Mixed media are a lot of fun!

If, like me you like mixing drawing and painting media, you might want to experiment with the idea of mixing graphite, India Ink and Acrylic paint on canvas.

Here is how you can paint a forest painting with India Ink, Graphite and Acrylic:

 It is always a good idea to make a few thumbnail sketches for composition and tonal values before starting to work on your painting. Once this is done you can start transferring your design to the canvas. Here I used graphite to do so, because I am going to draw some parts on the painting with graphite later.

Making your way on the painting one section at a time you can start to paint the darkest areas with India Ink and draw over lighter ones with graphite. In this case I am drawing the leaves and painting the trunks and branches.

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.

Speedball Super Black Waterproof India Ink “Super black” means its blackness will be very permanent and fadeless. Contains 100% carbon black pigment. Also free-flowing, non-clogging, and waterproof.

You can use different types of graphites depending on how dark you want your drawing to be, The higher the B number, the softer and darker the lead. Here I have been using an HB graphite for the light areas and an 8B for the dark areas.

India Ink and Graphite need to be fixed on the canvas so they won’t smudge. You can use a workable fixative, or you can also paint a layer of medium on top of the ink and graphite. If you do that, you have to be careful to apply it fast and never go back to an area you already painted, you would smudge the ink or graphite.

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.

Liquitex Acrylic Mediums Gel mediums are ideal for extending a heavy body paint, to create impasto, relief, or sculptural effects. – Gel Medium, Gloss

It is also easier if you paint over all the ink first, let it dry and then paint over the graphite areas. That way you won’t drag any ink into the lighter areas.

I am working on the painting one section at a time

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When you are done fixing all the ink and graphite, you will probably need to clean up a few areas with white acrylic. Let the painting dry overnight.

You can also mix some of the acrylic with water to use for splattering and adding drips on the painting.

Adding splatters to a painting is fun and will make it look a bit more textured.

Once everything had time to dry, you can decide if you want to make a few adjustments, here I want to brush off a bit of the white acrylic in some areas and also soften a few edges.

To soften a few edges, you ca use a stiff brush and a bit of water.

You can keep on making adjustments until you are satisfied with the result. Here I am adding more white splatters.

Specks of Light
Mixed media on canvas
(India ink, graphite, acrylic)
48 x 48 inches

 Original is sold, prints available on Fine Art America.

Here is a time lapse video: