If you like dropping into galleries and browsing the art, you might be a bit mystified by the description found next to some paintings: Instead of the familiar components such as oils or watercolors, the little sign says, "Mixed Media." OK, that seems to imply that more than one type of medium is used to make the painting. But exactly what types of things qualify as "mixed media?"
You would be amazed at what artists put on a painting. The minute an artist stops painting with their chosen medium (such as oils, watercolors, or acrylics) and that artist picks up a stick of charcoal, a graphite pencil, a pastel chalk or an oil crayon and starts to draw over what they have painted, the work can technically be considered "mixed media."
But "mixed media" usually is reserved for artworks that have unusual materials added to the paint. Among the dazzling array of materials are collage pieces, which can include old sheet music, antique letters and envelopes, dressmaking patterns, sepia photographs, portions of magazine and newspaper pages, old maps, wrapping paper, etc. Artists sometimes use stamps and stencils to change up the look of their work. And then there are materials that are literally glued on to the canvas, such as tissue paper, image transfers, window screening, deli papers, aluminum foil, fabric, fishing line, dried grasses and flowers--just about anything that can be adhered to the canvas or wood substrate can be added by an imaginative (and sometimes daring) artist.
Well, you ask, "How do they get this stuff to stick?" There are probably a variety of methods. I'm not sure what other artists use, but those like myself who work in acrylics stick things on using special acrylic mediums. They're not glue; rather, they're the actual base of the paint itself. In other words, mediums are what hold, carry, move, and then permanently "stick" the colored pigments of paint onto the canvas. Pure acrylic mediums can be manufactured as gels, which the artist swabs onto the canvas and then onto the back of a collage piece, just as you would glue a photo into a scrapbook. The gel dries crystal clear and seals the added material onto the canvas or wood backing. And many gels are designed to be painted over--they'll hold tight to the paint above them so that it won't crack or spall off over time. And of course, if the added component is big and heavy enough, it can be screwed or stapled into the wood panel of the painting.
Oh, and don't forget what artists mix into their paints. I've seen coffee grounds, sand, marble powder, and other materials added to give the paint heft and added dimension. A couple of years ago, I added powdered lusters (often used to make eye shadows and other makeup sparkly) to clear acrylic gel. And I even experimented with stirring tiny chips of pure silica (clear quartz) into paint. Best of all for fortunate artists who use acrylics, many manufacturers produce gels and pastes that mimic surfaces such as cake icing, hand-made paper, or cracked earth.
Why would an artist do this? There are many reasons. An artist might want to evoke a certain feeling, or convey a certain effect, that will add to the impact of their painting or make their work unusual and unique. The use of collage materials is a time-honored way of telling a story, or adding an element of mystery (or history) to an artwork. Gels and pastes contribute texture, depth, and a "change of pace" or a little surprise within a painting.
But there's often an additional reason (that's not always talked about): It's FUN to play with these materials, and see what they can do. An inquisitive artist who's willing to experiment with these materials might find a special way of combining them with paint to produce an effect that helps to express what's important in their work. And to me, that's probably the best reason of all.
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