Supplies

In this class I will show you several different mixed media techniques and I will use a mix of different art supply. One of the pit falls when working with mixed media is that to buy loads and loads of art supply and then just use small parts of it. In this class you will, with very simple tools and a couple of basic supply, be able to do a lot. You can get a long way with scraps and simple tools. You do not need a lot of supply to create the layers of depth and detail in these paintings. If you have some heavy paper like a piece of cardboard or mixed media paper, some acrylic paint, some matte medium, some scrap paper for collage, and a pencil you will be good to go and you will be able to create most of the things that I will show you in this class. Here is the list of the supply that I used in this class:

4 pieces of cheap water colour paper, size 10”x10” (25x25 cm)
An assortment of scraps of papers from my personal collections (old magazines, scrap paper, printed pictures, old books etc.)
A couple of laser printed photos
Scrap pieces of fabric and lace
Acrylic matt medium to use in collage (I use Liquitex, Matte Medium)
Acrylic matt gel to use for the transfer (I use Liquitex, Matt Gel)
Acrylic Paints heavy body. I use titan buff, ivory white, titanium white, van dyke brown, mars black, pale olive green and pale rose.
Golden Fluid acrylics I use Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide
Acrylic inks I use Sepia.
A couple of different size brushes,
A hard tool to move the paint with. I use a Palette knife (an old credit card works fine)
A pencil for sketching. I use a black and a white Stabilo All, Aquarellable, (paper, glass, plastic and metal). Works really well on acrylic paint. It is my favourite pencil and I use it a lot.
A white gel pen. I use Uni Ball Signo.
Needle and thread
Water spray bottle , make up sponge, old plastic lids and a couple of rags

Collage paper

I use a lot of old used scrap paper in my collage. For example I use the paper that I cover all my tables with to protect them when painting. These papers have fantastic random marks with different colors and I love using them in my art as collage paper.

I make my own collage paper with left over paint. If I, or any of my students, get paint left over on the palette, in the brush or on the palette knife, we wipe them off on pages from old books. I never rinse left over paint into the sink. I use these scrap papers with left over paint in my paper collage. I love using them and I never throw out or waist any paint, all paint ends up on a painting, in a journal or on a piece of scrap paper.

Photos and pictures for inspiration

I collect inspirational pictures, photos, patterns and colors. I collect images from magazines and I print pictures from the internet and add them to my stash of inspirational pictures. The inspiration online is endless, so be careful you do not get stuck in front of the screen. I love Pinterest but it is so easy to get overwhelmed. You also have to be a bit careful with copy right. To use pictures as inspiration is no problem but if you want to print them and actually use the pictures in your collage you need to make sure that they are free to copy and use or that you change them in your art so that it is not possible to see the original picture.

To be safe you can search for free collage sheets or free photos that are free to print and use. There are tons of them on the net. Here is a link to one site: https://gomakesomething.com/print/printcollage/collagesheet/
If you just want old vintage photo for inspiration you can search for: “Vintage Portrait” or “Vintage family photos”on pinterest. There are so many beautiful photos to look at and get inspired from.

Stabilo All Pencil

As you will see I use my Stabilo All pencil a lot. I love this pencil but it takes some time to get used to how it works. It is water soluble and this can be a bit frustrating sometimes when it smudges and makes everything grey. So you might need some practice before you like it. I loooove it J