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.
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