#ARTifacts Art Journal Project with Seth Apter

a diary
a journal

a scrapbook
a record keeper

design inspiration keeper
a source

a reminder

see more journals at Seth's blog HERE

Let Me Tell You About My Workshops- Textured Photographs

Explore Digital Fiber with this tactile and eye catching technique! 

Why print your photos on plain glossy paper when you can experiment with textures, add interest and use them in your fiber work!

Use your own digital images to create painterly photographs thin enough to be sewn or collaged into small compositions. This needs to be a 2day workshop or more to allow for the drying time of the molding paste and digital grounds that make this technique possible. For more information on digital grounds, go to inkAid.com.

       Each student will learn this new technique and come away with an art-filled 7x9 Accordion Art Book!

      Wen published this technique in Quilting Arts Nov 2012 and available as a DVD Workshop though Interweave.  HERE

Most any photograph will work with this texturing technique. Think about how oil paintings look with their textured stokes. You can create the texture for a photograph of an old wall, landscape or you may want just a touch of texture to add interest to the background of a portrait. 

Tip- Create small samples to experiment with the technique. Explore different textures. Should it compliment your picture, or stand on it’s own. Enjoy this creative tool in the digital palette!

my favorite molding paste

More workshop selections- http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

Let me tell you about my workshops- Serendipitous Collage!

This is THE workshop to choose which embraces excitement and relaxation all at the same time!
This workshop can be one day or 5 depending on the things you want to learn. 
One day workshop is basically done with fusible and fabric while the 2-5 day workshop expands into papers, mediums, painting and other surprises.

fabric base

We'll create several serendipitous composition that you won't believe could happen!

Plain ordinary tissue paper is a final element that create fascinating textures. We'll play with mediums, a great introduction to mixed media and even create our own!

small postcard created with paper base

Bring all sorts of materials, fabrics, recycled and found items- everything can be used. A great way to use up scraps of fabric and even old photos. 

mount your finish work too!

This workshop is one of my favorites! This workshop premiered at the Surface Design Conference in 2011
.

More workshop selections- http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

Let me Tell you about my workshops- Holographic Memories

Holographic Memories is one of my signature workshops. 
I’ve been teaching this workshop for since 2010 with fantastic happy results!
Students and friends are amazed by the finished, mounted piece as it creates an almost 3-D image with just 2 printed photographs. 

filming back in 2007 with Quilting Arts

I provide just about everything, including your photo, which you send to me, printed on silk organza and transfer. You create a frame with fabric you bring, mounted on artist bars with just enough space for the second photo to shine through for that special 3-D effect. 
Couple this workshop with Fab Fabric Painting workshop to create special hand painted border fabrics!

            Join me to create a special photo of your loved one, home or special place with this simple yet unique looking digital fiber project!

student's work won a ribbon! Congrats Tracy!

More workshop selections- http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

Let me tell you about my workshops- Digital Explorations

Digital Explorations is on of my newest workshops. It’s a condensed version of my book in 3 or 5 days! 

We’ll explore printing on paper, fabric and create some pretty unusual surfaces and mediums. We explore way to creating simple collages to use as layers to apps and photoshop for your own individual results. Later we'll print on the collages too! Never print on simple glossy paper again!

and so much more!! Woo-who!

You will need a printer and a way to use it, such as your computer, but then you won’t need to bring a sewing machine unless you want to. This enables you to print at your own speed but you could share with a friend. 

            I’ll introduce you to digital grounds and wet your muse with ideas you can spin off of. How to protect and finish your samples will be covered. Later you can add these to projects or create new works using these techniques on your own.
The focus is on experimentation and, well, exploring the surfaces!

More workshop selections- http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

Let me tell you about my workshops! Digital Fiber Mini Quilt

Digital Fiber Mini Quilt- a great choice!  Basically, the workshop is a smaller version of my Segmented Fiber Quilts workshop. The workshop explores an innovative quilt presentation that folds! WS is based on Wen’s book, Digital Fiber, creating a segmented mini-fabric quilt with a photograph on inkjet ready fiber and inkjet printed!

