Explore mixed-media materials and techniques

Discover much more from Lydia in her full article in the summer 2021 issue of The Artist.

Lydia Bauman studied Fine Art at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. She has since had nearly 40 solo exhibitions in the UK and abroad, lectured in art history, notably at the National Gallery in London, The Arts Society, Martin Randall Tours, Cox & Kings and others. Her collectors include Saatchi and Saatchi, The Dorchester, Deutsche Bank, State Street Bank, Freshfields, Warner Bros, United Airlines and Gordon Ramsay. Discover more on her website, www.lydiabauman.com.

Discover mixed-media techniques and materials

Lydia Bauman never felt satisfied with the traditional media of oil, acrylic and watercolour, and her work includes a wide range of unconventional materials and mixed-media techniques.

Follow her ideas and suggestions for mixing up your media and follow her demonstration to paint a view of Mount Fuji.

LYDIA’S TEN TOP TIPS

Do not use a mixed-media technique on unstable supports such as paper, card or canvas; a 0.6cm MDF panel works best.
Do prime the panel: one layer on the painting side, two on the reverse, as well as sides.
Beeswax works much better than candlewax, especially when mixed with a small quantity of turpentine.
When melting wax, do use a double container (the one containing wax should sit in a larger one with water).
Do ventilate the room when using resin, or wear a protective mask.
Only dry pigments or water-based paints are compatible with plaster powder (filler).
All colours will look much paler once the plaster powder is dry, so add more than you think you need for the desired effect.
By contrast a layer of resin over a base colour will deepen the colour considerably.
Invest in a small hairdryer to use to speed up the drying process, or to soften wax again, to smooth or shape it.
Do experiment but not on work-in-progress. Use a spare bit of panel as some unexpected effects are irreversible!

WHERE TO BUY ALTERNATIVE MEDIA

Plaster powder – Polyfilla or Tetrion, for indoor use, from any DIY shop
Resin– I use All Purpose Polyurethane Resin from Alec Tiranti: https://tiranti.co.uk
Beeswax pellets – readily available online
Metal leaf (gold, silver, copper) from Handover at Jackson’s Art Supplies
Copper Patina – Modern Options from Great Art: www.greatart.co.uk
Instant Rust – Modern Options form Great Art: www.greatart.co.uk
Texture Gels – Jackson’s own brand: www.jacksonsart.com
Iridescent or interference colours – Golden

DEMONSTRATION Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji, mixed media on panel, (122x122cm)

Discover more mixed-media ideas and demonstrations.

Begin by making a light charcoal sketch over the primed surface to establish the composition.

Make adjustments to the composition to achieve a good balance, adhering to a ration of equal foreground and background planes and a thin strip of middle ground.

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Block in the main tonal areas with varying quantities of black, to establish a key for further layers.

Working on the line of trees in the middle ground, add a layer of beeswax over a dark ground.

Then use a sharp tool to scratch lines into the wax, then fill them with a light plaster mixture.

Wipe off the excess to reveal the lovely filigree pattern of bare branches.

Introduce a gradation of colour in the sky, starting from the first layer of plain grey.

To create the pronounced texture in the hill in the middle distance, use sand trapped in resin, which is made more clearly visible with another layer of sepia-coloured plaster mixture.

Add details to the mountain’s rocky surface and reflections on the water in the foreground using pigments mixed with plaster.

Finally, create an effect of snow on the peak of the mountain with a thin layer of pure white plaster. Add luminosity and aerial perspective with a final coating of iridescent colours – golden in the sky and blue against the mountainside.

Mount Fuji, mixed media on panel, (122x122cm)