Essential Art Supplies and Materials for Mixed Media Artists

Mixed media thrives on variety. Every layer - whether its paper, paint, texture, or a found object - adds depth and meaning to the work. Choosing the right art supplies and materials for mixed media isn't just about what's available at the store; it's about discovering tools that invite expression, experimentation, and surprise. From acrylic paints and mixed media papers to collage supplies, texture mediums, and recycled materials, the options are vast. This guide introduces the best supplies for mixed media artists, covering types, popular brands, and creative uses to help you build a toolkit that inspires your unique style.

Acrylic Art Supplies and Materials

Explore a wide range of vibrant acrylic paints for mixed media art from trusted brands. Experiment with different textures, colors, and finishes to add depth to your mixed media creations.

Types of Acrylic Paints:

Heavy Body Acrylics - These have a thick consistency and are often used for impesto techniques and creating textured effects.
Fluid Acrylics - These have a thinner consistency and are suitable for techniques like pouring, glazing, and air-brushing.
Soft Body Acrylics - These paints have a medium consistency, falling between heavy body and fluid acrylics. They can be used for a variety of techniques.
Open Acrylics - These have an extended drying time, allowing for more blending and reworking compared to traditional acrylics.
Acrylic Gouache - Similar to traditional gouache, these paints offer a matte finish and vibrant colors.
Interactive Acrylics - These paints can be reactivated with water even after they've dried, allowing more blending and manipulation.

Popular Brands of Acrylic Paints:

Golden - Known for its high-quality and versatile acrylic paints, including heavy body, fluid, and open acrylics.
Liquitex - Offers a wide range of acrylic paints, including heavy body, soft body, and acrylic gouache.
Windsor and Newton - Known for its acrylic paints, including professional grade options like Artist's Acrylic and more affordable lines like Galaria Acrylics.
Pebeo - Offers acrylic paints like Studio Acrylics (a brand of Pebeo), high-viscosity paints for various techniques.
Blick Studio Acrylics - A budget friendly option available at Blick Art Materials, offering a rane of colors, and consistencies.
M. Graham and Company - Offers artist quality acrylic paints made with walnut for extended working time.
Senneber - Known for its abstract acrylics and artist-quality acrylic paints.
Holbein - Offers a variety of acrylic paint lines, including Heavy Body, Fluid, and Acrylic Gouache.
Da Vinci - Offers a range of acrylic colors and mediums for various techniques.
Daler-Rowney - Offers acrylic paints like System 3 Acrylics, which are versatile and budget friendly..

When choosing acrylic paints, consider factors such as consistency, pigmentations, color range, and techniques you plan to use. It's a good idea to experiment with different brands and types to find the ones that best suit your artistic preferences and needs.

Paper Art Supplies and Materials

Choose high-quality mixed media art paper that can withstand various techniques, such as collage, painting, and sketching.

Types of Mixed Media Art Papers:

Mixed Media Paper Pads - These pads contain sheets of paper specifically designed for mixed media use and are capable of handling wet and dry media.
Watercolor Paper - Cold-press or rough watercolor paper can work well for mixed media projects, especially when incorporating water-based paints.
Acrylic Paper - Some papers are specifically formulated to handle acrylic paints and retain their vibrant colors.
Canvas Paper - Provides a texture similar to canvas, suitable for both wet and dry media, aka, mixed media art.
Drawing Paper - A versatile option for mixed media work, especially if the project involves more drawing and dry media techniques.
Printmaking Paper - Some printmaking papers are sturdy and can handle a variety of media, making them suitable for mixed media projects.

Popular Brands of Mixed Media Paper:

Strathmore - Strathmore mixed media paper offers a variety of paper packs, including the 400 series Mixed Media Pads and the Vision Mixed Media Pads.
Canson - Known for Canson XL Mixed Media Pad, offering a cost effective option for mixed media artists. I have two of these types of pads. I like them very much!
Bee Paper - Offers a range of mixed media art papers, including the Bee Paper Heavyweight Mixed Media Pack.
Fabriano - Provides a mixed media sketchbook that combines different types of paper for various techniques.
Hahnemuhle - Offers a variety of mixed media art papers, including Bamboo Media Paper and the Harmony Watercolor Paper.
Arches - Known for is high-quality watercolor paper, which can also be used for mixed media projects.
Stonehenge - Offers a versatile and durable mixed media paper suitable for a range of techniques.
Art Alternatives - Provides options like the Art Alternatives Mixed Media Art Journal.
M. Graham and Co. - Offers a mixed media journal with a high-quality paper suitable for wet and dry media.

When selecting mixed media papers, consider factors such as paper weight, texture, durability, and the specific media you plan to use. Experimenting with different brands and types will help you find the paper that best suits your creative needs and preferences.

