If you like to experiment and build a painting layer by layer, changing your mind, adjusting, looking for satisfying composition and colors, mixed media and collage is for you.
You have limitless media you can use, this is what I had around:
papers (some are painted on, some are printed with a geli plate, I also have pieces of magazines, cards, etc…
felt tips pens, markers, watercolor pencils…
I used marker paper but you can use what you have, Bristol, Yupo, watercolor paper….
Gel medium to glue paper
Acrylic paints and Inks
Stamps and an inkpad or ink and a sponge
Brushes
Here are a few ideas you can use to build a mixed media small painting.
I find it easier if I start with a collage
To avoid the blank page indecision, collaging a few pieces of paper is a good way to get started.
start by collaging a few pieces of paper
Use gel medium as a glue. It is a good idea to alternate straight edges cut with scissors and textured soft edges that you get when you rip the paper.
You can also paint some areas directly on the paper
alternate collages and painted areas
Here I am painting with acrylic directly on the paper. I also painted over one of the collaged paper.
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Keep collaging elements to figure out a composition
keep adding collage elements
You can move shapes around to try different compositions, you can try different papers with different colors and textures.
Have fun adding patterns and designs
You can add patterns to some of the collaged elementsor draw directly on your original paper, here on top of an acrylic wash.You can also stamp patterns like the dots on the left here
You can layer washes and add texture to your washes
Layer washes to modify colors or to tie different areas together with colorHere I am lifting up some of the freshly painted wash to add texture and make it more transparent.Painting the same wash over a few areas with create color harmony in the paintingYou can also paint white over an area if you need to tone down the painting, add more contrast and definition or lighten it. The layers underneath will still show through and add complexity to the painting.
Experiment with different media
I like to use felt tips pens to color over areas.
Here I am using a marker to go over the stamped design that lost its visibility underneath the layers of paint.
Keep adjusting and experimenting until you are satisfied with the result.
Originally from France, I have been living in North Vancouver, Canada for the past 20 years.
My work has been collected and exhibited extensively in Canada and internationally. I am also part of the Art Rentals and sales program of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Many of my paintings have been published in Art books and magazines (Artist Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, Acrylic Magazine, International Artist Magazine). I wrote 2 art instruction books with North Light/F+W Books.
I have been writing for the last 5 years for my blog: paintingdemos.com, that has a mailing list of about 10 000 subscribers and about 20 000 visitors per month.
I am an active member in the community, as a co-founder of the North Shore Art crawl, a co-founder of a weekly life drawing group, a board member of the North Vancouver Arts Council, and have been invited as a juror for public art, art grants and juried exhibitions. You can read more about my collaborations here.
