Mixed Media Butterfly Card

I’ve been trying to figure out what the best approach is to introduce the art of mixed media to those of you that want to learn about it.  After all, as I mentioned in my post on “She Found Her Inner Artist“, for me it’s been a 2 year process – reading, taking classes, practicing, experimenting.   I discovered that it’s one of those things that looks harder than it really is.

I remember the first time I took tole painting (folk art painting). I was overjoyed to discover that you don’t NEED to know how to draw, you don’t NEED to have prior artistic training or ability  – I followed a pattern, I learned about colors and I learned the brush strokes and techniques.  Once I learned all of those things, I then learned how to put it all together to create beautiful finished works of art. 

Mixed media is kind of the same thing.  You learn  about the materials, you learn the techniques, and then you put it all together.   The key is, that when you start putting it all together, you need to start small, and you need to start with something easy. 

For the longest time, I was afraid to put paintbrush to canvas because I just didn’t know where to start.  It was part of that “need to be perfect” that I told you about.  I didn’t want to “waste” my canvas…and what if I didn’t like it?  When I decided that I’d start by painting on a piece of chipboard, my fear lifted.  After all, if I didn’t like it, I could just throw it away.  It was less intimidating to start on chipboard – I think first off, because it was free (I got it from the back of a package of DP).  But I think it was also because in my mind a “canvas” was for an “Artist” and I didn’t feel like an “Artist”.

Today’s project is a perfect example of starting small.  It’s a card-sized canvas. The card itself is a bit of an odd size – 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ – I settled on it based on the size of my starting “canvas” which was 3″ x 6″. 

This is going to be the first project I’m going to teach in a new online class I’m starting which I’m calling “Mixed Media for Paper Crafters”.  Other than a few essential supplies that you will need to purchase if you don’t already have them, it’s going to be a “work from your stash” class.  This class is going to be about getting started in mixed media – learning about the basic supplies, and learning & practicing some of the basic techniques. 

 I’ll be sharing more details later, but Paper Crafter’s Library members will be getting this online class for free as a benefit of their membership.  If you’re not a member, and you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of Paper Crafter’s Library membership please visit www.papercrafterslibrary.com.