What is Mixed Media Art?
Mixed media art is a term used to describe the bringing together of a multitude ("mix") of different elements ("media") in a variety of different ways. So many different art and craft techniques and forms are covered by this overarching title. Collage, scrapbooking, altered books, artist trading cards (ATCs), handmade greeting cards, sculpture and painting on canvas are just an example of the different forms that Mixed Media Art covers.
And then there's the range on media: Firstly the ones that come straight to mind; paints, papers, cardboards, pencils, images, glues, crayons and glitter, to name a few. Then there are the more obscure media, like washers and other hardware items, buttons, fibres, bees wax, pages from an old book and the list goes on. When you begin to look around you with your "mixed media glasses" everything becomes a potential target for adding into your mixed media art.
Materials to get you started
You don't need to spend a lot of money to begin your first mixed media project. By using items around you, you free yourself up from worrying about wasting money by using your "good" stuff. Cheap and free materials allow you to concentrate on creating.
Firstly you will need a substrate; something to paint or draw or stick things onto. An old notebook or card board from a cereal box will get you started. Then we want to decorate it, give it a few layers, tell a story (even if no one else knows what it is). Adding some paints or gluing down background papers will begin to fill the empty space. You could even do both - either paint first, then add the papers, or glue the papers down and lightly paint over them. There are no "right ways" to tackle a mixed media piece.
Next add a focal point - often images of people easily bring a sense of the project to the observer. Stick this down then add some embellishments. Today there are a huge range of commercially available embellishments around, but we are beginning with a simple affair, so find some old buttons, some shiny sequins, a glitter pen, some lace, anything that "speaks" to you. Add these to your project. Don't get too caught up about where is the best place to put them, just find a place that appeals to you. After all, that is who we are really creating for - OURSELVES.
What next?
Get started! And check out the wonderful array of websites and blogs where others are showing off their mixed media pieces. But try not to get too overwhelmed - everyone had to start somewhere. Mixed Media Art is a great place to start.
Happy creating!
