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The Left Brain Podcast
LISTEN UP
I am excited to be a guest, along with Kristin Williams - artist and owner of Ephemera Paducah in Kentucky - on The Left Brain Artist, a podcast series developed by Suzanne Redmond that focuses on the business side of art.
In this podcast, the three of us discuss the results of our survey of 1600+ artists and how they have been effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We also share some potential strategies for creatives, instructors and small business owners based on the findings.
You can listen to the podcast and the many others she has on offer at iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox or Stitcher. Not familair with podcasts, just click here to go to Suzanne's site to easily listen. You can also head to the same post on Suzanne's site to simply read a list of 16 "takeaways" that summarize the conversation.
Aladine and StencilGirl Products: Online Event Day 2
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Welcome to Day 2 of an amazing online event combining the talents of ten people and the products of both Aladine and StencilGirl.
Today the work of five new artists are featured. Click here to find the links to yesterday's five and to join in yesterday's giveaway to win a selection of art products from my collections with both StencilGirl Products and Aladine. And make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to see how you can join today's, all-new giveaway.
Here is just a preview of what you will find today. Click each artist's name to see more pictures and get more details on their artwork. Plus, head to this StencilGirl Product blog post to see even more.
GIVEAWAY
To celebrate this collaboration, StencilGirl and I are giving away $35 gift certificates to our online shops. To be eligible, just leave a comment on this blog post. And you have additional chances to win if you leave comments on the blogs of the five artists involved as well as this post on StencilGirl Talk. The giveaway closes end of day on Wednesday June 3 and the winner will be posted on both my blog and on StencilGirl Products Facebook page.
Online Event: Two Days, Ten Artists, Aladine and StencilGirl Products
I am so excited to welcome you to day one of a two-day online event combining the talents of ten people and the products of both Aladine and StencilGirl.
Ten creatives were provided with their choice of stencils from StencilGirl Products and Izink inks from my collection with Aladine. Today I am highlighting the amazing work of five unique and special artists. Follow the links below to their sites and show them the love with a comment, thumbs up or share - or all of the above. Tomorrow, head to the StencilGirl blog for the links to five additional artists and their creations. And when you get there, you will also find a special giveaway to celebrate as well.
And head to the bottom of this post to see how you can enter today's giveaway.
GIVEAWAY
To celebrate this collaboration, I am giving away a creative kit combining products from my collections with both StencilGirl Products and Aladine. To be eligible, just leave a comment on this blog post. And yes, Internationals are eligible. The giveaway closes end of day on Wednesday June 3 and the winner will be posted on both my blog and my Facebook page. If I have your email address, I will contact you directly as well.
Mini Book Madness: Registration Open
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
(updated May 31)
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Wednesday May 27 1:30pm EDT: Sold Out
Saturday May 30 8:00pm EDT: Sold Out
Tuesday June 2 3:00pm EDT: Sold Out
UPDATE: All three classes have filled. Email me at shap97@gmail.com if you would like to be notified when registration reopens for the recorded sessions
COVID-19 and the Art Community: Survey Results + Video
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Our community has been greatly impacted by the pandemic. Kristin Reese Williams and I decided to create a survey to take the pulse of the community to help uncover the impact of COVID-19 on our creative lives and provide information to direct efforts going forward in terms of in-person and online classes, art commerce, and community connection. The survey was live between May 4 and May 6, 2020 and included 19 questions, all but one of which needed to be answered to complete the survey. The optional question asked for additional comments. It was 100% anonymous and International in scope. More than 1,600 people responded.
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In the following video, Kristin and I discuss the results from each question and summarize the findings.
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A summary of the results for download and review is available here.
Mini Book Madness: FB Live Online Class
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An online class being held via Facebook Live
Wednesday May 27 1:30pm EDT
Saturday May 30 8:00pm EDT
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Join me for a one-session, two-hour online class where we create a one-of-kind mini artist book. Measuring 2.5 x 2.5 inches when closed, we will build this book from scratch using basic materials and a no-sew binding. After learning the basic technique, you will be able to use it to easily create books of any size.
Once our books are bound and our covers are covered, we will move to the inside where I will demonstrate my approach to abstract collage. Given that the class is only two-hours, you will not have time to finish collaging all the pages in your book. But you will absolutely have time to complete the book structure, learn the collage techniques and start working on the pages.
This class was designed to focus on basic supplies that you are likely to already have in your studio. Please note that I only include specific brands or individual item names to help clarify the supply. There is a great deal of flexibility built in, so feel free to substitute as desired. Anything goes and I want your book to reflect the artist that you are!
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The Supply List (The list looks long only because I wanted to be detailed):
-Book covers: In advance of the class cut your choice of material for your covers into two 2.5 inch squares. You can use any sturdy material such as book board, chip board, the back of a pad or journal, a book cover from a hardback book, etc. Please note that I will only reference this size during the class and you will be on your own to determine sizing for other parts of this project should you chose to use a different size cover.
-Cardstock: Two or three sheets of standard cardstock (or 90lb watercolor paper). Please note you should choose a color(s) that you like as this paper will (potentially) not be fully covered in your final project.
-Adhesive: I will be using a glue stick for collage and PVA (traditional book binders glue) for the binding…but you can substitute any liquid adhesive (such as matte medium or other white glue) .
-Scissors and/or craft knife & craft mat.
-Ruler
-Pen or pencil: used to mark measurements so any fine point will do.
