from the heart and offer the viewer a world of detail to uncover and explore.

Dina Wakley

What can I say about the irrepressible Dina Wakley? She is one of a kind and a person with boundless energy, enthusiasm and humor. Oh....and talent too! Her journal pages and mixed media works are ahead of the curve and perfectly reflect the dynamo that she is. I met her in person this past year at Art Unraveled in Arizona and immediately became am even bigger fan. If you haven't already caught the fever, check out her book Art Journal Freedom.

Eileen Williams 

I met Eileen when we both exhibited at the Parallax Art Fair in New York City. We were booth mates and a better exhibition partner I could not have found. I was blown away by her totally unique voice and awe-inspiring fiber artworks. Rarely do you find an artistic approach that you have never seen before and that is the case with Eileen. The fact that Eileen might just be the nicest person I have ever met is pretty cool too!

Felicity Griffin Clark

I made it my quest to explore the Internet to find artists that were new to me for this book. In doing so, I came across Felicity and never looked back. She is a textile artist from Australia and as soon as I saw the images on her website's homepage, I knew I had found something special. It has been a pleasure getting to know her since then and I have to say that the work she created for the book blew me away with its design, power and meaning.

John Arbuckle

John is an example to all artists with his endless curiosity, eagerness to learn, and willingness to try new techniques in art. These attributes, combined with his talent and dedication, equal amazing art. I was able to meet John in person and spend some quality time with him when I visited Washington State to teach. It was a pleasure to see his artistic process in action and get to know the person behind the art better. I am always excited to see what he creates next.

Karin Perez

I met Karin in NYC when we were both exhibitors at the Parallax Art Fair in 2012. I was immediately drawn to her bold, graphic pieces that seemed to take on a life of their own. I found her repetitive use of shapes and confident use of color to be mesmerizing and altogether fascinating. Each piece is its own unique world that is very easy to get lost in. I was thrilled when she agreed lend her voice to the pages of my book.

Kelly Puissegur

I discovered Kelly's work on Etsy quite a number of years ago and have been a fan of her and her work ever since. I have always thought that she is an example of the creativity that is possible when you are filled with both talent and endless imagination. She brings a boatload of humor and quirk to her pieces in the best possible way. They are truly unlike any other work that I have seen and always bring a smile to my face.

Laura Lein-Svencner

Laura and I go back at least to 2009 when we first "met" online. She is primarily a collage artist and is truly one of the most accomplished people I know in this area. She has the ability to create the most cohesive and seamless collages that, while being primarily abstract, tell their own story. She is also very generous, spending much time teaching others and sharing her techniques on her online sites. I look forward to one day in the future when we can meet.

Nancy Lefko

I have known Nancy online for at least 4 years and have had the pleasure of meeting her in person at a number of art retreats. She is a mixed media collage artist whose work often has a vintage flair. She has a way with color, symbolism, and composition. The joy she feels in creating is always evident in her work. She herself has an amazing energy and spirit and one cannot help but feel uplifted when she is around. Always looking forward to the next time our paths cross.

Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch

I have admired Trish and her amazing artwork since before I started my own blog back in 2007. She was in part my introduction to encaustics and having seen her artwork in person I know just how incredible it is. Trish is also one of the busiest artists I know. She has started her own retreat (EncaustiCamps), has several DVDs and books (her newest being Encaustic Painting Techniques), her own line of stencils, and more! I am thrilled for her well-earned success.

Patti Roberts-Pizzuto

I have loved Patti's artwork -- and particularly her unique style -- since first seeing it online many years ago. She combines paper, stitching, drawing, mark making, and painting to create the most ethereal works of art that often seem like a precious piece of ephemera. She often uses symbols and mixes abstract shapes with representational objects. They all have a sense of being figurative snapshots from a dream or a memory.

Ro Bruhn

When I think of Ro I think of color. Full, bold, bright, in-your-face-color (see photo above). Ro and I have connected online since 2007 and I have always admired her incredible, one of a kind journals created from her own hand-colored papers. But her work in jewelry, fabrics, and painting are equally amazing. And always bursting with color! Ro is from Australia and I hope to meet her when I head there to teach next year.

Robert Schmid

Robert is one of my artist friends from NYC. I met him through his wife Elizabeth Wix, a writer with whom I have co-taught a workshop. Robert's work fascinates me and I have had the pleasure of watching him work. His talent crosses many mediums, including drawing and painting, and his subject matter is often unusual, quite varied, and very creative. I love that he often takes a static object and somehow infuses it with movement.

Stephanie Lee

Stephanie is one of those artists that truly amaze me. First of all, she is one of the originals in our art community to work with encaustics. And the artwork that she creates are special. And unique. And absolutely endearing. But...she is equally adept at creating jewelry. Really good, mixed media jewelry. She has truly mastered two very distinct artistic arenas. Who says you can't do it all!

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Thank you all for visiting my blog for 30 Artists/30 Days and for The Gallery 14. And thanks so much to all 44 artists who have contributed to my book. You truly are an all-star team!