Mixed Media

If you follow what is happening in the Arts & Crafts Industry, you'll know that Mixed Media is the latest trend.  The question on everyone's mind however, is "what's Mixed Media?"  Like any self respecting person living in the 21st century, I "googled" it and came up with these definitions:

 Mixed Media (I think this was from Webster's dictionary):
      

A technique involving the use of two or more artistic media, 

such as ink and pastel 

 or painting and collage, that are combined in a single composition.     

and this from the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

            A term used to describe works composed of different media. The use of mixed media began around 1912 with the Cubist collages and constructions of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque and has become widespread as artists developed increasingly open attitudes to the media of art.

Essentially art can be made of anything or any combination of things.   

You'll notice ONE BIG THING about this definition - mixed media is nothing new! I moderated a panel discussion on this very topic at the recent Craft & Hobby trade show in Chicago last week and one thing really stood out:  There are no rules and it's cool again to be a "crafter" and go wherever your creativity leads you.  A fusion of different skill sets or disciplines opens up a whole new world of opportunities.  You can combine quilting with yarn and/or paint, make canvas collages with paint, paper, photographs and a whole array of embellishments, or add silk or ribbon flowers to an accessory for your favourite sweater, dress, or jacket.  There are no limits, only endless opportunities to explore. Kathie Stull, who owns KS Productions, produces 9 different "how to" craft shows for PBS.  She showed the following project photos to the audience which had been featured on her shows.  There are shows on jewelry/beading, quilting, sewing, crafting and home dec as well as Scrapbook Soup.  Can you guess on which show the projects were featured?  

   

  

There isn't a prize involved here, I just wanted to illustrate how similar, yet how diverse crafting has become. For great mixed media ideas, samples and tutorials, check out Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's blog.  Julie and I host the new TV show, Scrapbook Soup together.  Before adding this hosting duty to her already full plate, Julie was a frequent guest on Scrapbook Memories.  I love her style and energy and we complement each other very well, at least I think so.  I just have to try not to be her mom, since Julie is the same age as my daughter.........LOL   Julie is definitely putting "art" back in the arts & crafts industry, but I'll write more about that later....... Y'all come back now............

Yours truly,
Julie