-Thin, lightweight paper that will be used to cover your covers. Make sure that you have a piece that measures about 8x8 inches or two pieces that are at least 6x6 each. You can use scrapbook paper, printer paper that you have decorated, book pages, vintage ledger paper, ephemera, etc. Please note that while we will add our own touches to this paper, you will be ahead of the game if you have paper already decorated to your liking to use for your cover.
-I will be using the following items to collage and decorate the pages (and optionally to add to the cover). Choose your favorite selection from all the following items:
-Stamps: Background and mark making stamps are good.
-Washi tape: Choose your favorite designs.
-Ink pads: Make sure you have some dye ink pads (such as Distress) but I will use both dye and permanent (such as StazOn or Archival).
-Mark Makers: Your favorite journal pens, pencils, paint pens, markers, crayons, etc. You really only need a few.
-Collage Paper: Anything goes. Scrapbook paper, painted paper, vintage book pages, ephemera, Gelli plate prints, paper scraps, etc. Remember that you don’t need much because we are working small.
-Collage Elements – I will use stickers and rub-ons but these are optional.
Please note: You will need to have the listed supplies ready at the start of the Live workshop if you want to follow along. If you have questions, I prefer you comment inside the FB group rather than messaging/emailing me directly. If you are wondering about something, no doubt others will be too. I promise I will answer.
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The Skinny:
- The class will be taking place in a private Facebook Group that only includes paid attendees.
- You need to have a Facebook account to be able to participate.
- Registration opens Sunday May 17 at noon EDT.
- Registration closes 48 hours before the scheduled class.
- Registration will reopen after the Live class ends so that the class will be available to anybody who would like to watch the recording.
- Whether you watch it Live or not, the group will remain open so that you can go back and watch the video as often as you like.
- There will be no refunds.
For Registration: Registration is taking place through my online shop on my website. You will need an account to complete the process and will have the opportunity to set this up at a few points along the process.
- Go to sethapter.com and click on the link to ‘Shop’ directly under the banner on the home page.
- Click on the ‘Mini Book Madness’ category.
- Choose your preferred class date and select ‘Add to Cart’.
- When ready, click on ‘Checkout’.
- In the ‘Order Comments’ section, please add your Facebook name so you can be invited to the private Facebook Group.
- Click ‘continue’ and you will automatically be taken to PayPal to complete your order.
- Once you complete your purchase, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access your PDF (which is stored in the Files section of your account page). You will need to click on the appropriate link in the email and you will be directed to the PDF if you already have an account on my site or directed to set up an account if you are new to my site.
- You can choose to download (and print if you like) the PDF which includes all of the information you are reading now.
For Payment: Attendance at the workshop costs $20USD. Payment is accepted through my shop (as outlined above) via PayPal only. Your PayPal receipt is considered confirmation that you registered.
For Facebook Group Membership: After you register, I will send you an invitation to the Facebook Group associated with your class time only. The Facebook groups will open Wednesday May 20 and invitations to join the group will be sent out at that time. Please allow a few days to pass before you are concerned if you haven’t gotten your invite. Once you are in the group, feel free to chat with me and the other participants. During and after the class you are welcome to ask questions and share pictures of your work.
Hope you are as excited for this adventure as I am!
Welcome Back
Welcome Back! For two years, from 2016 to 2018, I was a designer with Spellbinders and released four collections of dies, stamps, and other paper art supplies.
I have held onto a limited number of my favorite designs and am "re-releasing" them now.
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Many of these items are no longer available, although some independent craft shops may have a few still floating around. Have a look see here.
Community Survey: Where do we go from here?
Our community has been greatly impacted by the pandemic. Kristin Williams (owner of Ephemera Paducah in Kentucky) and I have decided to create a survey to take the pulse of the community to help uncover the impact of COVID-19 on our creative lives and provide information to direct efforts going forward in terms of in-person and online classes, art events, exhibitions, supply shopping, and community focus. There are 19 questions, all but one of which need to be answered to complete the survey. It is 100% anonymous. The results will be initially shared online via a Facebook Live presentation and later via posting so that everybody can have access to and benefit from this information. Please share and help spread the word. You can take the survey here. Thank you!
New Release: Izink Pigment Inks
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Thrilled to share with you my newest release: Izink Pigment Inks. This is the third collection from my new collaboration with Aladine, an innovative craft and art supply company based in Lyon, France.
Izink Pigment ink is a highly pigmented, permanent ink developed and made in France in a range of 20 colors. It is a quick dry ink that works on multiple surfaces including paper, canvas, glass, wood, metal, ceramic, and more. Relative to most liquid pigment inks, it has a relatively opaque finish but does become semi-translucent when mixed/spritzed with water and spread out. This current release is a full reformulation of the pigment inks previously released by Aladine, with a thicker consistency, matte finish (except for the metallics) and new range of colors.
It comes in an 11.5ml/.39 fluid ounce glass container with a brush integrated into the cap. But don't hesitate to pour it directly from the bottle onto you surface, use with a dip pen, or fill up a refillable marker or dauber bottle with ink as is or mixed with water.
These inks are available and shipping now from my online shop. They can be purchased individually, as a full set of 20, or in the following themed sets of 4:
OCEAN
THUNDERCOULD, STRATOSPHERE, ULTRAMARINE, CELESTIAL
BLOSSOM
RASBERRY BERET, ROAST CHESTNUT, COTTON CANDY, LYCHEE
GALAXY
AFTER DARK, AVALANCHE, BURNT ORANGE, PURPLE HAZE
LEAF
ATLANTIS, OLIVE DRAB, MIMOSA, WET MEADOW
METAL
IMPROPER COPPER, TITANIUM, ROYAL GOLD, OPAL FROST
