Blending Collage and Painting in Mixed Media
- Denise Cerro
- Oct 19
- 5 min read
The Beauty of Mixing Collage and Painting
Hi friends...I wanted to share a little of what I've been working on in my art, and with my Studio Sunday class over the last several weeks. We've been working on two mixed media pieces in class...one as our main creative piece, the second as it's side kick! You know, side kick...where you clean off your brush, add extra papers and play around on while you waiting for your main piece to take shape!
I absolutely love papers and I equally love paint! Combining collage and painting brings together two distinct art forms that really complement each other beautifully. Collage involves assembling various materials like paper (I love anything assemblage), fabric, or photographs onto a surface. Painting over and around all those papers adds depth, color, and emotion through brushstrokes and pigments. What is not to love about this?
When you mix these two, you get a layered effect that can tell a story or evoke feelings in a way that neither medium could achieve alone. For example, I might start with a collage base of torn neutral papers, adding more detailed decorative papers on top...and then paint over them to unify the composition or highlight specific areas. This interplay creates texture and visual interest that draws viewers in...and makes me very happy!
I often use this technique to experiment with contrasts...rough versus smooth, matte versus glossy, or abstract versus realistic. The possibilities are endless, and the results can be pretty wonderful!
Essential Materials for Mixing Collage and Painting
To get started with mixing collage and painting, you need some basic materials.
Here’s a simple list to help you prepare:
Base surface: Canvas, wood panel, or heavy watercolor paper work well.
Adhesives: Gel or liquid matte medium to attach collage elements securely.
Collage materials: Old magazines, newspapers, fabric scraps, textured paper, photographs, dictionary pages, corrugated cardboard...the list is endless!
Paints: Acrylics are ideal because they dry quickly and adhere well to collage surfaces.
Brushes and tools: Various brush sizes, palette knives, silicone bowl scrapper and even fingers for applying paint.
Sealant: A varnish or workable fixative to protect your finished piece.
I love having most of my materials ready...
it makes the creative process smoother and more enjoyable.
How to create painting & collage mixed media art
Creating a mixed media piece with both painting and collage involves several steps that blend both techniques seamlessly...though there is no set rule to how many layers to add! I just keep going until it feels and looks right to my eye. Here's a simple guide to help you create your own:
Plan your composition: Find an inspiration piece and/or rough sketch your idea. Decide where you want to place your main subject.
Prepare your base: Choose a sturdy surface like canvas or thick paper. Apply a base coat of paint to create a background color...or a first layer of papers. I prefer the paper method as it gives me more to work with as I add more layers.
Add collage elements: Cut or tear your chosen materials and arrange them on the surface. Experiment with layering and overlapping. Once you're satisfied, glue them down using your gel or liquid medium.
Incorporate painting: After the collage is dry, start painting over and around the elements...I enjoy negative painting around the elements to bring them forward. Use paint to unify your piece, add details, and create contrast. You can paint transparently to let the collage show through or opaquely to cover parts...I love this technique.
Add texture and details: You can scratch into the paint or collage for interesting effects.
Seal your artwork: Once everything is dry, apply a varnish or fixative to protect your work. Use a varnish with UV protection if you aren't sure your papers are colorfast.
This process encourages experimentation.
Don’t be afraid to try different materials and techniques to find your unique style.
Tips for Creating Dynamic Mixed Media Art
• Balance your composition: Use the rule of thirds or golden ratio to place focal points. I
find the rule of thirds the easiest to remember and it's my natural "go to" composition.
Play with color: Use contrasting or complementary colors to create visual interest. Layer transparent washes of paint over collage for subtle effects...I love this!
Vary textures: Combine smooth painted areas with rough collage materials...this contrast adds depth. This is a great place to try stencil relief patterns as well.
Use repetition: Repeat shapes, colors, or patterns to unify the artwork.
Incorporate text: Adding words or letters from magazines can add meaning or narrative. If you know my work...you know I love numbers and text as design elements.
Experiment with scale: Mix large collage pieces with small painted details or vice versa...this makes it much more interesting and balanced.
Work in layers: Build your artwork gradually, allowing each layer to dry before adding the next. Don't be afraid to add lots of layers...even covering up things you love to make a better painting!
Where to Find Inspiration and Resources
It's pretty endless where you can find inspiration...just look around! The piece I'm working on for class has taken a completely different route half way through, after I was introduced to the above book of artist Patricia Nix. I am in love with her loose painterly style and how she pieces it all together...not to mention how she created in so many different mediums. Here's a few more ideas...
Art galleries and museums: Study how contemporary artists use collage and painting.
Nature: Collect natural materials like leaves, petals, or bark to include in your collage.
Magazines and books: Look for interesting images, textures, and typography.
Online platforms: Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and artist websites offer unique collage and painting supplies and examples...like mine...Denise Cerro Studio!🤭
Workshops and classes: Join local or online art and mixed media workshops to learn new techniques and meet other artists...you learn so much from fellow students in classes!
Exploring different sources keeps us creativity fresh and inspires new projects!
Embracing the Journey of Mixed Media Art
Mixing collage and painting is more than just a technique...it’s a journey of discovery. Each piece you create teaches you something new about materials, composition, and your own artistic voice. Don’t worry about perfection; focus on exploration and your creative expression!
Try different combinations, make mistakes, and learn from them. Over time, you'll develop a style that is uniquely yours. Remember, the magic of mixed media lies in its unpredictability and the joy of blending diverse elements into a harmonious whole. You can see the piece I'm working on, in progress, over on my YouTube channel...
Listen to the whispers of your soul...
find out who you are and do it on purpose!
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