Soraya French - Contemporary Landscapes in Mixed Media

The Scottish Landscape
46 x 56 cm (18 x 22 in)

The broad and multi-dimensional world of making art in mixed media has many wonderful surprises in store to be explored. This form of painting can even be described as the ultimate creative indulgence, where you can take delight in the seductive qualities of transparent media such as inks and watercolours as well as enjoying the versatility and forgiving nature of the opaque media such as acrylics and pastels. It gives you the chance to use many other mark-making materials too, both traditional and innovative; the infinite combinations offer you tremendous freedom and flexibility to interpret your favourite subjects in unique ways that burst with life and energy.

I hope that the passion and enthusiasm that has gone into producing this book will in turn inspire those of you ready to take the plunge into the wonderland that is painting in mixed media. Be prepared to open your mind and think beyond the limited boundaries of expressing your ideas in a single medium and the inevitable rules and limitations that go with the territory. The wealth of art materials available and the freedom of expression allowed today create a potent combination for imaginative artists who wish to expand their creative potential and think outside the box of the more traditional disciplines.

Dont feel overwhelmed by the amount of information and the array of art materials within these pages you dont need them all. Instead, treat the book as a source of reference to try out new ways of using the materials as and when you come across them in your artistic adventures. Equipping yourself with more art materials certainly doesnt equate to being a better painter in fact it can be rather confusing. The amount of information is to help you make thoughtful choices, not to encourage you to acquire every type of medium available to man. Take what is relevant and appealing to you and leave the rest. Unless otherwise stated, the acrylic paints and products used in this book are from Golden Artist Colors and the pastels are from Sennelier, but you will find most named colours available from other brands. The watercolour paper is Saunders Waterford from St Cuthberts Mill.

Mixed media work is often characterized by multiple layers, which give the paintings their rich and interesting visual appeal. You can use the media in an incredibly complex and elaborate manner or go for a simpler, understated approach. Whatever you choose, however, make it your own. Be inventive and explore interpretations unique to yourself. Many of the techniques we enjoy today are the legacies left by the visionary past masters. However, each generation of artists revamps existing ideas to make them fresh and relevant to the present era.

In this book you will find:

Comprehensive information regarding the materials and some of the possible techniques on their own or in combination with one another.

Projects to inspire you to try out exercises that will help you to further your knowledge of mixed media.

Demonstrations to guide you through the stages of painting, either a complex scene or an ordinary subject made more interesting through texture.

Something of every level of ability for anyone who is ready to take a creative leap forward. The only limit is how far you are prepared to explore.