1. MIXED MEDIA

2. WHAT MEDIA CAN YOU USE? Almost anything!  Acrylic Paint  Pastels  Charcoal  Watercolours  Pencils  Pencil crayons  China marker  Pens (fine tip, ball point,etc.  Ink  Photo-transfers  Paper  Chalk  Lino prints  Gesso  Book pages  Maps  Found objects (eg. string, foil, plastic, packaging, etc.  …any other ideas?

3. TECHNIQUES / APPROACHES…  Layer (* fat over lean)  Paint (wash, splatter, impasto, etc.)  Draw  Stamp  Emboss  Cut & paste  Blot  Print  Rip  Remove

4. EXAMPLES:

7. LEARNING TO LAYER: AN EXERCISE Materials: Brushes, palette, water in a cup, papertowels 6 pieces of paper (different weights / types) 3 mark making tools (e.g. scissors, pens, conte 2 primary paint colours (blue / red / yellow) 1 neutral paint colour (white / cream / black) Gel Medium Stamping Tools Masking Material

8. On all 6 pieces of paper… 1.Make a mark (draw, write, cut, carve, etc.) 2.Create a mask – cut or rip an extra piece of paper to create a form to use to mask the surface of the paper. 3.Add a wash of colour (one of your primaries) on all the papers – use the mask while doing this. Do NOT cover the surface of any page entirely. 4.Remove your favourite piece so far, and number it #1 – set it aside (you will not add any more to this paper).

9. On all 5 remaining pages… Mix one primary colour with one neutral colour. Use this paint to stamp a pattern on your pages. With rough paper, fold and cut a piece of paper into 4. Cut out a positive and negative of a shape 1/3 if the size of your page surfaces – save these for later. Add some marks with another tool. Add another colour wash. Remove your favourte paper and number it #2 – you will not add any more to this page.

10. On your 4 remaining papers… Using only your neutral colour, use a negative cut out (created previously) and paint in a positive space to each piece. Use gel medium to attach the positive shapes to your remaining pages (they do not have to be in the same spot). Remove your favourite piece and number it #3 – set it aside.

11. On your remaining 3 papers… Make some marks on your pages, try to be selective about what will enhance the designs. Add another step of your choice: stamp / paint / draw – just do it to all three pages Choose 2 of the remaining pages and use one of the negative cut outs to trace the shape onto your page – choose a good composition. Paint all but the image – on one use the neutral, on the other mix your two primary colours. Remove a piece and number it #4 – set it aside.

12. On your 2 remaining papers… Draw Stamp Set aside your favourite and number it #5. On your last paper… Add whatever you want by using any of the processes – try to do at least 2 things. Number this paper #6.

13. Look at all 6 pages… What was your favourite number? Were the results what you expected? What have we learned about layering?

16. YOUR THEME: “TREASURE”  What is it that you treasure?  How can you represent this / these thing(s) that you hold close to your heart in representational and abstract ways?  Can you bring objects, photos, etc?  What colours will be most appropriate?

17. DAY 1: BUILDING A SURFACE  Get rid of your white canvas! Mix a base colour out of only the three primary colours provided – the proportion is up to you.  Find papers, alternate surfaces to adhere to your canvas (think thin layers) to take the paint differently (e.g. tissue, paper, etc.)  If your surface is dry, you may start to layer paint.  Plan your theme and composition while you wait for layers to dry.

18. DAY 2: THIN LAYERS OF PAINT  Begin by adding thin layers (washes) of acrylic paints over your surface.  You can use more than one colour, but consider your colour theory.  Try to make a point of mixing your colours (don’t use them pure out of the container).  Review Burridge’s “Compositional Strategies” (see website) and consider how to organize the composition of your painting.

19. DAY 3: STAMPS & STENCILS  Before the next step, look at what you have done…take a deep breath and remove at least one item from your canvas!  Think about your idea, create a stencil or stamp using available materials. Keep your shape basic. It can be used to emphasize a potential focal area.  Apply / repeat this stamp or stencil in various areas of your canvas. Use colours within your scheme (perhaps different shades) in your piece. Aim for unity!  NOTE: Make sure your paint is wrapping around the sides too!

20. DAY 4: PUSH BACK & DEFINE FOCAL AREA(S)  Make your own painted papers (if you need)  Keep layering…  add more papers / fabric / textures  stamp / stencil  layer your paints (thin them out)  Be clear on where you will be creating focal areas in your painting (e.g. where you will include images, drawn or transfers)  Begin to clarify this by pushing back some areas with gesso or paint  Create spaces for the eye to travel and to rest

21. DAY 5: TRANSFERS & PAPERS  Create your own gel medium transfers using photos or drawings – apply a thick layer of medium on the front of the image and allow to dry fully, afterwards use water to rub the paper off the back.  Use any handmade papers to cut and layer shapes / images that you want to customize onto your canvas. Remember to apply gel medium to both the back of the paper and the surface of the canvas. Use the brush to gentle press the paper down.  Use these elements as focal area(s)  DON’T overdo the transfers – this is NOT a cut and paste project!

22. DAY 6: PUSH BACK WITH GESSO & DRAW  Look at your composition…consider what areas may be drawing too much attention – add gesso (thinned out) or paint to help obscure busy areas and allow the areas you want us to look at to shine!  Add some drawn elements such as hand written text, line drawings, rough sketches, etc.  You can use pencil crayon, conte (sealed with medium), china marker, ink, pastel, etc.  Keep drawn elements subtle and appropriate with the overall theme and look of your work – it should complement not distract!

23. DAY 7: MID-POINT CRITIQUE Let’s look at everyone’s work and ask ourselves…  What areas are effective (images, colours, textures, etc.)?  What areas are distracting, weaker, not in keeping with the rest?  What can be done to improve the work?

24. DAY 8-9: MOVING FORWARD  Continue defining your focal point  Clarify your visual message (what are you trying to show?)  Check your transfers (if using it), make sure all the paper is off!  When mounting, lighten background & consider placement

25. DAY 10: FINISHING  Look at finishing sides of the canvas – carry design / papers over the edges, add washes to complete  Sign your work with a colour that you have already used  Seal your canvas with medium (thin with water for a better flow)  You may need to layer several times in different directions