Using mixed media
in a painting requires a certain technical knowledge.
Using mixed media means to combine different types of media in one complete
artwork. Because of the different physical and chemical compositions of the
various media, great care must be taken so that the final work is structurally
stable. Although modern art no longer places great emphasis on permanence, no
one wants to spend time on a work of art, only to have it disintegrate the next
day
One has to be careful when introducing mixed media into a painting. First of
all, the introduction and choice of media depends on the original painting
medium in which you are working. If your choice of paint is acrylic, then you
will have fewer problems than, for example, working in oil paints. This article
will concentrate on mixed media and acrylic paints.
Mixed media in acrylics:
Acrylic is a synthetic paint that dries rapidly to form a resilient plastic
layer. Acrylic is also an extremely good adhesive. These two aspects, the quick
drying time and its natural adhesion, make it a prime candidate for mixed media.
Think of acrylics as a layer of coloured plastic, each adhering tenaciously to
the layer below. If you place a piece of paper into wet acrylic, this paper will
quickly become imbedded into the layer of paint. These paints are also
transparent and can be used as glazes or semi-transparent layers over imbedded
material like cloth and paper.
Acrylics can be easily mixed with watercolours, as both are water based paints.
Acrylics can also use all watercolour techniques. On the other hand, they also
have the ability to be used thickly or impasto, like oil paints. Acrylics cannot
be mixed with oil paints. Oil and water will not mix. However, one of the
central ways in which oil and acrylics are used together is by applying oil
paints over a dry acrylic painting. As long as the acrylic is completely dry
there will be no negative reaction with the layer of oil paint.
The surface or ground:
The surface that you will construct or create for your mixed media painting can
vary from flimsy paper to hardboard, wood and steel. This all depends on which
media you decide to “ mix”. The media you use can vary form other types of paint
and drawing material, to light or heavy papers and even to heavy sculptural
pieces that are included in the artwork. The rule is simply that the heavier the
envisaged painting, the heavier and sturdier your support should be.
What materials or media can one mix with acrylic paints?
The central idea behind mixed media is not only to combine different types of
painting elements, but also to introduce as wide a range of other media as
possible so as to extend the imaginative range of the work of art.
Pastels and charcoal are the most popular media to include with acrylic paints.
For example, you can begin a painting with pastel or charcoal and develop the
painting further with acrylic paints. In fact, with this combination one can add
both the pastel and acrylic at different times or simultaneously. Here is an
example that you might like to try.
Begin a painting by drawing on paper in charcoal. Take a simple object for your
model e.g. a flower or a leaf. Once you have sketched this, begin with washes of
acrylic over the drawing. Make sure that your acrylic washes are very diluted so
that the drawing shows through the paint. Start developing your painting in
acrylic. Once the rough painting of the flower or leaf has been established,
take out your charcoal pencil or stick and work into the wet paint. This creates
another effect and you can emphasise lines and edges at this stage. Continue to
develop the painting in this way until you have become used to the combinations
and effects of the combined media.
Adding different media:
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