Mixing Mediums: What Works, What Doesn't

I've recently become rather obsessed with making pieces using a mix of wet and dry media. 

Here's one example:

For my whimsical bluebird, I used Inktense Pencils, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, an iridescent water color palette, and a white gel pen. I prefer Strathmore mixed media 400 series paper. I like its thickness, smooth texture and bright white color. I have also used the Strathmore 400 series watercolor paper for these types of pieces. Although it works very well for the wet media, I really enjoy the smooth finish of the mixed media paper.

What I find appealing about mixing these types of media is the ability to create various shades and textures. Figuring out which mediums I can mix has been key for me. Below I'll list some of the mediums I like, and which ones I've found work well together.

Derwent Inktense Pencils:

These have quickly become my favorite pencils to work with. They have a variety of colors, some of which are incredibly vibrant.  The great thing about these pencils they are permanent when they are dry, hence the name Inktense. The dry pencils can be sketched with and blended, and erased (within reason). Add water and they become ink, and you get a permanent application of color. Their permanence makes them ideal to work on top of with other wet media, inks, or dry media like colored pencils. This is also their greatest drawback, once water is applied, there is no way to erase. 

One caveat, mixing too many colors in a sketch without applying water in between, can make them muddy once you start painting. It's better to work in layers, let them dry, and then apply more Inktense. They dry incredibly quickly on the mixed media paper.

I've successfully worked over top of Inktense using regular watercolor, colored pencils, chalk pencils and gel pens and other inks.

Prismacolor Colored Pencils:

These colored pencils blend with each other extremely well, and you can't beat the wide variety of colors. They have a somewhat waxy texture, which can be a good and bad thing in a piece using multiple mediums. I like them for adding fine details on top of inktense or regular watercolor. They do not work well with gel pens or chalk pencils. The chalk will not stick to them, and the gel pens have a similar issue. 

 

General's Pastel Chalk Pencils:

Pastel chalk pencils have a fragile, soft texture, chalk-like as the name implies.They add soft colors in a matte finish. I use these on top of dry watercolor or Inktense. Typically I use them to soften colors that need to blend better or that are too bright.They do not work well with colored pencils, as already noted. Gel pens do not glide on top chalk pencils, and it can clog the tip. I found this one out the hard way! Really I use these sparingly when mixing mediums. They smudge easily as well, so they might be nice as a finishing touch, but I wouldn't layer them too thick.

General's Watercolor Pencils:

These pencils allow you to sketch and erase as normal, and when you add water you will create a soft, pastel colored watercolor image. They are not permanent like the Inktense pencils, adding more water will cause them to move and blend. This is one of the great things about watercolor, but it limits their use when combing them with other mediums. They will make a nice under painting, and dry mediums or pen and ink will work well on top once they are fully dry.

 

Gel Pens and Other Inks

I really only use white and black in pens and ink. I like the white and black to add details and small highlights or deep shadows. However I'd like to experiment with other colors for some detail work soon! These work well combined with dry watercolor or Inktense paintings. I haven't had much success using them with colored pencils or chalk pencils.

 

I hope this break down of my favorite mediums has given you some useful information. I'd love to hear if you have mediums you enjoy, or tips you would like to share.