Mixed Media + Painting Abstractly

Instructor: Katey Sandy

Supply List:

For those wanting to focus on collage and mixed media: 

• Bring what you have! Most anything is useable and fun to experiment with!
• Collage can be done on most papers, canvas, or cradle boards. If not sure bring what you have and we can talk about choices the first day.
• Bring a variety of papers, painted tissue papers, old paintings on paper you can cut up and any other interesting objects…most anything works with collage. Magazines are available in the classroom.
• You will need acrylic gel medium – gloss or matte – for adhering collage pieces.
• Paints, pens, pastels etc. can be used with collage for mixed media works. I prefer using acrylics and I use both tube acrylics (various brands & quality) and Golden fluid acrylic for mixed media pieces.
• Mixed media is just that – a chance to use what you have and experiment. 

For those focusing on painting abstractly – again bring what paints and materials you have. If you are just beginning and want to try acrylics I suggest starting with the following:

• Paintings can be done on canvas, boards, paper etc. Bring what you have and/or would like to (try) work on…any size. Gesso is needed for boards. For using acrylics on paper I like Strathmore Aquarius II but other papers work too. An acrylic gel medium to coat the paper is helpful.
• For paints I use primarily use Golden fluid acrylics but tube acrylics work fine (even some of the student grade acrylics will get you started – but I don’t suggest using craft type acrylic paints) Get some basic primary colors: a Cadmium red medium; Primary yellow; Ultramarine blue, Titanium white; Bone black and in the Golden fluid acrylics I particularly like and use Sap Green, Transparent Pyrrole orange, yellow ochre, & Quinacridone Burnt Orange. There are lots of fun colors but start with a few basics to see if you like acrylics and which kind, before you invest a lot.
• For brushes – watercolor brushes work fine especially for fluid acrylics. Start with a few round and flat brushes – a couple each - small, medium, and large. I like an angle brush.
• The use of masa paper will be introduced. For those wishing to try this paper, purchase and bring some masa paper. 

For those wanting to do a montage design piece: (will be taught upon request)

• You will need some lightweight paper for sketching; the same size of your final piece is helpful. (I use newsprint)
• Tracing paper the size of your drawing is also helpful
• Transfer paper – both graphite and white are useful
• For painted picture – Strathmore Aquarius II for acrylic paints or watercolor paper of your choice if you plan to paint with watercolors. Canvas or wood cradle boards may also be used directly (need gesso for cradle boards). For pastels – the paper you usually use. 
• You will need pencils and kneaded or white plastic erasers for doing montage drawings
• You will need a permanent black pen for outlining your montage design prior to painting. I prefer a medium point.
• For painting your design bring what you have – watercolors or acrylics. Fluid or tube acrylics both work. I prefer Golden Fluid acrylics but any brand will do. You will also need various size watercolor brushes.
• THEME PHOTOS FOR IDEAS FOR YOUR MONTAGE! PHOTOS OF A TRIP ARE A GREAT WAY TO START - OR FLOWER PHOTOS YOU HAVE TAKEN IN YOUR GARDEN OR ANY OTHER THEMATIC PHOTOS! OF COURSE YOU CAN DRAW FROM YOUR MEMORIES TOO. 

FOR ALL THE ABOVE AREAS:

• You will need some sort of palette
• Paper towels or old towels are helpful.
• You will need a portfolio for your work and you may want a drawing board and tape to tape down your work. 

MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU NEED TO BRING A WILLINGNESS TO PLAY AND EXPERIMENT WITH NEW MATERIALS AND METHODS.