How many of you are intimidated by mix media? How many of you feel completely overwhelmed by all the mix media products available? How many of you are on a limited budget and can’t get all the available goodies at once? If you want answers to these questions and more read on. We will take a look at each question and try to attempt to find solutions to them. I know that I need a bit of help myself. I have a lot to learn about mix media and perhaps we can learn together.

When I first started seeing artists showing what mix media was and what it was about I was hooked. It wasn’t necessarily the art itself but the color combinations that vibrant glow or the mesh of awesomeness of color. After the color, came the shapes. It wasn’t long before I wanted to do what all the other mix media artist were doing.

In doing means buying, gathering, making and storing all the supplies needed to start the adventure. Some items are easier than others to obtain. For example: old book pages.. (book enthusiast here has no trouble obtaining old book pages or music pages)

Tip: to help keep an endless supply of old book pages or sheet music photocopy it or have someone or a professional business print it for you. (File: file the master for later)

Foundation: foundation can be either a sheet of cardboard or a canvas. In some cases card stock ( more on this later). I have seen people use books as a foundation. Cardboard can be a cereal box, cracker box, to really thick cardboard. I would like to say that for a beginner mix media artist cardboard is less intimidating and easily discarded if the end result doesn’t appeal to ones taste. However don’t be to quick to throw out a piece if it’s not exactly ideal at the moment. (Explanation later.) Cardboard provides the ideal surface to which to practice with different mediums.

Canvas are suited for a person who’s feeling a tad more comfortable with the new skills learned. Small canvas is usually the beginner choice. Advancement comes to those who have practice the art enough that larger canvas are their preference.

Mediums: I won’t go into great detail of all the types of mediums as it’s almost infinity. However, I will talk a bit about the ones I have used so thus far. I’m a huge fan of Gesso. I’m so hooked on gesso that I look for things just to paint with it. From what I understand is that gesso helps put a barrier between your surface of choice and the mediums you wish to use. This gesso is what prevents your mediums from saturating your surface. Without it you lose a lot of your medium to be absorbed into a project. The purpose is to prevent all of the medium to soak into the surface. You maybe thinking what on earth is this person talking about ( mediums).

I’m glad you are here asking that very question. But before we dive into mediums I want to point out a key factor. If you do buy Gesso I do recommend buying a small container to start out. For this reason, you may find your not a mix media kind of person. On the other hand if you find that you are then it’s recommended to buy the largest container you can afford. This is a main staple and it gets used up pretty quickly. Now let’s talk about mediums.

Mediums can be things like modeling paste, texture paste, crayons, color pencils, color sprays and so on. The possibilities are endless. The cost is also a factor. I recommend buying a container of modeling paste.

Next is tools: tools are things like scrapers, spatulas, heat tool, stencils, paint brushes and so on. Some tools can be just everyday kitchen tools. Example: a butter knife or a spatula

Tip: make sure the kitchen items you pick are never going to be reused to eat off of ever again. When your experience increases so will your tool box. So make sure that when you upgrade your tools that you eliminate the ones you no longer use.

Practice: I practice as often as I can. This helps to keep the intimidation at bay. Practice also insures that techniques improve over time. Practice also insures that the products are being used and helps in the learning process of knowing what one likes and don’t like. For example: I have this particular modeling paste that seems too thin. It’s nearly runny and I definitely don’t like it. I expected something a little thicker and holds it shape when the stencil is lifted.

The best things in life are sometimes found in our own homes. Let me explain what I mean: How many of u brew your own coffee or tea? What happens to the grounds or tea bag or even the left over tea or coffee.. Did you know that these are perfect components to a mix media project. Example: tea or coffee grounds can be mixed in the modeling paste to give it texture. The tea bag and tag can be used as a foundational shape.

Who loves blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries? These types of foods can make natural coloring dye.

Those plastic ties off of bread containers make another foundational shape..

Tip: to get heavier items to adhere to your base you will need to purchase a container of gel medium. Gel medium acts like a glue. Note: ordinary glue might work for light weight items but light weight to heavy metals it’s best to use the gel.

Anybody sew? Did you know that your thread, buttons, zipper heads, and so on can also be used in mix media?

Here’s another. How about those that wear makeup? Did you know that certain parts of your makeup kit can also be used in mix media?

Writing paper or those letters that are hard to read can be used as mix media paper backdrops. Even magazine pages that are full of color.

Think Dollar Store or Dollar General… what kinds of goodies can you think of that could be used in mix media? Endless possibilities!

To get started: to get started is just by gathering the supplies that u do have and buy the basics of what you don’t have. Starting is by doing! Don’t stop! Keep on doing. By continuing the doing part you improve over time.

Products: There’s lots of extra products that one can buy without the hassle of making your own but the expense adds up. For some this can be a discouraging factor. So for those of you who suffer don’t lose heart over time you will get there. I am far from having all of my wants in the mix media world and I’m not near to any of the great mix media artists. But I can tell you this: I’m further along than I was two years ago and I have learned a lot. My journey isn’t over yet and neither is yours.

Here’s a simple example of what can be done with just a few items.

If you would like to know more or if you feel that I left any thing out drop me a comment below.

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