Basic Mixed Media Art Techniques

Many of the basic mixed media art techniques are also used in other crafting; paper-crafts like scrapbooking, card making, and rubber stamping, collage and abstract painting. It's the way these techniques are brought together that makes a mixed media piece truly mixed media. We love to add images and photos to tell a story through our piece. Sometimes we have a great collection of old photos we are happy to use or copy. If you only have newish images that need a bit of aging, we can add colour and interest to the image by using an antiquing process. While there are a few commercial solutions you can buy, home made alternatives like a tea stain or soaking in cold black coffee can also give similar results. You can try different papers and solution strengths to give different amount of antiquing. After soaking, leave the papers flat to dry. If they are too warped you can sit them under a heavy book for a few days - this is often enough to get them flat again.

As we build up our piece with these antiques images we may also need to add some edging and sponging around the edges. This takes away any white edges that stand out, especially when placed into a darker background. Sepia, black or dark blue inks usually work best. There are a few different ways you can edge your image; directly rubbing the inked around the edges of the paper, using a sponge or using a stippling brush. Each gives a slightly different effect. Also sponging around the edges on top of the images also helps to draw our eye into the picture by darkening the background and making the focal point of the image stand out. While these edging and sponging techniques are simple, they add a finishing touch to your work.

An exciting mixed media art technique is creating your own backgrounds by adding layers of paint and ephemera is to build up a rich, interesting foundation for your mixed media piece. There are a few different mixed media painting techniques that are easy to learn and fun to do.

The simplest is adding blends and washes of two coloured paints. For the beginners, these two colours are ones we know and trust will go together; light and dark green, dark and light blue. These paints can be cheap, student acrylics or whatever you already have. Think about using more of the darker colour across the bottom and around the corners. Use the lighter colour towards the top and in the centre, where your focal point will be. Start by adding the darker colour with one paintbrush and add an amount of the light colour - just do what you want without too much thought; over-thinking this part of the process takes the fun out of it! Use a clean brush with a little water to blend the two paints where they meet. Use some kitchen paper towel to remove some of the paint. As you continue you will begin to learn how your two paints blends and what the water does. Blend until you are happy then leave it to dry. Then add more layers of colour in similar areas to the first layer. Each layer can be blended in a slightly different part of the background to improve the fading and transition of the colours.

With these simple mixed media art techniques, you have the ability to get started on your own mixed media canvas, so get your art supplies together and get started.

Happy creating!