Lesson video

Hi there.

How are you doing today? I hope you're good.

My name is Dr.

Jones and I'm really excited to be your art teacher today and to be teaching you all about one of my favourite art topics, which is mixed media materials and techniques.

This is part of our Art and Design unit, Foundation Workshops and Introduction to the Areas of Study.

I hope you enjoy it.

So today's session outcome is to learn to combine different materials and techniques to create a mixed media artwork.

Some of the key words that we'll be learning and referring to today include mixed media.

This is the use of two or more artistic materials or techniques in a single artwork, Actual texture.

This is texture that can be physically felt, i.

e.

, something that feels rough or bumpy, or smooth or soft.

Implied texture.

This is where we create the illusion of texture using techniques such as shading, pattern, mark making, or collage.

Our lesson today will be divided into two different learning cycles.

The first one is using subtractive techniques to create textures.

Outcomes from today might look like something like this.

I'm very keen and excited to see what you produce today.

Mixed media is the intentional use of two or more artistic materials or techniques in single artwork.

Looking at this example here, what media can you identify in this image? Feel free to pause the video while you discuss with someone.

Well done for discussing and sharing your responses.

This artwork uses mixed media.

I can see collage, biro, and paint session.

Why might an artist use mixed media? Thank you for sharing your thoughts on that.

Well, of course, using different materials adds texture and depth and makes the artwork feel more interesting.

Here's some closeup examples of different artwork.

Here in this first one, we can see charcoal combined with different types of paint.

Here we can see different types of techniques of applying acrylic paint.

Here we can see the use of collage and paint.

Here we've got textiles stitch combined with collage and paint.

We've also got different forms of paint such as paint pens, drawing, and acrylic on this close up here.

And finally, you can see here that there's collage as well as paint combined.

Why might an artist choose to use mixed media in their artwork? Is it A, to create interesting textures and dimensions, B, to ensure the artwork is flat and easy to store, C, to make the work look like a traditional painting, or D, to reduce the amount of materials used? Well done if you said A, you are correct indeed.

It is to create interesting textures and dimensions.

Artists carefully consider how different media will interact and work together in an artwork.

They also plan the order and timing of each layer or technique to control how the materials work together.

Adding media at different points results in different effects.

So for example, here on the left side we have oil pastel, which is applied first under watercolour, which is applied afterwards over the top.

As you can see, the watercolour resists where the oil pastel is.

In contrast, on the other side, we've got oil pastel, which is applied over the top of the watercolour.

And you can see that this creates a completely different effect.

So the timing and order of the way in which we use materials can totally change the overall outcome of the work.

The oil and water properties of media affect how they interact when combined.

Sam says, "Adding oil pastel over drying watercolour reduces this interaction and the marks end up sitting on top." So why do artists apply materials at different times to create a mixed media artwork? Is it A, to avoid using colour too early, B, to control how the materials work together, C, to finish the artwork more quickly, or D, to use up all available materials? You're correct indeed, it is B, to control how the materials work together.

Well done.

Art media can be applied using various techniques to create different effects and textures.

So for example, we have four different paint effects here.

These are all acrylic paints and acrylic paint can be applied thickly, as we can see in the first image, or thinly, poured, as we can see in the blue image, or wash lifted, as we can see in the final image.

This is a subtractive technique to create different effects.

Texture can be implied texture or actual texture.

So an example of actual texture might look something like this.

It could be impasto.

Impasto is where we apply paint very thickly so that it is raised almost on the surface and it stands out from the surface.

So if you were to feel the paint, you could actually fill the bumps in the paint.

Implied texture is when we apply paint using mark making to create the illusion of texture.

So here all the little lines are used to create a soft feathery feel in the animal.

Which is the most likely reason an artist might choose acrylic paint for mixed media techniques? Is it A, because it is always opaque and cannot be thinned, B, it can be applied in many different ways, C, it is the least expensive type of paint, or D, it is the only paint that can be used with other materials? Of course it is B, it can be applied in many different ways.

The subtractive technique of creating texture with acrylic wash lift could look this.

First of all, you would apply a layer of paint to a canvas board, or another suitable similar surface, and allow that first layer to dry.

Secondly, you could paint another layer in a completely contrasting colour over the top.

Before that layer dries, you could apply water onto the wet paints.

You could splash, flick, or drip the water.

Next, you could dry the paint, but not the water with a hair dryer.

And you could use a tissue to lift the water off along with the still wet paint.

This would then reveal the first layer of paint underneath, and therefore is a subtractive process.

Artists who use subtractive techniques in their work include Jennifer Packer.

She paints with her painting process, including wiping or drawing with the handle of a paintbrush to create lines in her work, Gerhard Richter, who is known for his layered approach to painting, where he applies multiple layers of paint and then scrapes away the upper layers to reveal textures and effects.

You can now use the subtractive technique of acrylic wash lift to make a background for a mixed media artwork.

So let's get started.

Your process might include applying a layer of paint to canvas board or another similar surface and allowing it to dry.

