JazWorks

Jill Zaheer's JAZWORKS: A Tapestry of Mixed Media, Painting, Collaborations, Photography, and Poetry

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Featuring ... FEATURING Part 2!

Marit Barentsen's new international Art Magazine FEATURING is such an inspiration for every creative spirit. 
 (Photo provided by Marit Barentsen of the presses rolling!)


Here are some additional pages from my Art and Poetry Collaboration
 with Seth Apter titled
The Gift  that was published in  Featuring's  inaugural edition!











.... Dedicated
 And
 In Honor of my Mother.

******




Monday, April 30, 2012

FEATURING is here- and What a GIFT!!

The amazing and talented Marit Barentsen has created a gorgeous new International Art Magazine titled FEATURING  that is a polished, smart, page turning compilation of stories and articles about all facets of the art world.  The inaugural issue has just come off the presses and I am thrilled, honored and blessed that an altered book art and poetry collaboration that I completed with Seth Apter from The Altered Page, titled The Gift, has been included.  The article discusses our project, displays select pictures of our artwork and poems and includes an in depth interview  from each of us on our project.  Our altered book collaboration was based on each of us having a book for which the other created poems. These poems were then the jumping point for the others original artwork for each of our books. You must read the article to see the details!


Click this You Tube Video  to see
  the first release of Featuring as the presses roll!

This first edition of the magazine includes all of the things Marit ever  dreamed of- as she says, " articles to READ, background stories, interviews... she dreamed of a  versatile magazine that included art journaling, mixed media, photography, poetry and everything else that would fit - creativity in all its forms." 
And so it is one beautiful
  8 1/4" x 11 3/4"  magazine of glossed beauty!

(Partial view below of FEATURING's cover)
FEATURING can also be followed on FACEBOOK here- with daily previews of first edition articles!


And  for a preview of FEATURING- you can click here which will also show you a preview of

 The Gift!


 Below are glimpses of my art work and poetry which are not included in the FEATURING article.  



"Stacking Souls"


One Season to Another-Mixed Media Artwork



A Poem: Designs in Nature


Mixed Media Artwork


More of  The Gift  in a follow up post. In the interim, 
don't wait to check out 


Unending thank yous go to Marit Barentsen for accepting our submission for  FEATURING  into this very special inaugural edition and being the very best editor that I've ever known!! I am truly grateful.




Sunday, April 15, 2012

Photo Fun From Washington DC!

I recently had the opportunity to visit Washington DC and thought I'd post a few photos!
 Wonder if the white house has an open door policy?

 A poster seen from the outside of the Corcoran Gallery of Art!

 Not quite the  infamous cherry blossoms, but they certainly got a smile from me.   


Love the street signs!


Party time!  


A window view!

Just a moment for some horsing around!

Guess for once - I was right on the money!

 And see- you can never have too much copper!


Regardless of your political views on the Occupy Wall Street Movement- as you can see below,  at least person got it right! 


Enjoy your week!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

And the Winner is.......

And the lucky winner is Carol Cantrell  from Wamberal, NSW Australia.

Seth Apter's 31/31 has ended and as a spot light artist in his book, The Pulse of Mixed Media, Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed,  I was sponsoring a give away of  Elemental VII( seen below)  one of Seth's amazing art works. 

 The rules indicated that I would select a winner from all comment  received on my "Day  8" post here.

   Huge Congratulations Carol!!


 I had asked Seth to pick a number from 1-50, (the number of comments from my post- and he picked 28!)  The 28th comment was from Carol.  So, unbeknownst to him, Seth actually picked the winner of  his artwork!
Carol has two amazing blogs: 

Per her profile, Carol is a book binder trained in Sydney and Auckland, and is currently interested in drawing, print making, and all aspects of the artist's book. Her life long passions have always revolved around books, both making them and reading them in addition to natural history.  From 1980 until 2004, she worked in the Research  Library of the Australian Museum and was privileged to work in the Rare Book Collection. She is currently working  on  a series of hand made books, featuring re-drawings of marine animals depicted in 16th and 17th century natural history books.  Carol lives in Wamberal, on  the  beautiful NSW Central coast- in easy reach of 7 beaches and lagoons.   
Below, you can see a  couple of pictures from Carol's blog Barnacle Goose Paperworks.  Run over and take a look. She has gorgeous work!!  From her  recent blog post, Carol says," This frangipani was taken using Paper Camera, then put through Tiny Panets to give it a swirl. She later used  "Angry Pants" in Photo Toaster to finish it off.