            This is a 2 day workshop where participants can choose to make one or two 12x12 or less mini quilts. Student's personal photographs are printed on a collage of digitally prepared fabric or plain fabrics they bring from home. The fabrics should be thin but can be pretty much any natural fiber- not syntheic. InkAid will be introduced and used on that collage. 
Printers are required and most folks have one anyway. Use of my printer, if available, for extra materials fee. There are also small portable printers available. Sometime you can find them used on Ebay. Printer suggestions 8/25/2017 (subject to change) - here

            The digital quilt will feature a new edge treatment that uses paint! 
Because the quilt is in segments, using the old-fashioned binding method just won’t work. It’s much too bulky. The unique segmented quilt lends itself to various configurations and presentations. Too much creative fun!!
The painted edges yield a wonderful new textural accent to the finished segmented piece. 

            

             We will discuss how Wen prints on fabric, photographic enhancements and dividing a photo to create larger work. Seeing your photograph printed on the collage you created is So cool!

     Wen will show you her innovative batting technique- fusing felt to the back which serves as both backing and batting! 
Besides learning about Wen’s protective coating and finishing techniques, the students will have the opportunity to try specialty medium enhancements for a unique mixed media mini quilt!

Hope you’ll join us!
More workshop selections- http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

Reviews of my book- Digital Fiber

Digital fibre art is one of Wen's signature techniques. She has been recognised in the textile/fibre world for decades, and this experience and expertise is well reflected here. As with most how-to books, it starts at the beginning with the kinds of tools and equipment needed to give a good result. Wen then takes off from there, showing how to alter images, print them on different fabrics, and then apply stitch for added depth, interest, and highlighting. By incorporating a number of different techniques, the finished work looks more layered and complex, but it is very achievable. An interested beginner should not be put off, as Wen offers many tips. At the same time, experience artists will find enough here to take their work to the next level. 

(Down Under Textiles, Issue 25)


Wen Redmond has been experimenting with different styles and techniques for many years, and this book distils her work with digital images and various materials. The book is only 127 pages, but is jam packed with information―you will find much of what you need to know here. Wen covers topics including taking photos, manipulating them through cropping filters and colours, printing and transferring them, layering and blending. She also writes about fabric preparation, using paper and other substrates, and the various paint and other substrates, and the various paint and other layers than can be added. There are any examples shown, with full and detailed visuals and written explanations. This is a perfect book to have on the bookshelf to refer to when you are looking to create a particular effect. Alternatively, use it as a guided series of exercises to extend your repertoire of techniques. 

(Down Under Textiles, #27)

For those of you enjoying Wen Redmond's Holographic Pictures technique in this issue, you can find the application of digital photography to textiles and mixed media expanded upon in this book. It looks at many different ways of using photography with different substrates and mediums to create a wholly unique approach to your art. It is a very user-friendly book with a lot of tips on how to make your own life easier (you can use photos taken on your phone as the techniques here will make allowances for a lower resolution in the pictures) and there are apps suggested, such as Grungetastic, that will make the whole process of jazzing up your photo much easier if you aren't able to slave over Photoshop or another Photo Editing programme. The latter will provide you with more complex images to play with but this allows anyone with basic technology to have a go. The book is helpfully divided up into sections such as using fabric or paper as substrates, using Pre-Coats (such as InkAid) and basic Digital Photography printing before moving onto more experimental chapter, using acrylic mediums, overlays, creating textured surfaces for blending or printing over and using nonporous substrates. Each section is fully illustrated and clearly explained in stages and each chapter contains its own Process and Example sections so you can get to grips with how to achieve an effect and then see some finished pieces.

 (Workshop on the Web, March 2017)

Inkjet printers can be used to print on a variety of substrates, and mixed-media artist Redmond shares how best to combine printed fabric or paper with paint, photographs, and art supplies such as gel medium to create one-of-a-kind works of art. 

