dimanche 5 avril 2015

Inspiring Work By Mixed Media Portrait Artists

By Iva Cannon


Portraiture has been used through the ages to capture the appearance of individuals and has many times even captured something of the character of the individual as well. Today portraiture is being interpreted by a new breed of mixed media portrait artists. For them no tools, techniques or substrates are off limits. They combine elements in ways to achieve one-of-a-kind effects. Some of them combine only a few different elements whilst others use a great variety to express themselves.

A particular artist often needs to experiment in order to achieve a desired result. This is part of the process of creating and the final result may even come about by a happy accident. In most cases, however, these works take hours and hours of meticulous planning before even starting a piece. Ideas, tools and materials are gathered and combined to produce a harmonious composition. Some artists with formal fine art training are embracing the freedom of this genre. Others are largely self-taught and years of experience have brought them success.

Many different techniques are used and a successful combination is often only discovered by a process of experimentation. There are those who add elements in layers to create the textures and dimensions they are looking for. There are others who create layers and then peel some away, sand, scratch or rub to reveal the different layers. Stenciling, weaving, sponging and stamping are some other techniques.

The types of substrates used are also extremely varied. Paper, canvas and wood are commonly used but other surfaces not usually associated with art are used too. One artist paints portraits on antique, wooden doors and another creates her own fabric paper by combing paper, fabric, glue and paint.

Using laser printers and copy machines is another option today. The original can be drastically altered in this way. It can be enlarged or reduced. Pieces of the original may be overlapped, ripped or creased. Composition is very important in such cases and the overall impression needs to be well thought out. A more graphic, dynamic result can be obtained by using these techniques. Powders, gels, waxes, inks, charcoal and many other materials can be used and combined where necessary to achieve specific results. The imagination of the artist is the only limitation.

Portraits created in this way often address larger issues than just preserving the appearance of one individual. Ideas such as the search for self identity, finding clarity in a world full of uncertainty and much more are often captured. It is all about combining, layering and experimenting to push boundaries and capture the attention of the viewer.

All kinds of different materials are used, from fibers and fabrics to beads, newsprint and feathers. Three-dimensional objects such as buttons, chains and keys are also used. Using such materials helps to create texture and give depth to a piece. Hand-embroidery and other crafted elements may even be introduced, all adding to the final result.

This genre has allowed boundaries to be crossed and new territory to be conquered. The works being created are cutting edge and the best of these appear in galleries all over the world. They are sought after by art collectors. However, there are pieces that are not too expensive to be purchased and displayed in a home.




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