 
                   
                        Another one of Carol's photos using different digital art applications on her iPhone!



                                            A beautiful photograph of Carol's below from  her  blog!


            I've been so inpired by Carol's photos that my next post will be a few photos of my own!
                                                                 So very special thanks Carol!

                What inspired you today? 
             Where does your inspiration come from?






Saturday, March 17, 2012

The Pulse of Mixed Media Continues---She Said- He Said And See What YOU Said!!

IT's TiME!!
In my last post- we turned the tables on Seth Apter and asked him two questions -much like he asked the participants in his The Pulse of Mixed Media book to answer:
 Now See what he said:

She SAID:  You've indicated that your meeting with Patricia Larsen was the cataclysmic event that started your life to become the artist an author that you are today. Looking back to that time, do you think  you'd have eneted the field of art if you hadn't seen her work and visited her gallery? If so, what other event or person do you think would have taken you into the world of art? And if your answer is no, do you think that there would have been another passion that you'd be engaged in now other than art?
   
 HE SAID:  It may seem like I am not answering your first question but truly I am. I think that my meeting with Patricia was meant to be. The right place at the perfect time. It almost feels as it were my destiny, so I cannot really even contemplate my entrance into the world of art as happening in any other way than the way it actually did. In fact, it is almost impossible to imagine art not being a part of me in this period of my life.

SHE SAID: Can you also tell us what triggered you to create your infamous The Altered Page blog?

HE SAID: My frame of reference for making art has been related to community since the very beginning.  In a sense, the mail art relationship that developed immediately with Patricia was social in nature. I belonged to several Yahoo art groups back in the early days where the art was always collaborative. And I was a blog reader long before I was a blogger myself. I believe that the creative energy that was and is always brewing in the blog world is a much needed part of me being an artist. It just seemed like the natural next step to start my own.
We're all wondering...

 And 
Here's what all of YOU have said to  this question- what inspired you to create your website or blog:

---I felt like a blog was a much more friendly way to post recent work (vs. a standard website) as it provided the invitation for readers to participate in the conversation. I've met so many wonderful people through this platform! 

---My blog started as a weightloss blog. After i lost the weight i wanted to show there was more to me than a number on the scale so i shared more of myself including my artwork.  

---The reason I started my blog was because I wanted to "play" in Seth's first Disco collaboration!! He has been an inspiration to me ever since. 

--- I've only recently joined this great party, & it's why I started my blog, to join the party & not stand outside,  finding friends & focus.  ;) 

--- why did I start my blog now 5+ years ago? my blog functions as a kind of studio - virtually mess-free- I live in a quiet natural environment and I wanted a way to be here, share my work and connect with a larger community...

----Started my blog back in January 2007, when some of the wonderful people I met at a Michael Demeng workshop in Italy were starting one. It was a great way to stay in touch.....be inspired and create new and lasting relationships with artists all over the world. 

--- I started my blog to keep my beginning weaving students informed and encouraged and to stay in touch with textile friends around the world - it has grown into so much more. I will be back. 

---As for the art of Blogging: my wonderful pal Michelle Ward gently tugged at my pant leg and "encouraged me" to start!...I was always sending her links and photos, so she offered to get me started as a birthday gift. I've found it a fabulous way to push out the Creative Energy into the World. Who knows if anyone's listening?...I'll just keep doing it.  

----I started my blog as a way of making me accountable to myself, as an artist... and taking myself seriously. I also see it as a way of keeping a record of my process and evolving style.
----As to what inspired my blog - I guess I was kind of lonely. I felt kind of let down after finishing my master's thesis. Even though I was with my a great art students, I was missing my own kind. I found them again online. And that inspired me to make my own community right where I was.

 ----I started blogging to get a 'web presence' for my art... but it has become so much more. Love the connection between artists worldwide and the chance to see their work and communicate with them. It's all good. 

----  I started my site about a year ago as a way to show what I create so I don't feel so much in a vacuum. I didn't know if anyone but me would read the blog or see what I create, but since I don't sell my creations yet, I felt the need to "put it out there". What I found was an amazingly supportive and encouraging community - I've learned SO much. 
     And...
To everyone who has been following Seth's fabulous Pulse of Mixed Media magical book extravaganza, who previously knew of me or just learned about me from the 31/31 tour or perhaps from your copy of the book- please know I am humbled and honored to be a part of this wonderful blogging and mixed media
 art community. 

Thursday, March 8, 2012

The Pulse of Mixed Media- Day 8 and a SUPER ARTWORK GIVE AWAY!

