Mixed Media chat

What mixed media do you do that dries fairly quick? I love mixed media stuff (I am an art teacher) but I’m also ADHD so I can’t stand waiting for stuff to dry. So my mixed media consists of ink splatters and ink pads and stencils.

So what dries fast?

I am not a mixed media artist by any means, but I do play around with inks and paints and other wet media to produce backgrounds.

I like inking over stencils. Inking then using clear medium gives a nice effect. Have not tried the layered stencils yet, but I really like the look.

Had some fun a couple of weeks ago using inks to colour white acrylic paint to create a sky background on a canvas.

Thanks lovestocreate. I think after Christmas I'll research this a little bit.
Making texture paste has got to be more fun than cooking.

I've been seeing a lot about this after following Willa Wanders on IG. I didn't have time to even think about starting it this quarter so it's good to know you can sign up for year 1 as a self paced option. I'm not really sure that it's something I want to do, it might just be something I like looking at. I almost got myself a gelli plate a couple of months ago, mostly to make card backgrounds, but I have trouble knowing what to add next once I've got a background. I might be better off sticking with patterned paper that looks like mixed media. But then I watch Vicki P making beautiful things with her Stamperia collections and fall back down the mixed media rabbit hole. 

I'm definitely in the mixed media art crowd! From 2005 - 2009ish, I used to sell my mixed media art online. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to do things so I could actually earn a profit at it. I don't make art for sale any more, but I still make it for fun. Time is valuable, so I still use the same systems I used to use when I had to watch every penny and maximize the time I spent creating.

I discovered that you will not get much art made if you are always waiting around for stuff to dry. 

The best tip I could give anyone wanting to succeed with mixed media art: Stop working in linear fashion, from start to finish, on single art pieces.

Instead, group your processes so you can get things done in batches.

Like, if you make your own backgrounds, dedicate an entire session to making dozens of backgrounds. Then let them all dry overnight. Then stuff them all between the pages of books and stick them on your shelf. When you get around to making art pieces that require backgrounds, they'll be there, waiting for you and ready to go. When you're ready to make your finished pieces, you'll be able to grab bunches of backgrounds without having to wait for anything to dry.

If you use stamped images, try stamping in batches. Grab an ink, grab a stamp and stamp a few dozen of that image. Store your stamped images with your stash, and they will be ready to use when you need them.

It is hugely inefficient to stamp on each layout or collage individually, because you have to stop the flow of your creative process to reach for the stamp, dig up an ink to use, do the stamping and then clean up afterwards. Stamping in batches enables you to maximize the time you spend on each of these tasks. 

Same thing if you use stenciled images. Stencil a bunch at one time and let them all dry, then once they are dry, stick them between the pages of books to flatten out so they are ready to use later. Then, for the time you spend, you only have to do one cleanup, but you get a bunch of images out of the deal instead of just one.

Doing it this way saves time and can allow you to be mega productive, because you will drastically reduce that ever-present hurdle of waiting for things to dry when you are ready to create. You also spend a lot less time cleaning up and a lot more time creating. If you're doing collages, you will still have to wait for the glue to dry at the end, unless you use dry adhesive, but that's about it.

Spend a few sessions doing each task that is part of your process (spraying, ink blending, stamping, stenciling, whatever.) Then after you have a big pile of elements to use, do a few sessions making your junk journals, layouts, collages, art pieces or whatever it is you make. You will be amazed at the difference this makes in your productivity; you'll have everything at hand that you need, and you will not waste time waiting for stuff to dry.

She also has an upcoming course about using writing in your art journals. She's always tempting me with her beautiful pages full of color and bold writing. There's a deal on the deckle edge watercolor paper she uses at amazon today (sorry, enabling but it's lovely looking and cheap!) 

Yesterday I watched a video about making multiples of cards that used an 8x10" gel plate for quick backgrounds and so I'm tempted by that again. It seems less messy than smooshing. But then I remind myself that patterned paper is perfectly clean and very easy for me to use... so I'm backing away from the gel plate and mixed media yet again!

joblackford you should try the gelli plate! It is sooooo much fun! Really addicting and you can use paint, alcohol inks, distress inks and oxides. Yes patterned paper is clean but creating your own is so much better! Gelli Arts has lots of great videos on Youtube and quick reels on IG. I sometimes use the backgrounds for die cuts, journals and more! I have tons of stamps and stencils and love the effect that you can achieve with the gelli plate! Your cards will be one of a kind with those Gelli Plate backgrounds. Try it!!!! But make sure to watch the videos as they really do help! Birgit Koopsen is one of my favorite gelli plate artists to watch. Here is the link www.youtube.com/@birgitkoopsen

I have found that my Ranger Dylusions Sprays dry quite fast. Both when spritzing and flicking for splatters.  I hold it way above when spraying, not close at all. By the time I cleaned off my stencil, my paper was dry.