When it comes to art, the medium is truly the message. The medium that you choose can completely transform the look and feel of a piece. And when it comes to the world of mixed mediums, the possibilities are truly endless. Whether you choose to use your medium in unexpected ways, or you simply experiment with newer techniques, mixed mediums can be a fun, relaxing way to express yourself.
Most of us are familiar with the familiar medium of paint on canvas. Then there’s watercolor, pastels, and charcoal. But have you considered some of the other mediums out there? The abstract painter does not consider paint, but rather is more concerned with how the paint is applied. This could take the form of using brushes, palette knives, or sponges. The sculptor doesn’t use paint, but rather pulls, bangs, pounds, and blows the medium onto the sculpture. The collage artist uses paper, tape, glue, and wood. The ceramist combines clay and other natural materials.
Art Mediums Explained
A medium is any substance or tool an artist uses to physically create art. The most common types of art mediums are paint, ink, pencil, and clay, but other mediums include charcoal, charcoal pencil, oil paint, soft pastels, and watercolor paint. Art mediums each have their own unique properties, and each medium has its place in a particular type of artwork.
Art mediums are the materials you use to create art. There are now hundreds of different art mediums, and new artists are discovering new ways to express themselves through the medium. Some of today’s most popular art mediums include acrylic paint, drawing materials, pastels, pencils, charcoal, watercolor, solvent paints, charcoal pencil, watercolors, and oil paints.
Drawing
Drawing has been a fun and creative activity for children and adults for thousands of years. People are naturally drawn to creating art, as the act of creating something with our hands is soothing and therapeutic. The act of drawing is therapeutic because, as with writing, we can articulate our feelings, process our thoughts, and work through problems so it’s truly a form of journaling.
Drawing is a blend of both art and science. It involves the process of creating an image based on the artist’s interpretation of the subject. Anyone can draw a picture by copying what they see, but to truly master the art of drawing, you have to learn to see the world differently.
Painting
Painting used to be something that only professionals could do. These days, it’s become much easier to do yourself, thanks to home improvement stores and Internet tutorials. The downside is that you need to spend quite a bit of money buying supplies and the right paint (like acrylic paint). But if you do decide to do it yourself, you’ll save big over the cost of hiring a contractor, and you’ll have a sense of accomplishment.
Painting is a craft that has been around for centuries. While improvements in efficiency, materials, and tools have made this wonderful method accessible to more people than ever before, even so, painting is still a skill that takes some practice to learn. But with the right guidance, anyone can learn how to paint perfect lines, shades, and shadings, and make a beautiful masterpiece.
Three Dimensional
In almost all art there is an element of three-dimensional representation. To represent a three-dimensional element, the artist has to distort the two-dimensional surface to bring it into focus. From the above image, the white lines on the drawing of a house are parallel, but in actuality, they are slanted. The lines represent the beams of sunlight shining through windows, which distort the two-dimensional surface into three-dimensional space.
In art, “depth” is the perception of distance or space in a two-dimensional image. When viewed from a certain angle, an image can appear to recede into the distance. In a two-dimensional image, light behaves differently depending on the angle of the observer. A sunset viewed head-on is bright, while the same sunset viewed from an angle looks darker. In a three-dimensional image, however, light behaves the same way in all directions.
Mixed Media
Mixed media is the combination of different media into a single work. Like combining painting and sculpture, or poetry and prose. Mixed media art draws on several disciplines including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, collage, and sculptural assemblage. Artists in this genre are known for their originality and willingness to experiment.
Mixed media artists combine several techniques, such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, and drawing, to best express themselves. Mixed media artists often experiment in unconventional ways, taking influences from art history, popular culture, and their own experiences.
Mixed mediums are one of the best ways to introduce you to a new art medium. Whether it’s acrylic, watercolor, oil, or stained glass, artists start with one medium and then incorporate other, complementary mediums to create a masterpiece.
