Friday, 18 January 2019

Starting Out With Mixed Media Art - Creativity is at Everyone's Fingertips

Mixed Media Art is a creative outlet that is available to everyone, regardless of your artist skill level and what materials you have at hand. While there are many techniques and skills you will develop as you progress, all you need to begin is the desire to create something.
What is Mixed Media Art?
"Mixed media art" is a broad definition that covers many arts and crafts, including handmade cards, collage, altered objects (like books or boxes), book making and art journalling, to name a few. Even scrapbooking can fall under this category; you're using papers and photos and other bits and pieces - therefore you are using "mixed media".
What do I need to get started?
The great thing about creating a piece of mixed media art is the flexibility to start with things around you. To get started you need a substrate or base. This could be a nice sheet of paper or cardboard, a sketchbook, a cereal box or anything else that you have at hand. Then you'll need something to stick with - glue sticks are fine to begin with. Coloured papers, pictures and anything else that grabs your eye can then be stuck onto the base. This is the collage part of the mixed media art genre.
If you are more interested in drawing or painting, then when you have your base or substrate, you'll need something to make a mark, whether its pencils, paints, crayons, markers or pastels. All of these things can be used in different ways to achieve varied effects. And they can be used in combination or separately. Of course, as we are aiming for "mixed" media, then the more different tools you used the more mixed it will be.
Another attractive feature of Mixed Media Art is that you don't need fine art or drawing skills. That doesn't mean you are excluded from mixed media art if you do have these skills, but it opens up a world of creativity for the rest of us who like to make things but "Can't draw". To get started is as simple as being able to use a pencil, scissors and glue. These skills will expand and develop with practice. More complicated skills of mixing paints and developing your "artist eye" will happen as you expand your own creativity. Specific skills for particular media or art types will present themselves as you move into these areas. As with many things in life, the techniques and teachers will appear when you are ready.
Where do you suggest I start?
Let's begin with a simple project, using materials that aren't too expensive. For some people it's hard to start if we feel we are "wasting" our things while trying something new. With simple starting materials, those new to mixed media projects can jump in without worrying about this aspect.
Find an old cereal box, cut carefully along the folds and cut off the tab ends, so you are left with a good sized, flat piece of cardboard. Place it on a flat surface, with the inner, non-printed side facing you. Dig out your paints and paint brushes, and choose two or three colours that take your fancy. If you are not confident is combing colours, choose one colour with three different shades. Then get painting! You don't need a pallet; either squeeze a little paint out straight onto the surface or squeeze a little up that can be taken onto the brush. Don't feel shy - create swirls and lines and squiggles. Just get a good coverage of paint around the piece of card board. It doesn't have to be completely covered. Leave that to dry for a bit, then add the next colour. After drying, repeat with the third colour. Leave the piece to dry completely. If it buckles a little, sit it under a heavy book and it will flatten out again.
By waiting for each layer to dry, each colour will get it's own space and not blend with the other colours. I often work from lightest colour to darkest, using less paint on each layer. But there are no rights or wrongs with this process; just go with what feels good for you.
Now gather up your bits and pieces. Often a mixed media piece will contain an image, some words or text and a few pretty things or embellishments. Lay these out on your piece and get the feel for how your bits sit and mix with the other bits. Try moving some parts to overlap other items. When you are happy with the arrangement, start glueing layers down. Remember to start with the bottom most pieces first. Once all bits are glue down, leave to dry.
And now you have done it - you have created your first piece of mixed media art! Make it the first of many!
You will only get better with more practice. So, happy creating!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3335194

Try to do 3D Trick Art on Paper, Chess hole

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Fluid Art: Acrylic Wandering Ring Pour Large Canvas

8 Oil Painting Tips for Beginners

Oil paints are high quality and versatile. Plus, they are available in tons of colors. That's the reason they are used by artists all over the world. Although it's easy to get started with oil painting, there are a few things to learn. If you are into painting, you may have your favorite brand, mediums, palettes and brushes, but there are some general tips for you. Let's read them.
Start small
If you start with small paintings, it will give you a better idea of the techniques, and you won't invest too much time or stuff in the process. So, it's a good idea to go for small canvas boards or canvases. You can try on paper as well.

