Combining 2 to 3 different mediums......

[karenoue]

Hi there,

I'm currently very interested in mixed media art and would like to know where/how I could find out which mediums can safely be used on top of others and which ones need a workable fixative etc - for example, I know the general rule with acrylics and oils is *acrylics on the bootom and oils on top because the other way around doesn't hold. I would really appreciate it someone could give me some direction

Smiles,

Karen!:)

[idylbrush]

There are so many possibilities that it might be a better option to tell us what you are thinking about and we may be able to offer some of our insights. This is a very diverse and intersting group and there is a great deal of knowlege here to share but you need to help us out a little.

[Mary Woodul]

Karen, welcome to Wet Canvas and Mixed Media. You will find this medium fascinating. I suggest you read the threads in this link and as Howard says give us an idea of which way you want to go.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204403

[karenoue]

Hi, and thank you for the welcome

I want to work in soft pastels, oil pastels, water soluble oil crayons,acrylics and watercolor - these would be combined with drawings at times, in charcoal, pencil or even ink.
I guess I'd like to know what kind of combinations I could use with the above listed mediums.

I think I could do a charcoal or pencil drawing, then use watercolor and then soft pastels on top of that - correct??

Could I also use oil pastels on top of this? Would I need a workable fixative first?

Is there any time when you can use oil first and then acrylics with some sort of fixative/sealer between them?

What is the rule of thumb when mixing mediums and having to use sealers etc.

I guess as mentioned above I'm interested in combinations of the mediums that will work satisfactorly with each other and not against.

I will also be using various other materials and mediums such as gesso's, gel mediums, papers, gel pens, water soluble oil crayons, texture pastes etc.

Well I guess I packed quite a bit into one question but even if you can give me some direction, I would really be very appreciative.

Thank you so much,

Karen:)

[idylbrush]

Whoa there! Slow down a bit. Generally you can use charcoal, pencil and inks at any point before you apply an oil element. Water elements should be used before oil elements unless you want to use something like a oil pastel as a resist. In that case you can put a water element over the oil pastel in a thinned form and it will not cover the oil stick elements. Acrylics can be used as a water color medium when thinned. Gesso can be usned in it all or it can be used with acrylics as a white.

Colored pencil and pen and ink can be used generally up to the point where oil elements are added. Papers need to be added before most oil elements unless you are trying to gain a certain affect but then you have to be careful since the oils can deteriorate unprotected paper products causing them to become brittle and break down.

As a general rule use your pencils, pens, charcoals, gesso, texturing acrylic mediums, papers (not gel pens since they are not archival unless you are doing hobby work or work not for sale {unless they are marked as being archival}). I have used watercolor crayons over acrylics with good results.

Anything with an oil element should maybe be the last onto the surface.

As a caution, I would experiment with one or two products at a time until I got a good understanding of how it worked. After that I would consider adding an element. In other words, work up to this slowly and with intent. Build your working understanding of each element and see how things repsond. You might even consider putting a layer of clear gloss medium over the water elements before applying the oil elements. Just be cautious, move slow and be on the lookout for problems.

I am sure others will have points of views that vary from mine so it may be a case of weighing it all out and doing what seems appropriate.

Just be sure to use High Quality Archival materials in an appropriate and safe manner.

Things like gel pens, house paint and crepe paper may not be viable solutions.

[bcraver]

I am just starting out in this, and I agree with Howard. Generally I have used pastels and charcoal on paper, using a workable fixative on top to protect from smudging (although the fixative really does a number on the pastel, which you just have to work with). I adhere the papers to the support with acrylic medium and cover again with medium. Then add stamped elements or other paper elements. Only after all the water based stuff is done would I add oil sticks or other oil type medium. But there is no way to know what the work will need until you just jump right in and let it evolve!

I have found so many answers in this forum using the search tool, so take some time to look around as well as asking for questions. These folks are terrific!

[karenoue]

Thank you very much to both of you for responding to my questions. I think I get the gyst of things - basically water first, oil second and the source might have to be prepped first to take the oil.

I finished a couple of pieces the other night - one was purely acrylics on stretched canvas with a magazine pic and some fabric.....I wanted to enhance some areas of the acrylics with oil pastels but I didn't know if I had to use a coat of gel medium first or not. I attempted a wee bit over the paint but it was blending at all.

Another smaller piece that I did on watercolor paper - I gessoed it first, drew my sketch and used quite a bit of soft pastels with acrylics. I found the soft pastels blended nicely with water and a brush as well.

I'm including the pieces here to show you both so you can see what direction I'm going in. I hope I'm doing this right! Again, thank you so much for your help - I'm going to stay tuned here in this area for more tips

Warmly,

Karen :)

[eclectix]

I agree pretty much with everything here, but... rules are of course meant to be broken.
I routinely use acrylics on top of oil pastels. I use a flexible glaze on top of the oil pastel to protect it, and often add even more oil pastels on top of this layer of glaze. As long as you use a flexible glaze (so it won't crack) and treat it forever like an oil pastel painting (don't let anyone rub it), it should be fine.
Also I wanted to add that mixing soft pastels with oil pastels can be a problem. I have done this before, and while it looks fine at first, over time the soft pastel will leech out oils from the oil pastel and change the color of the soft pastel immediately contacting oil pastel. You'll get a dark "halo" effect.

[bcraver]

Nice pieces of art! I like the flow and the texture of the first one and am really attracdted to the rich colors and patterns in the second.

Isn't this a great forum? I find the attitude of "just give it a try" to be very liberating and encouraging.