Thursday, July 28, 2011

Buried treasure: a concept created by Seth Apter

For the third year in a row, I, along with my constant companion


Bleubeard,


am answering the call to unearth buried treasure, a concept conceived by Seth Apter. Although this sounded like an easy task, it was more difficult than I at first suspected. Since I am looking back, I must also take into account what I am working on at the moment, as well as where my art is heading.


I've been making altered art for just over eight years. Granted, I had no training, so I was pretty raw in the beginning. In 2007, I started making collages. Above is one of those collages


Bleubeard took a special interest in.



I was working in altered books in 2008, and here is an example of a collage I call The Ringmaster's Ticket.


That same year I made this collage I call Behind the Eight Ball.


In 2009 I received a sewing machine and my focus expanded to include fabric. The first time I made a gelatin plate was in August, 2009.


I got so excited playing with the process, I had trouble stopping. I used everything from ink to paint to glazes.


I made gelatin prints, many of them monoprints, from both fabric and paper.


Every monoprint and ghost print in the above photo was made using various fabrics.


Above are examples of both paper and fabric gelatin prints.


The bird was masked using blue and beige glazes on muslin.


Those same glazes were used to make a nature inspired print.


These two leaves on checkered cotton


looked a bit like feathers when printed on a dictionary page.

I hope you have enjoyed a few of my buried treasures. Feel free to look around and check out my tutorials if you have time. However, I'm sure you will want to visit many other blogs too, and it all begins at Seth's The Altered Page. Enjoy and stop back again anytime.

21 thoughtful remarks:

Darla said...

How interesting to look back through your art process and how it has evolved. I know many of the pieces you show take a lot of work.

Darla

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for the journey down your personal memory lane- I LOVE those collages, especially the ringmaster's ticket and the cat sentiment is SO true in your first collage!
Stephanie

Theresa Plas said...

Happy Buried Treasure Day!

Halle said...

Love "behind the eight ball" so much! Great look back...It's always fun to see the evolution of work

Caterina Giglio said...

ooh my love love love your ringmasters ticket and monoprints...
and thanks for your heartfelt comments on La Dolce Vita... thought you might understand the piece... xx

jgr said...

Oh these monoprints are awesome. I have always wanted to try the gelatin, too. Thank you for the inspiration!

Unknown said...

I love your buried treasure .... The gelatin printing is something I've had on my list for this summer .... How fun to see your cool samples :)

~*~Patty S said...

you and your blog and your creativity ARE indeed a treasure dear E...you inspire me again and again...I am not feeling all that peppy these days...I will just enjoy everyone else's Buried Treasure (Seth is so great about connecting bloggers and more!!!) can't get it together to go digging and deciding and posting just now

Stay cool and thanks as always for sharing!
oxo

elle said...

Thanks so much for sharing your processes. Luv your creative journey.

Sue said...

Hi hun
its god to look back n see how far we have come eh, luv all the leaf prints, fab post hun, sue,xx

Jo Murray said...

Nice to travel your journey with you Elizabeth.

Rebeca Trevino said...

i have stopped by 2 or 3 times since the buried treasure began and thought i had left a comment but i guess i didn't. wanted to say- isn't it amazing to look back at what we have accomplished as we go on this art journey? i love the Ringmaster's Ticket-colors are so vibrant. like you, i am for the most part self-taught, and i'm always looking around to learn about new techniques and processes to use in my work.
great post!

Sharmon Davidson said...

I enjoyed seeing the progression of your art- it's interesting how an artist's work will change over time. The collages are magical, especially the one with the ringmaster! Did you paint him, or find him somewhere?

Linda Manning Findley said...

really like the dictionary page and you are right they do resemble feathers ... Linda F

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Thanks for sharing all your creative ideas and the process of working. A visit on your blog is allways an inspiring journey.
Have a nice weekend,
hugs Anja

Laura Tringali Holmes said...

It's fun to look back at the progressions. That Ringmaster piece is awesome, by the way!

Unknown said...

I just about croaked when I saw the photo of that gelatin plate. Man I've been a lazy bones as I have been itching to do this for years now. I mean years. I am definately going to try this out this year for sure! Sheesh this post got me going! Thanks. *smiles* Norma
p.s. I really like the leaf shapes you created using the plate.

Holly Dean Artist said...

Yummm... gelatin prints. Yet another technique I want to explore. I especially love how the leaves looked like feathers on the dictionary page. Isn't it great to play and discover? Delightful work :)

MrCachet said...

Now that you have a sewing machine, have you tried making your own stamps? It might be a an idea you can use in your collage work, and you don't have to stick to postage stamp sized images, either. Your work is great!

A Miraculous Meliss said...

What a great walk down memory lane. Those prints are so cool. I had no idea such things could be done. Mixed Media is so fantastic!!!!

Thanks for your blog and post love!

~magick~
Meliss

JoZart Designs said...

"Behind the Eight Ball" could hang alongside a row of paintings by Dali!
JoZarty x