Mixing media is fun but it is sometimes difficult to know where to start, especially if you don’t have a reference picture. Here is a technique you can use to mix watercolors, ink, acrylic  ink and oil markers on canvas.

To paint flowers from imagination with acrylic inks on canvas you will need

• Canvas, I used 12 x 12 inches pre-stretched canvas
• Krylon workable fixative
• Acrylic paint, I used Pebeo in titanium white and Payne’s grey
• Prismacolor Art stick in black
• Sharpie White Oil marker
• Krylon workable fixative
• Watercolor paint, I used Yarka watercolors.
• Rubbing alcohol
• Fluid Acrylic or acrylic ink, I used Liquitex Ink in yellow, orange and red
• Speedball ink in Teal Green
• Copic white Ink
• An Ink Pen

You might also like: How to add visual texture to watercolor and acrylic washes.

In Barcelona,

Here are the steps you can take to paint with acrylic ink on canvas

Start by painting an abstract background with acrylic ink and alcohol

I used a mix of fluid acrylics and ink, but as you can see Speedball Ink is basically the same as fluid acrylic.

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Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Water-Resistant Artists Ink FW Artists Ink is an acrylic-based, pigmented, water-resistant ink in a range of 38 colors, all of which have either a three-star or four-star rating for permanence. FW Artists Inks work well with airbrushes, dip pens, technical pens and brushes. – Primary Colors Set

Add a few drops of the colors you want on your canvas and spread them loosely with a brush without mixing them too much.

You can drip alcohol on the wet fluid acrylic to add more texture.

Let the paint dry completely before going to the next steps.

Finding shapes in the abstract background

Start looking for shapes and outline them either with a Prismacolor Art stix or with a graphite pencil.

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Prismacolor Art Stix Prismacolor Art Stix are artist-quality woodless colored pencils for every level of expertise. Especially suited for color coverage of large areas, Art Stix offer a bold, smooth laydown of color.

Paint the negative space with white Acrylic paint

Then paint all the negative space with white Acrylic or another color of your choice.

Your painting will look something like this.

Add contrast and patterns with pen and ink and sharpies oil marker

You can add more color to selected elements here I am painting over the vase with yellow fluid Acrylic. You can do it also with watercolors, with the possibility of wiping them off if you don’t like the result.

Then start adding designs with pen and ink. You can look at Zentangle patterns for inspiration.

Add touches of color in some places, here I painted red fluid acrylic in the center of the flowers.

You can dilute your ink or acrylic in a bit o water so they are more translucent and so you can still see a bit of the texture underneath. Here I am painting with a bit of the diluted Teal Ink.

Keep adding layers of designs, here stripes with pen and ink

Add details to the elements in your painting.

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Speedball Calligraphy Inks Speedballs’ rich vivid colors are formulated from the best pigments on earth. This excellent, high quality ink can be used for a variety of techniques. All colors are intermixable and waterproof once dry. Colors are lightfast and acid free.

Painting leaves with watercolor, watercolor on top of acrylic is neat because if you don’t like the result you can wash it off.

You can draw elements with pen and ink on top of the white background.

And add designs with white oil Sharpie on top of darker backgrounds.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers, White, Medium Point Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers are great for touching up wood and metal, personalizing belongings, or adding pizzazz to school projects. Decorate and add accents to a variety of items, even non-porous materials such as glassware and terracotta.

Once the ink has dried, you can paint a wash on top of the drawing.

And create some highlights by lifting off the paint with a tissue paper

If your marker is water resistant, or if you are using water resistant ink, it won’t bleed when painted over.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Krylon Workable Matte Fixatif Gives lasting protection to pencil, charcoal and chalk, yet erases easily. Clear, matte fixative is easy to work with. Dries in seconds, doesn’t wrinkle, smudge or smear. Spray can.

Keep adding designs and layers until you are satisfied with the result.

Finishing

When everything had time to dry, paint the sides with white acrylic and apply a layer of varnish.

In Barcelona

Have you tried painting with mixed media? what was the most challenging for you?