Santiago - Mixed Media Handbook: Exploring Materials and Techniques

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Abbie Marie Deaner

forever 8

Mixed Media Handbook is an easy-to-use reference of art materials and their relevance in creating mixed-media art. This book is intended to provide all age groups and skill levels a comprehensive guide to understanding art materials and supplies.

Written by a professional artist, this book offers (in a logical sequence) descriptions of the materials, tools and equipment that are currently and commonly used in creating mixed-media art.

Unlike other artists handbooks, Mixed Media Handbook caters to the present-day artist. This book provides a complete and up-to-date accounting of the materials of their craft. It answers important questions for the artists so they may have the greatest possible control over their materials. It also aids in the economy of their art, by ensuring they purchase the correct materials for their needs.

The most valuable advice offered outside of this resourceful book is that you make the effort to fully understand your materials before using them in your art. Many factors can affect the outcome of a mixed-media project. Although there are no guarantees, Mixed Media Handbook can help you to eliminate doubts and gain the confidence to make comprehensive decisions when being creative.

With its vast selection of materials, media and working processes, collage provides artists with a considerable number of productive techniques. Experimentation is essential for narrowing the almost countless possibilities to workable numbers; you will need to try several ways of combining methods and techniques. Your own personal interests in working processes, kinds of materials and goals or desired outcomes will dictate your major areas of exploration. For example, if you wish to create representational images, you should know that certain papers and techniques will be more efficient than others, so you can then sidestep scores of inappropriate collage combinations. Consider style, technique, and subject matter before you make final decisions.

When you begin experimenting, try various combinations of materials and techniques on small supports. Make notes on the back of each study to record materials, processes and problems. These notes will be very helpful as you further your creative explorations.

Collage supplies tend to differ greatly among the various personal techniques that artists develop. For example, there are numerous adhesives and methods of application, however only one is needed to build a collagethe one that is most appropriate for the materials and techniques employed. The same holds true for tools, other media and finishes. Experimentation, however, can involve additional materials and personalized selections.

Although there are many avenues to develop mixed-media art, they all begin with the same simple principles: gather your resources and materials, select a substrate, edit down your collage resources, select an adhesive, begin your first layer, embellish with other media and continue to repeat until you achieve the desired look.

Once you have chosen your collage materials, you then want to develop personal techniques for using them most effectively. Again, experimentation is the key to our successful solutions and discoveries. You should try various ways of cutting, tearing, adhering, overpainting, altering and finishing until you are satisfied that you are accomplishing two things: the most effective way to use materials, and a style that is representational of you. Experimental activities can best be carried out on small studies so that many possibilities can be explored in a short period of time.

Mixed-media art comes from a plethora of different places, and knowing just where to start can be daunting. Oftentimes, an idea is sparked from an existing material: a photograph, a letter, a bit of tile or a found object. Whatever the case may be, the selection of the substrate or the base is vital to the success of the artwork. This chapter helps to clarify which types of substrates to use for various types of projects and why to use them. The information covered in this chapter will aid you in your decision-making process while providing you with a clear understanding of the materials.

There are three basic categories of substrates: board, paper and textured. When choosing your substrate, consider what materials youll be attaching and how youll be attaching them. For instance, lightweight substrates may buckle under heavy objects or if wet mediums and adhesives are used.

The surface of the substrate is also important; consider whether or not it is porous and will grab adhesives or paints. Another consideration is flexibility. For example, rubber stamping on a stretched canvas would be difficult because of the give of the canvas. A more suitable substrate for stamping would be a solid panel or board.

When deciding on your substrate, consider the following:

• What type of surface do you want to work on? Hard and rigid or soft and flexible?
• Do you want the substrate surface to be smooth, slightly textured or rough?
• Does the substrate need to be archival? Is longevity a concern? What is the material content?
• Is the size or shape of the substrate important?
• How will you be attaching or adhering collage materials to the substrate?
• How heavy are the materials?

Whatever your selection, there are always suitable adaptations, which makes mixed media an enjoyable and versatile art form.

We have discussed a variety of substrates available commercially; now lets take a look at unconventional items that can be used in mixed media.

Far left: Strathmore mixed-media board, vellum surface; Center back: Ampersand Claybord, multi-media, cradled 78" (.33cm); Upper Right: Ampersand Pastelbord, flat panels, Front Center: Ampersand Hardbord, flat panel.