I'm thrilled and honored to be a part of Seth Apter's new book, The Pulse of Mixed Media, Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed.
(The Banner  above was created and affixed to my paintings  by the incredible artist- Michelle Ward.)
It's day 8 of the book's theatrical reveal -
To tell my story of its magical, magnetic, and dynamic  appeal.
 Containing heartfelt words, deep emotions and insightful thoughts-

With gorgeous original paintings and artwork so excitedly sought.
  It’s an artistic explosion- a collaboration of fun and finesse -
It's now time to celebrate
The Pulse of Mixed Media's grand success!!

   As a contributor, I was asked to create a self portrait  Here's a 
glimpse of my work titled "Essence of My Smile"!

Below is sneak peek of  "Creating Wonder from Within",   another mixed media artwork created for the book - filled with a tapestry of hidden and subtle secret meanings.    



It may be a surprise to some, but Seth and I go back a long way. In fact, I'm tremendously excited to announce that a special art and poetry collaborative project of ours titled  "The Gift" will be published this spring in the inaugural  edition of a new quarterly Art Magazine FEATURING,  founded by the amazing Marit Barentsen.

  In celebration of  The Pulse of Mixed Media
 And as part of the  kick off of the book-
 I'm  having  a  big GIVE AWAY!
One lucky winner will be able to say they are the very proud owner of 
 Elemental VII-a Seth Apter original work
 In Seth's own words,  "It is a  'one-of-a-kind'.. created on cold press watercolor paper, handmade in Montreal at the Papeterie Saint Armand."  Measuring 10" x 7 1/2", it's one of the largest pieces sold in his Etsy shop and can be seen below! This fabulous piece was originally highlighted and on exhibition at the Virtual TART site, an art website organized by artist Dale Copeland and based in New Zealand.
        All you need to do is leave a comment on this posting- and at the end of our 31/31  March book  party, I will choose one  lucky winner at random. Please make sure that I will be able to identify who you are so I can  make contact and send you this precious gift!

Seth: Now that I'm giving away one of your stunning pieces of artwork- I hope you will answer the following question for your readers:  You've indicated that your meeting with Patricia Larsen was  the cataclysmic event that started  your  life to become the artist and author that you are today. Looking back to that time, do you think you'd have entered the field of art if you hadn't seen her work and visited her gallery?  If so, what other event or person do you think would have  taken you into the world of art?  And, if  your answer is no, do you think that there would have been another passion that you'd  be engaged in now other than art.... Can you also please tell us what triggered you to create your infamous The Altered Page  blog? And for those reading this post, I would love to  hear     what inspired you to create your website or blog.
        
In conjunction with the book's release,  Seth has scheduled events across the country.  I am so excited to be part of the New York City book release  on March 31, 2012 from 10:00AM- 12:00 Noon  at the Ink Pad   along with other contributing artists including Michelle Ward, Leslie Marsh, Karen Cole, Roxanne Evans Stout and Julie Prichard!  We will be discussing our creative processes and contributions to the book, answer audience questions, show samples of our work, and sign copies of the book.  The event is free and open to the public but you must contact the Ink Pad in advance at (212) 463-9876 as seats are limited.
 With very special thanks and tremendous appreciation to everyone who has joined this amazing book tour! 
   

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Pasticcio Panoply Issue 1

I'm thrilled to showcase Sarah Fishburn and Angela Cartwright's newest Art Zine called Pasticcio Panoply - Issue 1.  It's a beautiful compilation of artwork from previously published artists' work.  There are 44 awesome pages of art in one beautiful issue. 
It's a "must have" of gorgeous works!


I'm so excited that a piece from my latest collage series titled
"ENERGIES"
 is included in this issue.





Here's wishing that you have a wonderful 
Valentine's Day!
 I always think of it as a day of love- whether it's for a special person. artwork,  music, a hobby, your occupation, or even the magic of nature that surrounds us.

May 
HeARTs
 Surround you the whole day through!




Saturday, January 28, 2012

The Collages Keep Coming!

ThE SeRiEs ContiNUes






A collage is a way of organizing often disparate items into one harmonious artwork.
It's interesting to think about 
 ways we can do the same thing 
with all of the varying components of our lives!


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

6"x6" Collage Series Continues!

Here's the next piece in my 6"x6" collage series.
Perhaps love is in the air!


Wishing everyone the happiest of new years.
 May it be a very special one in which we realize our dreams 
And reach for the stars to create new ones!