Texture Art Supplies and Materials

Texture mediums in mixed media art can elevate your artwork with mediums like gesso, modeling paste, and gel mediums. These provide fascinating effects and add dimension to your mixed media pieces.

Types of Texture Mediums

Acrylic Gels and Pastes - These come in various consistencies, from soft gels to heavy body pastes, and can be used to create a wide range of textures.
Modeling Paste - A thick, opaque paste used to build up texture and create impasto effects.
Texture Gels - Available in different textures like course, fine, and pumice. These gels add unique surface qualities.
Crackle Medium - Creates a cracked, aged effect as it dries, often use to achieve a weathered look.
Glass Bead Gel - Contains small glass beads that create a sparkling, reflective texture.
Fiber paste - Incorporates fibers for added texture and dimension, creating a fabric-like appearance.
Molding Paste - Used to create raised shapes and patterns, creating a sculpture effect.
Granular Gel - Contains granules that add a gritty texture to the surface.

Popular Brands of Texture Mediums:

Golden - Offers a wide variety of acrylic gel pastes, and texture mediums, including Heavy Gel, Light Molding Paste, and Course Pumice Gel.
Liquitex - Known for its range of acrylic gels and mediums, such as Molding Paste, Glass Beads Gel, and Ceramic Stucco.
Winsor and Newton - Provides texture mediums like Galeria Acrylic Texture Gels and Professional Acrylic Mediums.
Pebeo - Offers a variety of texture gels and modeling pastes, including Gedeo Relief Gilding Paste and Gedeo Vitrail Glass Beads Gel.
Ranger - Known for products like Ranger Texture Paste and Ranger Crackle Paste.
DecoArt - Offers media texture products, including modeling paste, crackle paste, and white gesso with sand.
Prima Marketing - Provides various texture products like Art Basics Heavy Gesso and Art Extravaganza Texture Paste.
Daniel Smith - Offers Watercolor Grounds that can be used to create textured surfaces for watercolor printing.
Art Alternatives - Offers a range of texture gels and modeling pastes for mixed media projects.

When choosing texture mediums, consider the effect you want to achieve, the texture you are looking for and the compatibility of your chosen art materials. Experimenting with different brands and types of texture mediums can lead to exciting and unique artistic results.

Collage Art Supplies and Materials

You will want to gather a variety of materials for collage work, such as old book pages, vintage papers, fabric scraps, and found objects.

Types of Collage Materials:

Paper - Magazines, newspapers, book pages, scrap paper, handmade paper, and tissue paper are commonly used in collage.
Fabric and Textiles - Cloth scraps, lace, fabric swatches, and other textiles add texture and depth to collages.
Photographs - Old photos, printed images, or photographs can be incorporated into collages.
Found Objects - Buttons, beads, keys, shells, dried leaves, a flattened fork found in the road, and other small objects can be glued onto collage compositions.
Ephemera - Postcards, ticket stubs, letters, stamps, and other vintage items can add historical and nostalgic elements.
Paint and Ink - Acrylic paint, watercolors, and ink can be used to add color, texture, and visual interest.
Gel Mediums and Adhesives - These are used to adhere various materials together and create layers.
Texture Mediums - Acrylic gels, pastes, and mediums can add texture and dimension to collages.

Popular Brands for Collage Materials:

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Offers a wide range of art supplies and materials in the form of vintage inspired ephemera, embellishments, and papers for collage.
Decoupage supplies - Brands like Mod-Podge offers a variety of decoupage mediums for adhering and sealing collage materials.
Strathmore - Provides collage papers and mixed media paper pads, suitable for various techniques.
Cavalini and Co. - Known for its vintage inspired ephemera and decorative papers.
Ranger - Offers products like Ranger Distress Collage Mediums and various adhesive options.
Tissue Paper Brands - Brands like Deco Patch and Decoupage Boutique offer colorful tissue papers for collage.
Avery Elle - Offers patterned paper pads and stamps suitable for paper collage.
Golden - Provides gel mediums, texture pastes, and other mediums for mixed media and collage.

Recycled Materials:

Don't overlook everyday items like packaging, labels, and cardboard which can be repurposed for collages. Remember that collage is a versatile and creative art form, so you can explore a wide range of materials based on your vision and style. Mixing and matching various types of materials can lead to captivating and unusually engaging compositions.

In the end, mixed media is less about collecting the "perfect" supplies and more about how you use them. Acrylics, papers, texture mediums, collage materials, and recycled finds each bring their own voice, but it's the layering -- and your willingness to explore - that transforms them into art.

Whether you prefer the reliability of popular brands or the unpredictability of found objects and recycled materials, let your toolkit guide you to discovery. With every torn page, brushstroke, or textured surface, you're not just using materials for mixed media art -- you're shaping stories, textures, and rhythms on the creative path, one layer at a time.