To begin working in the area of mixed media art, there are some essential tools that you should equip yourself with and keep handy at all times.
By this, I do not mean brushes, canvases, fabric, images-all the physical accoutrements that are important.
What I do mean is that there are necessary implements which will help you grow your art in myriad ways and they are just as important as gesso and twine.
The first thing you need is to have an opinion about something and a willingness to share it by incorporating it into your work.
Your view could be as simple as a belief that happy memories are important to each of us.
With that in mind, now you can begin to formulate how that opinion could be put into a piece of art.
For me, there are some ideas that come to mind immediately.
They include old photographs and love letters.
For you, those images could be totally different and that is what you can build upon to make a statement that your viewers can relate to.
The next thing that mixed media requires is a sense of wonder and the ability to look at the world through a new lens.
Consider that you are in a book store.
What do you see around you? Perhaps you see people, reading material, the carpet, the counter, etc.
Now, imagine that same store being viewed through your new point of reference.
At that moment, you notice which books people are browsing through and what interests them.
You see a mother tending to her small children offering them a snack from her purse.
You turn around and there is an employee with his head rested on his chin looking bored and waiting for a coffee break.
All of these images are grist for your artistic mill to weave into your work as time goes on.
The third thing you need is a sense of abandon allowing you to get beyond "don't"s and "should"s and let your uniqueness guide you.
In other words, if you think that placing an elephant next to a watermelon in your work has significance, be guided by your own inner truth.
Let your imagination dictate the images that you choose instead of trying to emulate someone else's subject matter.
Yours may in fact be more original and readily accepted.
Try it and see what happens.
Finally, it is helpful if there is someone whose opinion you respect that is willing to look at what you have just created.
Listen to what he or she has to say.
There could be something pointed out to you that was previously overlooked.
There could also be a new technique or color you employed that the person is dazzled by and you might want to consider re-using it in future work.
Instead of asking, "Do you like this?" try asking your friend or family member to tell you how they feel when they see it.
Each thing that is said could give you ideas that are useful.
However, one note of caution is necessary at this point.
Remember that the person you ask may be so familiar with your work that the response you receive could be mediocre.
That is alright.
Do not take it personally.
Take in only what is constructive and what you can put to use in a positive way.
If you employ these tools, you will begin to see your art take a new shape and you can grow further in your pursuit of it.
Sitting alone in a studio has its merits because it allows you the necessary time to create.
Being finely-tuned to your own feelings and opinions is vital.
But, in addition, gathering new awareness about other's habits, feelings, and particularly subtle nuances about their behavior can give you new material to use.
Soon, you will be able to capture either through words, images or a combination of both what you have learned to become in touch with through this new perspective.