Everything You Need to Know About Mixed Media!
Everything You Need to Know About Mixed Media!
What is mixed media? How do you make mixed media art? Is it the same as multimedia art? This quick guide has everything you need to know about this visual art form for beginners and more.
Mixed media is visual art that combines multiple mediums in one piece—think ink + watercolor, alcohol markers + collage, stamps + embossing paste, and more. If your artwork uses more than one creative medium and mixes art forms like collage or assemblage, you’re already in mixed media territory.
Table of Content
I. A Brief Look Into the History of Mixed Media II. Industry Updates and Trends III. Mixed Media vs Multimedia: What’s the Difference? IV. Mixed Media in Paper Crafting V. The 6 Major Types of Mixed Media 📚 Related Articles 🎁 Free Clipart Sampler 💎 All Access MembershipI. A Brief Look Into the History of Mixed Media
Throughout history, ceremonial and aesthetic objects have included common materials—but they weren’t always considered “art.” Pablo Picasso’s Still Life with Chair Caning (May 1912) is often cited as an early landmark of modern mixed media collage, combining oil paint, oilcloth, pasted paper, and rope into a low-relief, three-dimensional work.
Mixed media grew in popularity through the 20th century with influential movements like Cubism and Dada, and artists exploring collage, assemblage, and found objects. Over time, mixed media expanded into installation art, sculpture, and today’s wide range of wet + dry techniques.
II. Industry Updates and Trends
Mixed media continues to thrive because anything can be a material. From iconic collages and assemblages to large installations, mixed media is everywhere—especially now that artists can share process videos, tutorials, and ideas instantly online.
- Installation art: immersive, site-specific experiences that transform a space.
- Found-object art: everyday materials reimagined as texture, shape, or symbolism.
- Textured painting: layering paint over unexpected surfaces (papers, fabrics, wallpaper, etc.).
III. What Is the Difference Between Mixed Media and Multimedia?
Both are visual art, but they differ in scope:
- Mixed media combines multiple visual art mediums (ink, watercolor, acrylic, markers, collage elements, etc.).
- Multimedia art combines visual and non-visual elements like sound, performance, motion graphics, interactivity, or music.
IV. Mixed Media in Paper Crafting
Mixed media is popular in paper crafting because it’s approachable: you can combine familiar supplies (stamps, ink, markers, paste, sprays) into one project without needing “fine art” training.
Paper crafters use mixed media in:
- Art journals and traveler’s notebooks
- Scrapbook layouts and memory keeping
- Handmade cards
- DIY home decor and collage projects
Beginner-friendly mixed media formula
- Base layer: ink blending, sprays, or watercolor wash
- Texture: embossing paste through a stencil
- Detail: stamping + heat embossing or pen linework
- Finish: splatter, collage scraps, or highlights (gel pen / metallic)
Pro tip: You can heat-emboss over wet glue marks for sparkly highlights. The texture will be a bit different than embossing ink, but it looks gorgeous on abstract backgrounds.
V. What Are the 6 Major Types of Mixed Media?
1) Collage
From the French coller (“to glue”), collage is one of the most accessible mixed media techniques. Combine magazine clippings, papers, stickers, paint, photos, ribbon—anything—and glue it into a cohesive composition.
2) Assemblage
Assemblage is like collage with 3D elements. Found objects, layered materials, and dimensional pieces combine to create a story or scene.
3) Altered Books
An altered book changes a book’s original form—through painting, collage, cutting, folding, rebinding, stamping, pockets, niches, and more.
4) Mixed Media Sculpture
Mixed media sculpture blends materials (like clay/wood/metal) with paint, paper, fabric, or found elements to add color, texture, and meaning.
5) Installation Art
Installation art is often site-specific and immersive. It can be temporary or permanent, and may include modern media like sound, video, or interactive components.
6) Wet and Dry Mixed Media
Wet + dry combines mediums like inks/paint (wet) with pencils/pens/charcoal (dry). It’s one of the easiest ways for paper crafters to “go mixed media” instantly.
- Wet: ink sprays, watercolor, pigment ink stamping, acrylic ink
- Dry: colored pencils, fineliners, gel pens, crayons, charcoal
📚 Related Articles
- All You Need To Know About Stencils
- Embossing 101: Everything About Embossing Folders
- Adhesives From A to Z
- Scrapbooking: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started
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If you want printable elements to practice layering, collage, and mixed media composition, a free sampler is available from WondersArtist.
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All Access Membership gives you instant downloads for clipart, digital papers, journaling pages, and cardmaking kits—perfect for mixed media layering and collage practice.
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🌷 Final Thoughts
Mixed media is where “rules” get quiet and experimentation gets loud. Start simple (one wet + one dry medium), then add texture, collage bits, and highlights as your confidence grows. The only limit is your imagination.
