Contemporary Mixed Media Art

The roots of mixed media painting are in the the later part of Victorian years from around 1870 to 1914, referred to as “La Belle Epoque.” Translated from the French, this actually means “the beautiful age,” or “the gilded age.” Fast advancements in science, technology and loosening social mores inspired artists of the time to discover unknown waters of creative expression. As a result, the arts went through a major transformation. New, progressive styles such as Impressionism and Art Nouveau started to cross over from the underground avant-garde into the mainstream.

In the visual arts, a mixed media painting is actually a work of art that uses several medium. A good example of mixed media might be a collage that has paint, seashells, and bird down. A fairly common technique for painters is mixing oil, watercolour and also acrylic paints into a single painting. Practically any combination can be utilized, restricted only by the artists’ creative thinking and available materials. A mixed media collage has several design layers, each one made from a different medium. An artist can use any medium he / she wants, but paper, pencil, marker, as well as pen are usually employed in a mixed media collage. These types of collages can possibly be two-dimensional display art, like a painting on a canvas or a page in a scrapbook, or a 3D sculpture.

Another variation of contemporary mixed media painting is mixing paint with other paper media like pen-and-ink drawings. Advancements in technology also make it much easier for today’s artists to mix traditional printmaking techniques with digital photography or images. Multimedia art, a related form, was influenced by mixed media painting. Multimedia art differs from mixed media in that non visual elements may be used. An example might be mixing recorded music, dance as well as spoken word poetry to a single work. The various art supplies being used by mixed media artists range from the traditional to the creative. Oil- and water-based paints are regularly used in mixed media artwork together with ink, pastels, and pencils. In keeping with the non traditional side of mixed media art, wide selection of materials is utilized in mixed media sculpture and collage art. Contemporary mixed media artists have been recognized to utilize string, buttons, newspaper clippings, and bits of glass or metal in their mixed media art installations.

Mixed media is typically produced in layers. The artist chooses each layer with care and allows enough time for every layer to dry properly. Discovered things such as bottle caps, matchbooks, or stones are often used for effect. Pieces of jewelry, mismatched buttons, pens, bolts, cereal boxes, screws and nails might provide some added visual colour and interest. Using these types of materials in a mixed media painting can impart new meaning to such somewhat unimportant stuff. This method brings even more texture and depth to the artwork.

Only the creativity limits a mixed media artwork. A few mixed media artists work only with natural materials to deliver an earth-friendly message. Reused materials are usually utilized in mixed media art projects, making it possible for artists to convey their creativity by repurposing daily things and used objects. Metal containers, plastic containers, along with locally made materials may help show a certain story by means of art.

Clara Berta is among the best mixed media artists on earth. She is well-known for her brilliant mixed media art which reveals a world of imagination. She definitely doesn’t disappoint!