 (Library Journal, 2/1/17)

Wen Redmond has produced a visually inspiring book featuring her photographs, quilts, and processes. Wen explores a large variety of photo editing options, including many that can be done directly on your phone. She demonstrates how to prepare and treat fabric for printing to promote longevity, and how to manipulate each step of the process so that it is tailored to the artist's interest, skill, and creative desire. (Quilting Arts, April/May 2017)

Artzee Books and More

If you have a love for textiles and photography and want to combine them to create fabulous art you will enjoy the wealth of information in this book. I was a little doubtful at first at my own abilities to utilize software such as Photoshop to create layered images. However, the availability of photo apps such as "grungetastic", as Ms. Redmond suggests, and others like "Fused", make this quite easy for the not-so-tech oriented artist who is fairly handy with an iPhone. The book covers many techniques such as creating backgrounds for digital layering, preparing and printing on fabric, using various mediums and materials on paper or fabric, and how to mount your finished piece. What I especially like is that there are LOADS of visual examples to help you execute the techniques. What you will create are beautiful, layered collage images on fabric that can be quilted, stitched and/or mounted. I think this book is good for every level of expertise, from beginner to advanced.

Elizabeth G. Warner

This book is a wealth of information presented in a useful and intelligent way. I particularly like the way Wen effectively describes the results she is looking for when digitally enhancing/modifying her photos and that her instructions are not product specific. The variety of substrates presented, the use of acrylic mediums to create 'skins', the mounting of work were all subjects are seldom presented in the same pages as fabric. I am particularly grateful for that. Here in one book I can get information that I previously had to go to three of four and muddle my way through. Thanks so much for this Wen Redmond and C&T Publishing.

More!- here

purchase info on side bar

Let me tell you about my workshops- Media Mix Creative Photo Transfer

Mix Creative Photo Transfer Collage! 

            I love collage. I love how you can use bits and pieces of treasured items, saved scraps, special papers and painted fabrics to create amazing works of collage art. I like composing them and add drawing-like stitching on them. 

student working on transfer over a collage with vintage linens!

This workshop takes collage one step further by transferring a black and white image, printed on printed paper, over the top of the entire or part of the collage with “wow-ser” results!

2 different collage results using the same photo!

            I’ll show you my collage techniques and this simple transfer technique that will blow your collage out of the water. Excited? You bet!

Fun and relaxing, I hope you’ll join me!

More workshop selections- http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

and the beat goes on,...More ARTifacts!

Joining Seth Apter in his no rules collaboration with art journaling. 

"ARTifacts: A Collaborative Project for 2017"

Artifacts (plural noun): objects made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest.

ARTifacts (plural noun): a collaborative project for 2017 documenting adventures in art. 

Journaling has been a part of my life, in one way or another, since I was a kid. Today, besides the joy of texturing & collaging pages, I convert them digitally!

Fascinating! 

More in my new book, a labor of love!

BOOK- http://tinyurl.com/z7jcb2e

or Autographed Copies- http://tiny.cc/fieohy

#ARTifacts with Seth Apter

Collaborative Project for 2017with Seth
his words


"To answer the most popular question: anything goes. My original idea was to use this project as a way of documenting my daily art life. Almost like a diary or scrapbook. I have attached a few images of my early January pages so you get a sense of the direction I am taking
"








Journaling has been a source of inspiration and introspection for years. These actions of drawing, painting, composing, scrap booking or just jotting down thoughts help guide me through challenges, art making and joys of life.
 

