This past (very rainy) Saturday, my son Luke and I spent 4 hours cleaning and organizing my studio.
There were boxes of paper that I hadn’t touched in years, sets of paint that were strewn from one basket to another and miscellaneous supplies that were randomly tossed in drawers.
Thank goodness Luke was by my side to help me with shuffling furniture, setting up technology and tossing what I no longer needed to keep.
There is an incredible energy that comes from giving your creative space some tender loving care. Connecting with the inventory that was unearthed has given way to new ideas and plans for making more of my art.
I will be recycling old pieces and combining them with materials that I love. It really has opened me up to some new and exciting creative possibilities focusing on the use of mixed media and I can hardly wait to begin.
In this blog, I would like to share a couple of ways in which using mixed media can serve as a kickstart for unleashing more of your creative expression.
By combining diverse materials such as paints, textiles, papers, found objects, and digital elements, we can create multidimensional and textured pieces that are unique to us. Stepping away from the norm encourages a mindset of experimentation and innovation, keeping us from worrying about our art having to be perfect.
Mixed media is inherently forgiving, providing us with the opportunity to turn mistakes into wonderful art. The unpredictable nature of combining different elements often leads to unexpected outcomes, allowing happy accidents to become lively parts of the artwork and leading us into new and exciting directions.
Through the layering of various materials, colors, and textures, we can convey a multitude of emotions and perspectives within a single piece. This also provides a therapeutic outlet for us to process our own thoughts and feelings. Yes, art can be a healing, centering and meditative experience.
Introducing the use of mixed media to unleash creativity is just one more step in the pathway to your artistic journey. I hope you will give it a go and see where it will lead you.