An interview with Seth Apter - Mixed Media Artist.

Today I have an exclusive interview with mixed media artist Seth Apter who has appeared in numerous publications such as Artful Blogging, Cloth Paper Scissors, Creative Wildfire and Studios Magazine. Seth lives and works in New York City and writes his own blog called 'The Altered Page which showcases his skilful work which include highly textured and distressed pieces combining different methods he will talk more about later in the interview.After finishing a big art project, Seth has kindly agreed to answer some questions I have been dying to ask him since I came across his visually exciting and intruiging work. So Seth, Please introduce yourself & tell us a little bit about your method of working.I am a mixed media artist from New York City. I have been actively engaged in the visual arts for the past 10 years, a period of time for me that has been a never-ending adventure. My primarily interest at the present time is in book arts, works on paper and textural assemblage. My artwork tends to be abstract in nature and highly textured and distressed, using layers of paper, paint, ink, text, and transfers. Found objects are often integrated into my pieces as they bring a sense of history and evolution to the work

and provide a deeper sense of meaning as well.  

Nothing compares to the freedom and flexibility that mixed media provides. Being able to use any and all materials allows for an unmatched sense of creative flexibility and excitement. I feel like an explorer, always on the lookout for bits and pieces to use in my art. My process is about building up and breaking down. The things I create are built up in layers. At the same time, I love to distress materials - sanding, scratching, inking, tearing, and aging. In the end, the finished piece is a combination of all that was added and all that was removed – and each process is equally important.

Who or what inspires your work?

There is a vibrancy in NYC that I find quite inspiring. Just walking out my door every day fills me with creative energy. I am often inspired by the people that I see, the architecture of the city, the objects I find in the street…not to mention all the galleries, museums, display windows, and unique shops that are everywhere. I love to take my camera to the many neighborhoods in the city and go on photo safaris. At the same time, I am transfixed by nature and find much inspiration there. I spend a lot of time in Central Park, which is really an urban paradise. And my vacations often take me to nature-filled locations, providing both inspiration and a needed break from the frenetic pace of New York.  

I also find that my creative fire is lit when I see the work of my favorite artists, which include Antonio Tapies, Anselm Kiefer, Masao Yamamoto, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Eva Hesse, and Joseph Cornell. Inspiration is always found in the blogs and websites of the other artists in the mixed media community. Suring through their sites always leaves me with a creative urge.

Are you currently involved with any projects/exhibitions?

I host an online collaborative project called The Pulse, a survey in words and images of the online artist community. There have been 4 editions to date and the current one includes nearly 150 participants. Each participating artist is presented with a series of art-related questions to answer. The results of the survey are presently being posted on my blog as a series of individual projects. Right now The Book Guild is posted every Sunday and focuses on listing the participants’ favorite art books but also includes book reviews, author interviews, and giveaways.

I am a Creative Contributor on the MMCA Marketplace blog and once a month I write a blog post that focuses on issues related to being an artist. My most recent contribution is called “A is for Artist” and deals with defining the word Artist and addressing the reasons why so many creative people have difficulty labeling themselves as such.

This November I will have an online exhibition of my artwork on the New Zealand based Virtual TART site , which is run by Dale Copeland and showcases international artists. Several other projects that I am quite excited about are in the works and they will be announced on my blog in the upcoming months.  

Do you work as a full time artist? If so, how did you get to where you are now/If not, how often you spend time being creative?

I am not a full time artist, although given the amount of time I spend either creating or working on my blog it certainly feels as though I am. I spend time every single day working on some aspect of art. As the years have passed, I have dedicated more and more of my time and energy to this passion and I expect to continue in that direction.

& Finally, what is your studio space like?I have a dedicated room in my home that serves as my art studio, although many of my supplies and materials always seem to be migrating around my entire home. I live in an apartment on a high floor and have large windows with an amazing city view. My studio is filled with supplies, art work that I have purchased or been gifted, ongoing and completed art projects, art books, and tons of the flotsam and jetsam that is part of every artist’s life. I collect interesting boxes, cabinets, and cases and these items are everywhere and serve also as storage for the ingredients that are waiting to become part of my art.

I am happy to say that my workspace is currently being featured in the Fall 2010 issue of CPS Studios magazine (http://www.interweavestore.com/Mixed-Media/Magazines/Studios-Fall-2010.html). The issue hits newsstands on August 10. The article contains much more information about my studio, including many pictures.

Thanks Helen for this opportunity to share some of my thoughts with your readers.To see more of Seth's fantastic work, you can visit his blog The Altered Page here.Thank You Seth for sharing your work, methods, projects & your inspiration. I'm sure Seth would love to hear any comments and answer anyother questions you may have.