Mixed Media Artist – Cynthia Stevens

Our Mixed Media Art community is a diverse bunch; from all around the world, with different interests, reasons why we create and a wide range of skills.  Today we have Cynthia Stevens over to play and share two of her pieces.

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Cynthia lives in  Utah, USA, but describes herself as a “transplanted NYer”.  She is a teacher and writer, and has a BA in Theater, with two grown children and two mini-schnauzers.

“I am newish to mixed media art, especially found and altered art,” Cynthia says, “I love eclectic choices in music and reading, including British/Shakespearean, fairies, Broadway and E.E. Cummings”.  Ruben, Isabel Toledo, and the late Alexander McQueen can also be counted amongst the things she loves and finds inspiration in.

Mixed Media art collage

“Purple Picture” is from Cynthia’s first altered book [class taught by artist Teresa Flowers].  It’s made from an old “Datebook”, kept for quotes and illustrations.  Cynthia started with torn and wrinkled tissue paper for the background, using Mod Podge to glue it all down.  Embellishments include ribbon, multi-colored lace, a vintage postage stamp, torn picture and bit of art from copyright-free sources with some silver ink and sprinkles of silver glitter.

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Mixed Media Art Collage

“Time” picture has been added to the same book as the “Purple Picture”.  This reflects Cynthia’s thoughts of the passing of time.  Some parts, like the bicycle man, were already on the page.  The old Italian Renaissance building is a clear print from a permanent print in public domain.  Collage pieces from public domain, plus craft stick-ons. Only glue was Mod Podge.  All page edges in this book were cut to look ripped by craft scissors.

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Thanks so much for stopping by, Cynthia and sharing your altered datebook with us.

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Welcome to Mixed Media Arts

If you are looking for inspiration and great mixed media ideas, then you have come to the right place!

Mixed Media Arts covers such a range of topics and techniques:

Have a look around and feed your inner muse – you never know when inspiration will hit. And remember; everyone can create!

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Happy Creating!
Mixed Media Art Team

What is Mixed Media Art?

The term “mixed media art” is a broad definition that covers many arts and crafts, including collage, assemblage (both 2D and 3D), altered objects, including books and boxes, handmade greeting cards, artist trading cards (ATCs) and tags, art journalling and book making.

The “mixed media” used includes paints, papers and board of all descriptions, glues, buttons, fabrics, found objects, photos, metal bits, fibres, things from nature, inks, pencils, crayons, markers, pastels and polymer clays, to name a few.

Chipboard elements are easy to use in your mixed media collages and assemblage


What materials do I need to get started?

The beauty of mixed media art is the flexibility to start with things around you and expend from there. To get started you need a substrate or base. This could be a clean sheet of paper, sketchbook, a cereal box or anything else that may be sitting still.  Then, if you are heading down the collage path, you’ll need something to stick with (glue sticks are fine to begin with) and something to stick on (coloured papers, newspapers, catalogues, and anything else that grabs you).

If you are heading down the drawing / painting path, then once you have your substrate, you’ll need something to make a mark, whether its pencils, paints, crayons, markers or pastels.

Any or all of these are all you need to get started. Just use the things you have around you

What skills do I need to get started?

Another attractive feature of Mixed Media Art is that you don’t need fine art or drawing skills. That doesn’t mean you are excluded from mixed media art if you do have these skills, but it opens up a world of creativity for the rest of us who like to make things but “Can’t draw”.

The skills you need to get started are as simple as being able to use a pencil, scissors and glue. These skills will expand and develop with practice, depending on which “branch” you follow.  More complicated skills of mixing paints and developing your “artist eye” will happen as you expand your own creativity. Specific skills for particular media or art types will present themselves as you move into these areas. As with many things in life, the techniques and teachers will appear when you are ready.

Hanging Art

Hanging Art