A Shortcut to Mixed Media

'Marsh Impressions I'          3.5 x 5.5     mixed media on wood       ©Karen Margulis
the set of three are available in my Etsy shop $125

I love thrift stores!  A few weeks ago I found these small wood plaques for 77 cents each. They had some paper collage work on them. I wasn't interested in the collages. They weren't really my taste. But I did see the possibilities! And the price was right.

So a few weeks ago when I had my acrylics out I painted over the collages. I had no idea what I would do with them but I figured out something would come to me when the time was right.  The edges were black so I left them alone.

Then it came to me. These little pieces of wood with the now textured surface wanted to be a marsh series.  So I took out my oils and painted these three variations on a marsh.

My Mixed Media shortcut paintings

I really like the way the texture of the original paper collage adds interest to the paintings. I consider this mixed media but the first step was already done for me.  What made it so fun is that I knew I didn't have a lot invested in the surface so it was very liberating to just play with the oils and see what developed.

I have another big (ugly) thrift store painting on nice heavy duty gallery wrapped canvas 36x36 that is just waiting to be recycled. Stay tuned!!


P.S.  Be sure to come back Monday for a new You Tube video!  And if you haven't had a chance to check out my latest Digital Demo Download visit my Etsy shop HERE. Take $1 off by using coupon code TRYDEMO at checkout.