How to play with mixed media in abstract art

In my painting studio, I like to keep things fresh. That often means stepping outside of the usual, reaching for materials that surprise me a little. It might be something I haven’t used in a while, or something I’ve never used at all.

I’ve been especially drawn to collage lately. Old, cut-up paintings that no longer speak to me on their own often find new life in layered works. I’ve also used magazine clippings, torn-up navigational charts, scraps of packaging — almost anything, really, if it sparks something.

Crossings on Crossings

Pairing collage with other mediums—like charcoal, graphite, acrylics—can open up new dimensions in a piece. It changes the texture, the mood, the way light bounces around. It keeps the act of creating lively and full of questions, which is what I think a good art practice needs: some uncertainty. Some permission to play.

If you're feeling stuck, or just curious, I encourage you to experiment. Below, I’ve put together a few simple exercises for anyone—artists or not—looking to loosen up and discover new ways of expressing themselves with materials.

🧪 8 MIXED MEDIA EXERCISES TO EXPLORE

1. Use your scraps
Cut up an old sketch or failed painting and reassemble it into something new. Try layering it over a fresh surface, or combining it with a different material like pastel or pencil.

2. Found paper collage
Grab bits of paper from your daily life: receipts, junk mail, labels, or the inside of envelopes. Arrange and glue them into a composition. No paint necessary (unless you want to).

3. Blind mark-making
With your eyes closed, make marks on a surface using charcoal or graphite. Don’t overthink it. When you open your eyes, respond to those marks with color or collage.

4. Monochrome collage
Choose one color and build a piece using only materials in that shade. This can include fabric, paper, paint, or ink. See how much variety you can find within a single hue.

5. Mixed material drawing
Start with pencil, switch to ink, add pastel, then maybe a little water. Try not to pause. Just keep going until the surface tells you it’s done.

6. Magazine transfer
Use gel medium to transfer a magazine image onto your painting surface. Once it’s dry, peel off the paper and see what remains.

7. Nature + paint
Press leaves, petals, or bark onto paint-covered surfaces to create texture. Or glue natural elements directly into your piece.

8. One hour, one rule
Set a timer for one hour. Choose one rule: no paintbrushes, or only using circles, or everything must touch an edge. See where that takes you.

Experimenting with mixed media can be as simple or as wild as you like. There’s no right or wrong. It’s about getting out of the familiar, noticing what your hands do when they’re given new tools, and maybe, surprising yourself.

Whether or not you consider yourself an artist, I hope these little prompts give you a reason to explore. Creativity isn’t just for the studio — it’s for life.