Mixed Media Art Found Objects

You can never have too much stuff in your collection, ready and at hand for your next Mixed Media Art project. But you don’t need to purchase special, shop made embellishments. I am always on the lookout for odd pieces of paper, sticks, colourful feathers, rusty pieces of metal and bottle caps that have been run over. All of these items can be used to add detail into your artwork.

My obsession with collecting found objects began after starting down the mixed media path. In my blogging travels, I found fantastic artwork with old keys and bottle caps. I was drawn into the beauty of adding antique objects into artwork; taking an everyday item and creating a story in the piece of mixed media art. I am now embarrassed to admit that I have even bought these items from craft stores which had been repackaged and sold to unsuspecting artists.

After several purchases I realised that some of this stuff was things I could find around my own house or in my Grandma’s bottom drawer. I didn’t need to buy repackaged items from a craft store when I could find these items around me. I needed to put my “art stuff” glasses on.  Once I had changed my mindset, it was amazing at the things I could find around me that can be used in my art.

On a recent foray into country Victoria, we were walking around the local lake and found an area that must have been an old dump. While many of the pieces were broken, there were a few pieces worth saving. I’m not quite convinced I have found any antique pieces but they will clean up nicely.

As you expand your creativity in the Mixed Media Art field, make sure you are wearing your “found object” glasses when you are out on a walk, tidying up an old drawer or slinking through an antique shop. You never know what you may find. And you will be surprised when that bolt of inspiration hits while you are creating  and you remember those found objects you have hidden away.

Happy Creating!

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We are so excited to see our community growing – it is such a great way to let you know what is going on around the place and to share the work of other artists that inspire us.

Our new ebook is under construction and will be available soon!

 

What is Artella anyway?

So you’ve seen the Artella links around the Mixed Media Art website, but who are they? And what can they offer?

I have been a fan of Artella for many years, even before my Mixed Media Art site. The site has a community feel and is headed by Marney, who describes herself as “Artella Founder, Mango Lover, Hula Dancer”. Now who could argue with that!

There are so many areas of Artella Land “the creative isles of words, art, and spirit” that it takes a bit of navigation to get around.

Artellagram is their regular e-mail, letting us know what they have been up to and what has been added. There is an artists profile in “In The Studio” section and lots of inspiration in the “Creativity Tip”

The Member Ship – offering a range of membership “cabins”, ranging fro $6 to $10 per month. Each of the 5 different cabins have different inclusions and offers a slight different focus, whether it be art jouralling, digital art or general mixed media art.

Artella Cafe – here is the community centre of the site, with the Blog, Galleria and Forum areas

Travel Agency – If you’re new to Artella Land, here is the  tourist brochure, to get you started and give an idea of what’s available on the Isles of Artella Land,

Vintage Ephemera Marke
t – the Artella store, where all the vintage goodies are available [currently closed until Spring 2010]

Creativity Cove – the Artella store with digital altered book kits, studio collage kits, digital alphabets and image and background sheets, all available for purchase and instant download – no more waiting for the postman to arrive! Kits and sets ranging between $5 and $10

Mangozine Tree – subscription to the Artella magazine and the location to purchase past issues.

Inspiring Springs
– summarised the areas to explore when looking for inspiration, whether it be for your personal art exploration, business resources or creative writing

Fun Fiesta – this has to be seen, rather than described, to go and have a look.

The Shoppes of Artella – bringing together all the little shops for each of the artisans in the Artella community. There are many categories and include jewelry, stationery and home decor to name a few

Kudos Castle – some fantastic feedback the site has received

Submissions Shore
– information for writers and artists about submitting work to Artella

Poetry Plaza
– the poetic corner of the island

This is just a quick summary of the fun and adventure that can be had over at Artella, so go and explore!

Happy Creating,

The Mixed Media Arts Team

P.S. MixedMediaArt.net is an affiliate to Artella

MMAT01 – My final artwork

Those who were on the mailing list in February 2010 and early March, received the first Mixed Media Art Technique freebie – step by step instructions for creating your own painted background. Then they received a digital copy of the finished background, which they could print off and use in their own artwork.

In the final installment of MMAT01, here is what I made from the completed background.

Firstly I got out bits and pieces that were matching in colour to the background. This is how I begin to find inspiration. I knew I wanted to stick to the same pinks and purples, maybe adding some gold or a little more white. And I needed some images. Here is what I found:

Collecting pink and purple elements for collage

Next I added some stamping – some in black, some in white and a little in purple.

Adding some dimension with stamping

Swirl stamps by Rhonna Farrer for Autumn Leaves (this in one of many links). Text stamp from the Venezia plate by Oxford Impressions and “Believe” by Eclectic Images. Both black and white inks by Brilliance – one of my favourite inks; it’s permanent when dry but can be cleaned off stamps and the ink pad is nice and “juicy”.

mixed media art collage in pink and purple

Here is the final piece. Image found at Art-e-zine – they have the most exquisite images; all they ask for in return is for you to add an image to the collection. More information on using digital images in mixed media art can be found at our companion blog Create Mixed Media Art.

I hope you have enjoyed the first Mixed Media Art Technique. Please remember to add links to your artwork at the Mixed Media Art Technique post.

We want you to get creating!