Mixed Media Art Ideas
Image: Mixed Media Drawing by Monica
There are so many ways to incorporate drawing into your mixed media art. Here are just a few ideas that might inspire you…
Use collage elements and add drawings to them
Collage is a great way to create decorative pieces, but it’s also a fun technique for adding dimension and texture to your drawings. The best part about this process is that there are no real rules. You can use any materials you want—from magazine clippings to scraps of fabric, from glitter and sequins (as seen in the image above) to buttons and beads, from paper clips to feathers —and make them all work together in harmony on your piece.
To add more visual interest, try varying the shapes and sizes of the pieces you choose for your collage elements as well as different types of glues—glue sticks work well because they are easy to apply with an applicator tip, but if you prefer something messier then try using liquid glue or even Elmer's school glue!
Practice simple drawing exercises
Draw from a photograph. Find a photo that you love, or take one yourself. Practice drawing the subject until you feel confident in your ability to capture the essence of what you see.
Sketch from life. Take a walk and observe your surroundings, then come home and sketch what you saw using graphite pencils or charcoal sticks on paper or canvas board.
Create your own art journal pages with words, shapes, and textures using collage materials like fabric scraps, magazine clippings, and envelopes filled with sand (or something else). This is also known as "found object collages" which is our next topic!
Lay down a base of paint then draw on top
When creating a mixed media piece, you can use paint to create a base for your drawings. Lay down a layer of paint with a large brush and then draw on top. If you get too much paint on the paper, don't worry! Just keep layering until it looks like you want it to look.
Make your own paper & use it as a background
Make your own patterned paper. This can be as simple as taking a piece of blank copy paper and cutting it into strips, or you can get fancy and use stencils, stamps, or a variety of other techniques to create the design you want.
Once you have your paper made, use it in one of the following ways:
Left plain for a background for an art journal page
Collaged with other papers onto another surface (like a canvas) to create a mixed media piece or painting
Try using different materials such as fabric
Use a variety of different materials. You don't have to limit yourself to just one type of material; experiment with others! Try paper, found objects, fabric, and other various things you might have lying around the house.
Use different types of paint. If you're trying to achieve a specific look, then use the appropriate medium for your artistic vision (oil paints for paintings that appear realistic and acrylics for ones that utilize bold colors). If not, then any paint will do!
Use different types of brushes and pencils as well as pens and ink. A nice brush will make it easier when painting small details while using ink can give your artwork a bolder appearance without adding too much color onto your art piece at once – just make sure there is enough space between them so they don't bleed together too much or else all those beautiful hues turn into an unreadable mess!
Make art every day!
Making art should be part of your daily routine. If you make it a habit, that will help you stay consistent and motivated when it comes time to create something new.
Just like any other habit, making art every day can become part of your routine if you make it fun! Set aside some time each day for this activity and try to incorporate it into other parts of your life as well – like during breakfast or dinner or while watching TV.
If you're looking for some new ideas for mixed media art, this list is a great place to start.
You can use any of these ideas to create something that's unique and original. You can also try combining two or more of them together! It's important to remember that there is no right way or wrong way when it comes to creating your own work - so don't be afraid if something doesn't turn out exactly as planned (which will probably happen anyway). Instead, focus on the process itself: how did it feel? What did you learn from this experience? How will next time be different? The answers might surprise you!
