3 tips for Powertex mixed media art

I love to create mixed art on canvas and it’s no secret that Powertex products are my favourites. As a Powertex tutor I’ve tried lots of different types of projects. These are three tips for using Powertex to create great mixed media art.

If mixed media art is all about using different materials together then using Powertex means you can add some serious ingredients! It’s a fabric hardener, paint and powerful adhesive. Don’t be afraid to use unusual items such as wood, sand, metal parts or even plastic toys but remember Powertex works best with natural materials.

Experimenting is essential to finding what you love but it’s risky. We can make things we don’t like, feel disappointed or think that we’ve wasted supplies. Every artist, crafter and maker made mistakes, messes and things they didn’t like.

If experimenting with your supplies feels too big a leap, find some tutorials, go to a workshop or just start small. Every time you make something you learn more about what you like and don’t like to make. This can be discovering your favourite colours, products you enjoy or results that make you happy!

Play with your supplies rather than trying to create a masterpiece every time.

On this canvas I used Terracotta Powertex and 3d Sand for the first time. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate the sand. I went back later and added black Bister spray and more layers and paint until I was happier with it.

This might not sound like a huge deal but really it is. When I first started out, I spent a lot of time following what other people were doing so I could learn. I used the colours and styles that were popular and the latest products. It was a great way to see what was possible but at some point I needed to make art that was more me and looked less like someone else’s.

One way to do this, is to know what your love and do more of it. Use your favourite colours, materials and techniques in your art to make it truly yours. It will be more fun to create and other people can connect with you because they see what they love too. This is how you start to make art that people know is yours.

Find other Rusty Powder fans or people who adore your upcycled dolls. Whatever it is, use what you love, do what you love and enjoy the process of making.

This is the big one. Adding contrast is a way to boost a piece that lacks a bit of magic. This is just about making something stand out.

If your art feels a bit flat or generic, try adding contrast. This will make your art more interesting. When building up your layers use pieces and textured areas of different sizes. Try adding metallic highlights on a matt black layer or put tiny textures next to large ones, or heavy textures next to smooth ones.

Before you decide a piece is finished, find one last place you can add some contrast. It might be the tiniest of highlights in a dark area.

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful for creating your own mixed media Powertex art. There’s so many techniques with Powertex that it can be hard to pin down your favourites. I recommend you start simple and try something you’re drawn to.

If you’re wondering what this Powertex stuff is, then you might want to read this.

Or if you’d like some further instruction for beginners, you can download tutorials from my Etsy shop.

Here’s a few ideas for supply lists if your new to Powertex.

There is also another article about using Powertex for mixed media art that you might find useful.