Mixed Media Art Techniques

Mixed media is a form of art where more than one medium is required to come up with the final product. A typical mixed media piece is a combination of paint, ink and a surface (board) and a variety of oil colours.

Producing a sellable product is not as easy as it may sound. Mixed media art requires great deal of concentration, focus and above all dedication. Mixed media artists can either sell their creation online or keep them on an art journal. However, it is always tough to come up with new ideas in this challenging profession.

Keeping yourself updated with all kinds of tools can be the key to success. Watching online tutorials can also provide your mental toolbox with enough supply to make an impression. Visiting useful online links is a way to open the doors to new ideas on mixed media arts.

The most encouraging or discouraging fact about MMA is that you are never sure what kind of results you will end up with. An artist will never try to duplicate his work with the same technique, tools and apparatus as no two mixed media art pieces can ever be the same. Even if we follow the exact same instructions and materials, the two products will have something unique about them.

This is what makes mixed media art an extra ordinary and top rated business. The best way to learn this exciting skill is to simply keep playing with the paint, oil, soap and the brush. The artist should try to bring out his inner child to be as creative as possible.

Very similar to a snowflake crystal or a soap bubble, a crafted piece of mixed media art can be joy to look at. It takes some time to perfect this art and the learners are advised to practice planning and patience to achieve best results.

Things to Know about Mixed Media Layering

Mixed Media is a work of visual art. It refers to the work in which more than one medium has employed. When creating a painting using mixed media, it is important that you choose the layers carefully. Make sure that you allow enough drying time between the layers so that the final work will be nice and vibrant. With the help of Mixed Media layers, we can make many effects.

If you are a beginner and interested in mixed media layering you just need to think of what you are going to make. Then using different colors and textures, start creating layers and there is no limit to layers so you can make few layers or a lot of layers. Meanwhile you can also use different items like tissue paper, foil, rice, paints and anything which may create an attractive texture.

If you are confused how to start then you may start with gesso and paints. These two are good materials to use. Gesso layer can also be used to add some texture, creating marks, words, scratching.

If you want to have a good start then choose any two or three colors which goes well together like using black and white. From these humble beginnings great arty things can happen. Next you may use old papers. By cutting them into different shapes and using these for layering seems quite creative. For sticking the cut-out papers you may use glue.

Once your painting and layering stage is completed then you must give a finishing touch. You may search for old items that are not in use like bottle caps, beads which could be used for finishing touch. Once you have finished your wok, leave it for drying.

Enjoy creating artworks!

Seamless Transitions in Mixed Media Art

There are many elements that go into creating wonderful artwork, whether it’s the mixed media art or “normal” painting. These skills can be learnt and one of the techniques is understanding how elements are put together and transition from one to another.

This article over at Mixed Media Art narrows this technique downing other main components to include layering, blending the backgrounds and the arrangement of the final elements and embellishments.

If you would like to read more about creating seamless transitions in your mixed media art, collage or painting come and read at Mixed Media Art. While you are there, you can join our mailing list to get the last news and be the first to hear about our new (free!) ephemera printables – fantastic for adding layering into your mixed media collages.

Happy creating!

Representing Liturgical Season through Mixed Media Art

“Art is cool” This phrase is really true especially if are really creative and can make outstanding and wonderful artworks. You can make beautiful artworks which can inspire others like making representation of seasons like the liturgical year in your own way. You can choose to represent Christmas season, The Epiphany, The Lenten Season, Easter Season, Pentecost or the Season after Pentecost. You just need to base your design on the season you are representing.

Mixed media art really gives us the freedom to express ourselves and discover things. Creating mixed media art will help us understand and boost our capabilities in creating different kind of artworks.

Gesso in Mixed Media Art

If you are just starting out in mixed media art, one of the products that you MUST buy is gesso. We do our very best here, at MixedMediaArt.net, to buy as little as possible and try to create our art with what we already have around us but gesso is the ONE thing I definitely recommend worth investing in.

Gesso is a chalk based paint with many uses. It is used by artists to create a good foundation for painting on. But over the years, mixed media artists have found many other uses and we love to showcase the many uses our talented artists have discovered.

To read more about using gesso in mixed media art, come and read about Creating Layers with Gesso

Creating Layers in Mixed Media Art with Gesso

If in doubt as where to start with any  mixed media collage, painting or canvas; start with a layer of gesso.

Over at Mixed Media Art we will look at  a some of the mixed media art techniques you can use to create layers in your artwork.

The best place to start is to use Gesso to create a textured and visually interesting background.

Welcome to Mixed Media Art

Creating Mixed Media Art is my passion and I’m here to share that passion with you. You don’t need any formal training or be especially artistic to be part of this crafting / art phenomenon.  The brilliant thing about mixed media art is that you can do it with your current level of crafting and using things that you already have around you.

An elegent wall hanging

What is Mixed Media Art?

Mixed media art refers to a broad range of  art styles and techniques, including collage, 3D  pieces, altered books, scrapbooking and many, many other things. The term “mixed media” applied to the different things you have used in your art work. This includes paint, papers and cardboard, pens, found objects and images. Almost anything you have around the house can be used in a mixed media piece. Once you begin to think in terms of “mixed media”, you will begin to find all sorts of things that can be stuck on to add interest, create layers and help you to tell your story.

Where do I start?

There is a huge online community that is always happy and willing to share techniques and knowledge. So have a hunt around and see what you can find. The “Links” section will begin to point you in the right direction. But rest assured that you can begin on your first mixed media project with just some knowledge of the basics. Learning along the way is all art of the fun!

Still not sure where to start?

Grab some cardboard, even if it’s from a cereal packet, and add some paint. Next stick a few layers to it; some interesting background text is always nice. You could even make your own credit card painting backgrounds. Then add a nice image, a few fancy embellishments and there you have it! Your very first mixed media art piece. Don’t be scared – just give it a try!