If you’re the type of artist who enjoys using all sorts of mediums, then creating mixed media art may be the style for you.
Today’s art supply selections are growing by leaps and bounds as more folks take an interest in crafts to express themselves and decorating their homes.
Whether you’re looking for a new support, paint, tool or merely inspiration, there’s loads of fun and reasonably priced items to keep you busy and perhaps spark a new burst of creativity.
Mixed Media Books
Some awesome books you should check out are…
101 Mixed Media Techniques
Whether you’re a rank beginner or have been painting for years, this book is packed with instruction and project ideas using many styles of both traditional and unusual techniques. Painting and drawing techniques are discussed along with stamping, photos, stitching, inks, collage and journaling.
The book is broken into sensible sections with loads of photo examples, and the spiral bound format is perfect to have open on a table next to your workspace for quick reference.
The Art of Whimsical Lettering
The Art of Whimsical Lettering by Joanne Sharpe ISBN-10: 1620330741
This book covers everything you need to know about creating letters and numbers in an artistic mode. Lots of mixed media artists incorporate words in their work, and this fun manual teaches you how to create stylized fonts to enhance your paintings and journals.
Ms. Sharpe not only gives you a complete list of writing instruments to use, she also suggests types of papers on which to write and tips for developing and practicing your own singular style. She also includes 15 fonts with increasingly complex styling for you to practice and adapt to add to your own calligraphic repertoire.
Paints, Pens And Pencils
Now let’s look at the tools…
Art 101 Artist’s Suite
Art 101 Artist’s Suite – 157-Piece Painting And Drawing Set ASIN: B00GP3047U
If you don’t want to spend a fortune buying all sorts of art supplies, this collection may be right up your alley. It’s not the most costly set of supplies, and it doesn’t contain every color and type of artist product. However, if you want to try out a number of mediums and don’t want to invest a lot, this handy case is a good way to spend your money.
The wooden case is worth the cost, and it comes packed with a little bit of everything. It includes oil, acrylic and watercolor paints, oil pastels, colored pencils, sketch pencils, paintbrushes and palettes, erasers, pencil sharpener, learning guides and assorted supports.
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Assorted Colors, 24 Pencils ASIN: B00006IEEU
Prismacolor’s colored pencils are a great value for any starving artist. The 24-color set has enough colors for almost any project, and the soft pencils blend well for creating any hue or shade. The wood pencil shaft is sturdy and the soft color core is an intense, full-bodied pigment.
The pencils are perfect for the watercolor purist and an excellent addition to mixed media projects, as it can be blended with water or left dry as a drawing medium.
Sanford Prismacolor Professional Art Markers
Sanford Prismacolor Professional Art Markers, Primary/ Secondary Colors, Set Of 12 ASIN: B00006IFGK
These double-ended markers are great for all sorts of art, and the uses for mixed media applications are endless. With both a broad tip and a fine point, the 12 colors do double duty for fine-line detail work, as well as quickly filling in larger areas with rich, intense color.
The 12-piece set includes Crimson Red, Carmine Red, Pink, Violet, Mulberry, Yellow Orange, Canary Yellow, Dark Green, Parrot Green, Ultramarine, Dark Umber and Black. The colors are a dye-based alcohol ink and have great color saturation and coverage.
Unexpected Art Supplies
Things you may not know you need…
Jacquard Pearl EX Powder Pigments
Jacquard Pearl EX Powder Pigments (32-Color Set) ASIN: B000BGSZFU
This powdered pigment is a versatile addition to your mixed media art supplies. The manufacturer claims it’s extremely colorfast and stable, and it’s non-toxic and safe. This pearlescent powder can be used with many mediums, and it adds a shimmery accent to any project. Use it for adding a glimmering highlight to the focal point of a painting, create a metallic look or add it to polymer clay when creating embellishments.
It can be used with almost any artist media. Add it to oil, acrylic or watercolor paint or use it while stamping with ink. It can be embedded in clay, shrink plastic or resin and used on leather, wood, glass and fabrics. The 32 colors are packed in 3-gram containers, so you have a great variety of shades from which to choose.
Art Advantage Acrylic Black Gesso
Art Advantage 8-Ounce Acrylic Black Gesso ASIN: B0027A5HWM
If you’ve been painting for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with white gesso. However, black gesso is available, and it’s an interesting change of pace to use in your mixed media projects.
Use it just as you would any white gesso for priming a canvas or adding texture to a painting surface. What you get is a surface that pops with any color and is perfect for dark, moody paintings. The black acrylic comes packaged in an 8-ounce jar, so you can scoop out a big glop for building up texture, or spoon out a smaller amount for priming a canvas.
If you’re interested in expanding your work to include mixed media, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. If you can get it to stick on your support, anything is fair game when it comes to mixed media. Let your imagination run wild and start combining methods and materials for your next masterpiece.
