How to Paint in Mixed Media

Mixing media in a painting can add extra interest to the artwork and can add zest to your normal painting routine. The trick to making mixed media work is how you layer the media and what media you use. These tips will show you how to mix several different mediums without compromising the medium’s integrity.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Canvas
• Several different types of painting mediums
• Brushes

1. Lay down your mediums in layers.

2. Add the quickest drying layer first. So, for example, if you were using acrylic and oils, always put the acrylics on the canvas first.

3. Let the first layer dry before adding the second layer.

4. Add the wet before the dry. For example, if you are working with watercolor paints and soft pastel, you would lay down the watercolor first. You would have to let this layer dry before you add the pastel, unless you wanted the pastel to mix with the watercolor. This depends on what kind of look you are going for.

5. Use mediums that are compatible for a "no-brainer" approach. Use water mediums (watercolor, acrylic, tempera, markers) with water mediums, oil mediums(oil pastels, oil paints)with oil mediums and dry mediums (graphite, soft pastel, charcoal, colored pencils)with dry mediums. This way you don't have to worry about which layer comes first.

Resources

• Mixed Media Encaustic Painting
• Oil Painting Tips and Terms
• How to Use Soft Pastel

[antiherofenix]

on 5/1/2009 mixed media is awesome.

[momaloy]

on 12/5/2008 I think any kid of mixed media art is so interesting. I love it when an artist can switch it up and make it new.