Drawing and Painting with Mixed Media Collage

Learn the joys of mixed media collage. In the workshop, I teach the fundamentals of collage, drawing and painting. I will address working with papers, fabrics, found objects, past art work, pencil and charcoal drawing, and acrylic painting. Students have the option to play with gelli plates, stamps and monoprinting on papers in addition the collage. The materials used will be the choice of each student, but students are encouraged to incorporate some of their own prior art work into new pieces. The objective of the workshop is to explore new mixed media techniques and excavate each student’s authentic voice in their art.

I teach 2 drawing methods using the student's own photos. I teach how to graph a photo for any size free hand drawing and also a tracing method that works well for small pieces and individuals who are intimidated or new to drawing. We learn the fundamentals of collage on the first day and then spend the second day drawing and painting over those collages. I do drawing demonstrations on the first day so that you know what to expect and what kind of photo reference to bring. I work individually with each person trying to get their projects to a place that they love.

I encourage everyone to incorporate mixed media collage into what they already do! I will work with each of you on whatever style project you would like to work on whether it is faces, figures, landscapes, still lives or abstracts. There are no set rules in my workshops. I try to create a fun time that introduces new techniques and a comfortable learning environment to enhance where you already are. All levels are welcomed!

Materials list for Drawing and Painting on Mixed Media Collage

I have created an online shopping lists at both Blick’s Art Supply and Utrecht Art Supply. The lists vary slightly but either list will do. In addition to these items, bring all the fabrics, papers, scrap booking materials and old artwork that you would love to upcycle, re-use and see in your work! 

Click here: Blick Materials List or Utrecht Materials List

• ·         3 to 4 Wood panels, or canvas boards. Medium sizes (24 x 24), 10 x 10 and larger if you want.

• ·         Fabrics-- new and old, scraps, curtains, tablecloths, patterned napkins, cottons, polyesters, silks--anything that speaks to you. They do not have to be perfect, just smooth. Please bring patterns you would love to see in your work! all the papers and fabrics that we all keep for that rainy day- bring them!

• ·         Papers –scrapbooking papers, tissue paper, maps, paper napkins, Japanese rice papers work best.

• ·         Found Objects- old letters, old book pages, stamps, ribbon, washi tapes, scrapbooking stuff, keys, pressed dried flowers….

• ·         Prior art projects that you are willing to let go of- watercolors, drawings, paintings, photographs…anything except oil paintings or inkjet photos.

• ·         Matte medium – at least 16 oz. We'll use a lot of this! Golden is great but, NOT Golden OPEN matte medium (It dries too slowly for this.) Mod podge does not work for this either

• ·         Gelli plate, roller and stamps to do some mono-printing on papers and fabrics

• ·         Extra soft vine charcoal, soft charcoal pencil and super soft black charcoal sticks. (I will provide these black ones)

• ·         Sketch book or loose paper for sketching

• ·         Blending Stumps or Tortillons

• ·         Charcoal kneaded eraser

• ·         Spray fixative MATTE. (Not workable fixative)  

• ·         Acrylic paints. I love Golden fluid paints, but you can bring what you have. If you are going to buy any paints for figurative work, I recommend Golden Fluid Azo Gold and Golden Fluid Titan Buff.

• ·         OPTIONAL: Golden Acrylic Flow Release. You can use your matte medium as a substitute.

• ·         Brushes including 2” bristle (cheap) or house painting brush for gluing the collage down.  Small to medium size brushes for acrylic painting.

• ·         Scissors and sharp utility knife 

• ·         Photo reference for figures that the student would like to draw. Make sure that photo references are in focus and have a clear light source. It is very helpful to have color versions of the photo on a tablet or phone and black and white versions of each photo printed on regular inkjet paper.