The arrival of new art materials and mediums, such as acrylics, and the creation of new techniques in collage, print, and photographic processes has seen an increase in mix media art and helped to relax attitude toward experimentation for the past century.

The result has allowed for the extension of drawing and painting techniques into areas of photography, printmaking, collage, and bas-relief construction. Students of art are encouraged to use mixed media to develop a more imaginative approach to their work and compositions.

It is rare to go to an art exhibition today without finding some form of mixed-media art. Whether it is a full collage of glued objects such as the picture at the above left by Kurt Schwitters or Paul Klee’s, Flower Myth, which was done with watercolor  on pastel foundation on fabric and newsprint mounted on board.

The fun is in the experimentation. Use your imagination. Get wild, be loose, be creative.

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