Mixed Media Painting

Mixed Media Painting

Take care as you work at your drawings and paintings searching for visual perfection. Even if you are capable of producing exact copies, make sure you aren't missing the key ingredient...

"The best pictures have a sense of life of their own"

It doesn't matter what art medium you work with... Oils, watercolor, acrylics, pastels, inks, charcoal, pencil or crayon. Each has its own painting and drawing quality. In good hands each has its own personality and character...

In the hands of a skilled artist the character and personality of the art medium can be influenced by the artist themselves...

An oil painting has depth and texture that can be flattened by turpentine or linseed oil or other thinners
The surface texture can be roughened by oil color being applied straight from the tube with a knife
There are other additives that can be used to thicken oils more

An artist working with acrylics also has a wide choice of additives to thicken and thin paint consistency. It also has the advantage of being water soluble... allowing watercolor style paintings to be created.

Watercolor artists also have many tricks and techniques... including wax resist.

Also, for drawing you have the choices of working with burned wood (charcoal), graphite (pencil) and ground stone (chalks and pastels). Each will give you different qualities.

The truth is...

It isn't the substance of the art materials used that makes a drawing or painting look great... It is what the artist does that makes the difference.

It is the artist who gives a painting a sense of life
It is an artist who gives a feeling of movement to a drawing
It is the artist who feels what the nature of charcoal can give to the quality of his sketch

The reality is that unless you are prepared to get to know the painting medium of your choice and understand what it can do for you... You will struggle to get the best results... Your paintings will be average at best

If you aren't prepared to practice your drawing skills with graphite, charcoal or ink... whichever drawing medium you use will disappoint you.

Your best Art will come from...

Your hard work and effort
Your commitment and dedication
Your knowledge of the art materials you use
And your artistic flair

Go on... have some real fun with your artwork... Give your Art some Heart. Let your character and personality shine through into your drawing and painting.

Michael Dale is the author of 1- Color Is Best (the quick and easy way to learn to paint watercolor) and 3- Colors Are All You Need (mix any color you want fast using only 3 colors). Contact http://www.Paint-And-Draw.com to find out more.

How should I mix paint medium and tempra paint?

My mom works at a day-care and wants to put childrens' footprints onto pieces of carpet fabric as a christmas gift. What is a safe percentage of medium to fabric paint that will be safe for the kids' feet but be permanent on the fabric?
Messed up the title.

How can I mix paint medium (tempra paint) and fabric paint?

If you mix the two- the tempera will still wash out. How about tracing around the children's feet with a permanent marker and letting the children paint their feet outlines on the carpet . That way it is actually their art- and their feet.