Get Organized
It's a good idea to choose a place that is well-ventilated and spacious enough so that you can put all of your stuff near you. Moreover, it will make the process a lot easier for you, and you will be able to paint more often.
Buy Quality Brushes
If possible, you should invest in professional standard paints instead of the student grade. In the same way, when it comes to buying brushes, opt for high quality ones. If you are just getting started, buying three different sizes is a good idea.
You can opt for synthetic brushes, but there is a host of natural hairbrushes as well. Generally, painters make use of bristle brushes.
Prepare your painting surface
As far as choosing the painting surface is concerned, know that you can choose from paper, wood or canvas. No matter which one you opt for, it's important to use a primer known as gesso on the surface. This will keep the paint from getting into the surface.
As an alternative, you can choose a good quality pre-primed board and apply another coat for making the surface even smoother.
Color mixing
It's important to note that the primary colors don't fall under the category of "pure". Actually, they lean towards blue or yellow. So, it's important that you know how to mix them.
Painting palette
If you think you have to use all the colors when you are just getting started, you need to think again. At first, you may want to do a monochrome painting. In this case, you will use just one hue, its shades, and tints. Based on what you want, you can go for either of the two.
Oil sketch
An oil sketch is a thin sketch of color and turpentine. Know that it will dry pretty quickly. Next, you can add layers of paint without waiting too long.
Clean your brushes
After you are done with a painting, don't forget to clean your brushes using water and soap. You may want to use rags and paper towels for wiping the excess turpentine and paint from your brushes.
So, these are a few basic tips that may help you get started with oil painted if you are a beginner. Hopefully, you will be able to get the hang of it.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9906299

Drawing Blind- Mark making

Fluid Acrylics ESSENTIAL Techniques!

Friday, 11 January 2019

Video 36 How to make Acrylic Skins

Debbie Arnold- Collaging with Poured Acrylic Skins

7 Ideas for Mixed Media Art

If you are having trouble getting started with your mixed media art or need some ideas of what to do next or simply want to try a new technique or material, here is an idea-generating list to read through. You can use any combination of these ideas or put your own twist on them.
1. Watercolor. To create an interesting watercolor background, you can layer transparent colors over one another, allowing the bottom colors to show through. A transparent watercolor effect can be achieved by mixing the color with water before applying it to your surface.
2. Fabric cut-outs. Select some fabric that has simple shapes or motifs. "Paint" around the edges with a mixture of white glue and water to prevent fraying. After the glue has dried, cut out your shape using a pair of scissors. You can use this to decorate greeting cards, wall art, art journal pages etc.

3. Aluminum foil background, crinkly effect. For an interesting background, you can crinkle a piece of foil and then smooth it out by hand, and color it with permanent markers, shoe polish or ink.
4. Aluminum foil, dimensional design. Another way foil can be used in your art is by drawing a simple design on cardboard and going over the drawing with a line of hot glue or tacky glue. After it's dry, cover the cardboard with foil and press gently around the glue lines (using a soft rag or cotton swab) to reveal the design. Go over it with paint or shoe polish and wipe off the excess, which leaves paint in the grooves and gives emphasis to your design.
5. Quilling shapes and designs. You can create beautiful dimensional art using strips of papers that are rolled, shaped, and glued together. You can buy precut strips of paper or cut your own using a paper shredder or a craft knife.
6. Nature finds. Take a walk outside and pick up twigs, weeds, bark, small stones to use in your art. Make sure to check for bugs or spiders before bringing into your house.
7. Paper doilies. Paper doilies are an inexpensive way to add texture and interest to your background. They can be painted, folded, and used to create art.
There are no limits to the things you can do with mixed media art, but sometimes you may get stuck and can't think of anything to create. Use these ideas to help get your creative juices flowing again.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lorene_Troyer/214067https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lorene_Troyer/214067