The continuation of my long winded- yet hopefully informational article. Part one can be found here.
The second set of five things you need to know are in regards to supplies. We all get caught up in the blog world of how-to’s and, consequently, begin to wonder if we can even do art if we don’t have Golden’s Gel Medium, or PrismaColor colored pencils, or acid-free and ph balanced paper, or archival glue. And the truth of the matter is, Yes, we can!
Your art does not have to be archival. Your art does not have to be created with the finest, aka most expensive, materials. And most importantly, your art doesn’t need the best to be the best. If you love craft acrylics because they have a more matte finish than Liquitex or Golden, then use them. If you love newsprint paper, because it yellows over time, then use it. If you want to use mog podge because it’s cheaper than PVA, use it.
There is a brilliant graffiti artist by the name of Swoon, traveling across the globe tagging the world with her beautiful work. She carves sheets of cheap plywood into graphic, bold lines, then makes impressions onto newsprint. Using wheat paste, she attaches the larger than life prints to buildings, subway cars, and fences. She use newsprint and wheat paste because of their inability to stand up to the elements and time. Her choice in materials help unify her message about the state of the world and life. My point is that materials are important, but only for specific times, places, and pieces that you decide.
Now, onto the list! The easiest form of mixed media work is a collage. So here is a break down of the basic five things you need to start your first mixed media piece. Remember, you do not need the expensive brand to make art. You only need the desire to create.
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Good heavy substrate.
The substrate is what you will glue items onto, and it should be fairly thick to hold up under all things you will attach to it. Chipboard, mat board, foam core, cereal boxes, pizza boxes, cardboard, several sheets of paper glued together, felt, canvas, Masonite, basawood- pretty much anything can be used. including, chairs, tables, doors, cars, plates, bowls, lamp shades…
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Various paper and images and small doodads and fabric and ribbon and lace and receipts and…
Magazine cut-outs, calendar cut outs, pages from books, newspapers, buttons, caulk (yes, caulk!), modeling paste, Elmer’s glue (you can write with it!), spoons, foam shapes, cotton balls, dried flowers, leather, wire, beads, jewelry, corn husks, place mats… Again the list goes on and on and on. Anything that you can glue, or attach (via sewing, brads, grommets, etc.) to the substrate.
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A good adhesive.
This one is a little tricky. By good adhesive I mean a glue that will not come undone if you decide to dip your piece in a dye vat or do heavy water color over top. The glue does not have to be permanent, but it’s helpful. PVA, wheatpase, Elmer’s, Gorilla, Aileen’s Tacky Glue, Scotch, Uhu glue sticks, rubber cement, Titebond, Acrylic Medium, Gel Medium, Liquid Nails, Diamond Glaze, Krylon Spray Adhesive, Glue dots, etc. There are many different types to choose from and the best way to find the right glue for you (and the climate you live in), is to try some. I like Uhu, medium, Elmer’s Liquid nails (for heavier, bulkier pieces) and Mod Podge.
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Paint and crayons and pastels and markers and pencils and dyes and…
Watercolor, gauche, glitter, glue and caulk(you can write and make textures with both), shoe polish, food coloring, fabric dye, India ink, encaustic wax or bee’s wax, oil paint, sand, spray paint, bleach (to remove color from paper)… Again the list goes on and on and on. These are things you could use to make your own personal mark on the collage, or to make the various bits you’re glued on flow together better.
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No Fear.
Crucial to starting any piece, is the ability to overcome the fear of a blank sheet of paper. Or the fear of messing up. Or the fear of not being good enough. Or the fear of using up materials. Overcoming these, and other fears, will be difficult- I’m not gonna lie. BUT you just have to remember that your art has a purpose, it has meaning, and the only way to beat these fears is to start working and work as often as you can. Even if you have to be tricky and make art for other people or create projects for around the house (wouldn’t the stools in the kitchen look cooler if they were purple, silver and black?). Or, perhaps better, is start by making positive affirmation posters or signs for your art space. Make reminders for yourself that your time is worth it, art is therapy, and creating is the best kind of escapism. Find quotes online and start making signs!
I hope you enjoyed and took something away from this article. Creating art, especially mixed media art, is a great process to relieve stress, get through hard times, or just to make something pretty. Art can be anything and everything you want it to be. You just have to allow yourself to create and then follow up with positive reinforcement. Even if the creation is small, it’s still a step in the right direction!
To read more about Swoon, visit the Wiki page or an interview here.
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