I’ve been experimenting more than usual with what is technically known as “Mixed Media”. But what is this term really?
Mixed Media describes artwork in which more than one material has been employed such as paint, cloth, paper, wood, etc., or to artwork that has mixtures of mediums such as pencil, ink and paint.
There are pros and cons of Mixed Media art.
Pros include:
Versatility, allowing artists to incorporate anything from traditional materials like paint and paper to unconventional elements such as fabric, found objects, and digital media.
Texture and layering where artists often use techniques like layering, collaging, and texturing to build depth and complexity within their compositions.
Experimentation, where the more media you work with when you create art, the more chances you’ll have to experiment and try out things you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.
It can be the best of all worlds and allow you to combine the features of different mediums to achieve the result that you want. For example, watercolour alone may not give you the textural look that you are after, whereas coloured pencil might.
On the downside, there are cons such as:
Risk of material interaction where the different materials or media merge or combine in a way they is not ideal, then it might ruin the art and the purpose of it.
Some art competitions may have restrictions on the types of media that can be used. This could potentially limit the ability of mixed media artists to fully express their creativity. Where there is a Mixed Media category, you can often be up against a diverse range of mediums, with judging not on like for like.
Understanding and appreciation of Mixed Media art is diverse, but it might not be as widely understood or appreciated as much as more traditional art forms.
Does any of this matter? Not for me. I rarely enter artwork into competitions these days. And anyway, it is all about the finished product!
Barite, Kapunda, South Australia. Watercolour and Coloured Pencil. 150x105mm.