Art lovers always wanted to try distinct forms, but sometimes they are not sure what to do and where to start? Then, for them, there is one unique option, Mixed Media Art. Before talking about anything, let’s know what exactly Mixed Media Art is. Mixed Media Art is an artwork in which over one medium or material has been employed. It involves mixing different creative mediums to create one piece of art that incorporates two or more art forms. For example, you can make a painting, and add sculpture to it or you can draw on the top of photography prints.
In simple words, Mixed Media is all about breaking the boundaries between different art forms. Very common examples of using different media are Assemblages and Collages, which use different materials such as cloth, paper, wood, and other found objects. It is distinguished from multimedia art, which combines visual art with non-visual elements, such as recorded sound, literature, drama, dance, motion graphics, music, or interactivity.
Looking at the history of Mixed Media Art, ‘Still Life with Chair Caning’ a collage by Pablo Picasso in 1912 was considered as the first modern Mixed Media Art. It was made by using paper, cloth, paint, and rope, which was causing a pseudo-3D effect. In the early 20th century, Cubism and Dadaism were going on, so those movements influenced Mixed Media Art and grew in popularity.
But How Can We Start Mixed Media Art?
Well, artists need to look at everything as a potential canvas. If you’re a traditional artist and work with oil-based paints so you could try painting on the woodblock, or a piece of furniture, or any other found object like a book or an antique toy. If you want to work with embroidery, make-up, or water-based paints, you can add some more delicate items in that, for instance, tea leaves, flower petals, etc. And if you’re a digital artist, then you can print out your creations on different materials and paint over them or paste them onto a form to create a mixed media sculpture. Once you do mixed media art, try all the different mixtures of mediums you already know.
Don’t be afraid to explore new techniques...
Painting is the most popular art form and by using the Mixed Media technique, one can create beautiful effects even with minimal experience. One way is to mix watercolours with some pastels or acrylic paints and try to layer paper and wood into your artwork. Also, you can give mixed media stencils a try! For Mixed Media Collage and Paperwork, try to use a variety of techniques to create the different textures within the paper. You can also add three-dimensional depths to your painting or sculpture!
If you are into sculpture, then try to make sculptures from a Lego Mini-figure to a backpack. For carving, try to learn how to carve different materials, such as pumpkins, books, or ice. Well, Multi-Media Art is not just about those things but you can also add that in your personal life by reflecting your journey with a mixed media art journal or creating personalised gifts for your loved ones and even to your clothes by embroidering, tie-dying, or stenciling!
When you create your first Mixed Media Creation, always keep one thing in mind: you don’t have to limit yourself. You need to remember this, ‘Be very playful–and get messy!’ then only you will get the best piece of art and enjoy the entire process. By doing so, your goal should be to learn how the mediums can interact with each other, so don’t be afraid to experiment. As Ernest Hemingway said, “Write drunk and edit sober.” The same goes for making Mixed media art!