In this new 4-week mixed media course, I will take my students through the process of mixed media works where several mediums are combined: collage, acrylic, and oil pastel. I work in this technique myself. I create oversized work and really enjoy this mixed media approach, and I want to share it with my students. Learn how to take a familiar subject of bouquets and make it new by combining a variety of mediums together, to explore how they interact in surprising ways. That to make interesting art doesn’t necessarily come from what you paint, but how you paint it.
Bouquets are an inspiring subject matter that is flexible, beautiful, and lends itself perfectly to experimental approaches.
The mediums we’ll combine are tissue paper, valued for its subtle transparency and ability to create lovely texture, acrylic - for its versatility and addition of vibrant colors, and oil pastel - for its ease of use and drawing capabilities.
Each artwork you’ll make in this course will be a practice in merging these mediums to help you find creative confidence in your art-making.
I will lead you through the process with demonstrations so you can follow along. We’ll start with two smaller works so you can find your flow. However, I will encourage you to explore this technique in your own artistic voice, to play with this technique in your own way. The most valuable thing for me as a teacher is when my students demonstrate their uniqueness, and are inspired to experiment.
This is designed to help you begin to trust your artistic intuition, with the support of guidance and feedback. This course is structured in a way that opens up freedom in decision-making. Every artwork will be different, no two pieces will be alike. That’s the beauty of mixed media, there is always an element of surprise. In this course, I want you to surprise yourself with what you create in this course; I like to say "if you surprise yourself, you surprise others."
No experience needed! We will offer personalized feedback to each student throughout the course.
Course Schedule
Week 1: Small format: Begin with an underpainting in acrylic. Add tissue paper and oil pastel on top of the underpainting.
Week 2: Small format: Begin with texture. Paint a bouquet over the tissue paper, then add details with pastel.
Week 3: Larger format: Begin with a drawing in pastel. Add tissue paper and paint.
Week 4: Continue your large format piece, continuing to layer your mediums. Wrap up the course with a discussion and exhibition.
