How to create mixed media art... Create and have fun!

Here is a fun little project you can do with a friend or make your own unique expression. Mixed media is when you use 2 or more media of creating art together in one piece.

Preparation Step: (Grabbing the materials/ media)

Here are many suggestions and ideas to get started. We can create a mixed art media piece, with paints, tissue paper (there are different colors to choose from), color pencils, markers,glitter, paper cut outs, copies of photos, beads (using glue, most likely the last part you would add), and even possibly pastels..., I have not tried that one yet. Not only is it fun to mix it up, it challenges you to think of how to put it together, there are methods of applying paints using sponges, the palette knife, in college they had us grab things like even sticks. There is literally a ton of ways to make it yours. You can also use stencils if you are not the artistic painter that you want to be yet. Plus those can overlap to create an interesting design aesthetic. Also this could be where you create a collage and add personal touches, maybe make it more 3-D, with layers that pop off the canvas a bit. It doesn't have to though, you can make a, totally 2-D awesome mixed media canvas to be proud to show off.

So this is just a few things to get you thinking what you might want to use, there may be something that was not mentioned, it is totally open. Also hope this inspires you to try and experiment a little with what you create, that is what this project is about, including having a blast doing it!

Step 1:

Now that we discussed all that good stuff, what I suggest you start with is an idea, who is this for? Is this for you? A friend, or family member? Think on how you can pull in their favorite things, and colors, something that captures their persona or yours. What inspires this art piece? You can create a file with images, use photos you have, or if you love art find an artist work that inspires you. Then think on the theme, colors, period of time, type of images, are there going to be text?

Step 2:

I know that first step takes some work but it is worth it. Once you have the images you would like to create, or thoughts on what you would want, you can get started with your first material of choice, if you are doing paints, I would test a spot with the other material/ media mixed with it to see which one works better first on top of the other. Any physical media, will be last unless you are painting over it, or something else interesting.

Step 3:

You made your most excellent creation, don't be hard on yourself, I am sure it turned out just fine. If you put it on a small canvas, it could go in a shadowbox to give it the finale, unless of course you do not want to see it out in the open, that is fine too. Or you can give it to someone... Or you can add a custom frame to it, if it was just a color pencil mixed media/ watercolor, or marker, it can go into a frame to hang up, or in a art journal.

I will post some pictures soon of some of my own mixed media. Would love to post some of your creations if you would want to share them!

Kerensa D.