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Collage materials can be added to add visual interest
and texture to a painting surface. Artwork by Misty Mawn. |
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When I feel creatively blocked or
bored, I revert back to childhood and start to play. Doodling, writing
stream-of-conscious text, or painting loosely—all of these can loosen you up
and inspire you to take risks. Working with mixed media can yield the same
results, which explains its ever-growing appeal among artists of all
backgrounds. From beginning to end, working with various media can lead to
unexpected results. That's what I like about it the most, and those divergent
but altogether interesting approaches are what Cloth Paper Scissors showcases in every issue.
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Salt produces white, star shapes on
the surface of a watercolor painting.
Artwork by Jacqueline Sullivan. |
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Editors and artists from
Cloth Paper Scissors discuss how to work
through various creative processes, including how to manipulate working
surfaces to achieve certain effects. Printmaking, collage, and dyeing—every one of those methods allow you to take your work in new directions. If you choose to
dye your surface, keep in mind that although all water-based media are
intermixable, waterproof or solvent-based inks get gummy when mixed.
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Printing images on paper can be
the first step for a new artwork.
Artwork by Moira Ackers. |
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Adding elements like salt, sand,
and charcoal to a watercolor painting can produce interesting effects as well.
Salt pushes paint away, leaving star-shaped dots. Sand does the opposite,
leaving dark marks on the paper surface. This can lend a sense of depth and
texture in your artwork, leading to a piece that a viewer will want to reach
out and touch—or, better yet, purchase!
Traditional practices and
techniques will always have their place in an artist's skill set, but working
with a sense of adventure is what can really lead to creative breakthroughs. Cloth Paper Scissors is the mixed-media
resource that can help you expand your creative repertoire and watch your work
grow in new ways.