Art Quilt Class with Wen Redmond At the Whistler Museum in Lowell, MA

Whistler House Museum of Art
Lowell Art Association, Inc.
243 Worthen Street
Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 452-7641

register - HERE

Supply List:

Inexpensive chip brush
Plastic works surface or tarp at least 16 x 16
Assortment of light to medium colored lightweight fabrics and/or scraps 
Threads and string
Iron and pad
Old dryer sheet in case of sticking fusible
Cutting mat, ruler and rotary cutter
Scissors
Supplies to finish quilt-batting and backing for 12 x 12 quilt
Sewing machine and supplies
Hand sewing supplies and thicker thread or pearl cotton
Hairdryer is helpful
Small plastic bag 

More workshop selections- http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

Quilting by the Lake Faculty Profile

Quilting by the Lake Faculty Profile 

 more information on my July classes check this

 

information about printers- see this

More workshop selections- http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

Having learned the rules...

I'm uncertain who stated this but it still has great impact for me.

 "Having learned the rules, we can decide for ourselves when to follow them and when to color outside the lines. Today is a great day to choose to listen to inspiration and let your inner child come out to play. This decision is harder for some people than it is for others, so when we make the bold choice to follow our hearts and inner guidance, we actually help others to make the same choice. 

 We can teach by example, allowing friends and strangers to see how we light up when we shine our light, and how others respond as well. Although not everyone will approve, there will be those who will lend support and encourage such unfettered demonstrations of life.

 Those who are attracted to our light are the kindred spirits we should keep around us at all times, but if we don't let our unique sparkle be seen, those spirits may have a difficult time finding us. As we express ourselves freely and joyously today, we allow ourselves to be shining examples and beacons for kindred souls."

Please let me know if you know the author. Photos are mine, created from my technique of sneaky layering, published in my new book- see sidebar- and taught in my Digital Explorations Workshop. 

inkAid- magic formula!

When you print to a variety of surfaces you need to prepare your surfaces with a digital ground.
A digital ground is a medium you apply to the surface that allows the inkjet ink to 'stick'.

I use inkAid. It comes in clear, colors and non-porous. You can buy a smaller sampler set to try!
There's much more about this magic product in my book- link on right.
or go to their website- here

Artifacts with Seth- Journaling with art, inspiration and collage

from the journal Mind Pourings

I'm joining Seth in his "ARTifacts: A Collaborative Project for 2017" to share "art memories", inspirations and more as we venture down the road of art journaling. 

"Journaling has been a source of inspiration and introspection for years. 

These actions of drawing, painting, composing, scrap booking or just jotting down thoughts help guide me through challenges, art making and joys of life."

Printer recommendations

Welcome! Almost any printer will work for this class. If you're buying a new one, please read manual and become familiar with it before class. 
Do you know how to print 4x6? If not we can work with that.
See if you can adjust thickness to envelope setting. 
Will you use your computer for printing? 
Do not depend on wireless- bring your connecting cord!

A few folks have asked me what I recommend for printers for my workshop- Digital Explorations in Fiber and Mixed Media. In a pinch, I'd go for the all-in-one workforce series. They update continually so I don't have the latest model number. They're not too heavy or expensive.
Having your own printer will enable you to print at you own speed. After all if you were taking a quilting class, would you not bring your sewing machine?

Epson's Dura-Brite or Ultra-Chrome inks are terrific for alternative printing. But we can work with other brands.

For example-

Epson Expression Home XP-330 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner and Copier- here

or

Epson Expression Home XP-430 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner and Copier

There are also small portable printers available too. I purchased mine 'used' from Ebay.
For example, Canon Pixma ip110- here

Or

Epson has just come out with a new portable printer-  slightly pricier...   here

Someone has asked what I have personally. I have 2 Epson Photo Stylus- a 2400 and a 3880.

I got the 2400 at least 10 years ago and they probably have updated the model several times by now.

The 3880 is my newest and I have a all in one workforce 410 that I use for every day. 

The 3880 prints 17 wide, 2400 prints 13" wide and the workforce prints letter size.

Recently, for teaching, I purchased a mobile Epson printer Workforce-100 (pictured above). I love it! 

I used to have a 24" printer but found I don't print large enough to use it on a regular basis. They will dry out if not used or turned on from time to time. And my work has changed.

I'm quite happy with all my printers!