Then you could paint a second layer in a contrasting colour.

Apply water onto the second layer before it dries.

This could be splashed, dripped, or flicked water.

Use a hair dryer to try and dry the second layer of paint but not the water.

Lift the water off by using either a cloth, a tissue, or a dry brush.

And it could end up looking something like this, but of course there are many possible outcomes.

Aisha says, "I have used natural colours like warm browns, reds, pale pink, and yellow.

My work looks textured and old, linking to my theme of growth and decay." Well done everybody.

We are now going to move on to the next learning cycle, which is about combining and adding media.

How would you develop this background to create a mixed media artwork? Alex said, "I would use graphite stick and impasto paint as the textures would contrast a lot." What a great response, Alex.

Izzy said, "I'd add textured collage, paint pens, and spray paint for smooth bold lines or shapes." Both two different responses, but also very valid ones.

Working with mixed media allows for varied outcomes.

Artists can break away from traditional boundaries by experimenting with unconventional combinations.

This helps them to generate new ideas and push creative boundaries.

So why do artists experiment with unconventional combinations in their work? Is it A, to explore new ideas and push creative boundaries, B, to follow traditional rules and techniques, C, to keep that artwork simple and avoid complexity, or D, to make their work more predictable and easy to understand? Well done.

Thank you for sharing your responses.

It is indeed A, to explore new ideas and push creative boundaries.

Artists working with mixed media to create varied outcomes include Mequitta Ahuja and Patricia Schappler, who focus on expressing emotions or truths about their subject through mixed Graham Sutherland's "Landscape with the setting sun," produced in 1972, and Keith Vaughan's "The Orchard," made in 1944.

Both combine mixed media to interpret landscapes.

Michaela Yearwood-Dan mixes paint.

gold leaf, and drawing tools to create abstract floral works.

And lastly, Jaider Esbell often combined acrylic paint and paint pens to create bold patterns and symbols rooted in Macuxi mythology.

Combining different materials and techniques can allow artists to convey complex ideas and emotions.

What does this artwork make you think or feel? Feel free to discuss with somebody and pause the video while you do.

Thank you for sharing your responses.

Jacob has said, "This work is joyful and energetic with contrasting implied textures." Sophia has said, "I think it's about celebration, with flowers symbolising a new stage of life." Which is the most likely reason artists combine different materials and techniques in their work? Is it A, to create simple, straightforward designs, B, to convey complex ideas and emotions more effectively, C, to keep their work as traditional as possible, or D, to make their artwork easier to produce quickly? Thank you for having a think about that.

You're correct indeed, it is to convey complex ideas and emotions more effectively.

Artists think about different factors when making a mixed media artwork.

These could be technical factors.

Some of the things that they might consider could include, will textures or colour contrast in my work, or will it harmonise? What implied or actual textures will be used? Which materials will create the desired effect? How will different materials interact? They might also consider conceptual factors, and these could be, can subtractive techniques reveal hidden layers to communicate meaning? Will imagery convey a personal, social, or cultural meaning? How can the chosen materials communicate the concept of the artwork? For example, Aisha considers these factors when planning her work.

She says that "subtractive techniques in my background can build depth and visual complexity.

I'll use observed and stylised florals as my stimuli.

These will help me to explore and communicate growth and decay.

I will contrast textures, but the colours will be from a limited, harmonious colour palette.

I will include some impasto shapes, which will contrast with drawn lines and flat plains." Now you can incorporate mixed media into the background that you created in the previous task, task A.

And this will allow you to explore actual and implied textures.

So let's get started.

When you are creating these, you might want to consider some technical factors.

Will textures or colour contrast or harmonise in your mixed media piece? What implied or actual textures will you use? Which materials will create the desired effect? And how will different materials interact and combine in your mixed media artwork? As well as considering those, you might also want to think about conceptual factors.

So when creating your mixed media piece, you may want to ask yourself, can subtractive techniques reveal hidden layers to communicate meaning? Will imagery convey a personal, social, or cultural meaning? How can the chosen materials communicate the concept of the artwork? There are many possible outcomes.

While done having a go at creating your own mixed media artwork.

You might have created something that looks a little bit like this.

And Laura says, "The use of implied textures in the petals is effective and contrasts the actual textures." Andeep says, "Aisha has used paint, paint pens, and graphite combined with multiple techniques to great effect." There are many possible outcomes.

You might have produced something that looks expressive with a limited colour palette.

Aisha says she's pleased with her use of mixed media to create energy.

She has captured her theme of growth and decay as the brown hue suggests that the flowers are about to wilt.

Well done, Aisha.

And that brings us towards the end of our learning session today.

Well done on learning all about mixed media artwork with me.

So just to summarise some of the key points from today.

Combining different materials and techniques to create mixed media work can allow artists to convey complex ideas and emotions.

Art media can be used in various ways to create different effects and textures, resulting in both actual texture and implied texture.

Artists can break away from traditional boundaries by experimenting with unconventional combinations.

I hope you enjoyed the lesson as much as I did, and well done again.

See you soon.