What is Mixed Media

Mixed Media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed. There is an important distinction between “mixed-media” artworks and “multimedia art”. Mixed Media.tends to refer to a work of visual art that combines various traditionally distinct visual art media.

For example, a work on canvas that combines paint, ink, and collage could properly be called a “mixed media” work -but not a work of “multimedia art.” The term multimedia art implies a broader scope than mixed media, combining visual art with non-visual elements (such as recorded sound, for example) or with elements of the other arts (such as literature, drama, dance, motion graphics, music, or interactivity).

Here the artist used a cover of an antique as the background, onto which she adhered a 6″ x 6″ clayboard painted and collaged onto. It is encased in copper. The wonderful swing image is transparent. There is a decoupage tray on the swing with a teacup and a book, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover.” A kind of “spirit” or angel is watching over the swing and on the optic lens are the words “light my path.” Attached to the collage is a package wrapped in twine with a real feather and the words “wisdom of uncertainty.” Another feather flanks the side. Behind the collage on the book cover is an antique doily. Added to the collage are a ladybug charm, handmade by the artist, and there is a vintage key hanging on it. The Mixed Media piece hangs on a leather and bead hanger. Decoupage to the back of the book cover is an antique plate design with a copy of a poem called “Only a Day” written by the artist in 1965.

When creating a handmade mixed media art piece, collage, painted or photographed work – it is important to choose the layers carefully and allow enough drying time between the layers to ensure the final work will have integrity. If many different media are used it is equally important to choose a sturdy foundation upon which the different layers are imposed.

A phrase sometimes used in relationship to mixed media is, “Fat over lean.” In other words: “don’t start with oil paints. Plan to make them the final layer.” Many effects can be achieved by using mixed media. Found objects, vintage jewelry, beads, vintage flatware, old buttons, old lace, can be used in conjunction with traditional artist media, such as paints, cardstock, graphite and many more, to express a meaning in the everyday life. In this manner, many different elements of art become more flexible than with traditional artist media.

On this one the artist used a sculpture mannequin head for home decor and retail display. Mannequins have stepped outside the window and into the interior design. Her beautiful painted ladies are sanded, sculpted, hand painted and sealed many times for durability. All of her mannequin heads are customized for your home decor and business needs. She will work together with the client to create the absolute perfect one. They are fabulous for retail displays. Her ladies, as she calls them, are all created to catch the eye of your buyer. Once they look at them the buyer will linger. She will design them as vibrant as her client likes them to be, or paint with a subtle pallet. Her Mixed Media art sculptures are not perfect. They are all handmade and imperfect in their own way. Just the way handmade should be.

This is also Mixed Media…the print is a 8 x 10 on vintage dictionary papers, with Alice printed on the vintage papers, which you then can matte and frame.

A few others are:

Altered book
Artist trading card
Assemblage (art)
Collage
Décollage
Digital Mixed Media

Enjoy our Mixed Media Artists here on our Handmade Artist Website

Just click on any of the pictures in this post to see more about each artist and their work!

Written by My European Touch

Tags: art, artists, create handmade, Handmade, Handmade Artists, handmade mixed media, mixed media

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