




































CHAPTER  12: 
PREPARATORY STEPS AND PROCESSES FOR MIXED-

MEDIA AND  OTHER PAINTING GENRES 

 

Contributed by 

Okonkwo, Chinonyelum Gloria 

 

INTRODUCTION 

Mixed media art is defined broadly by Hobbs (1985) as covering 

all those works that defy the traditional use of material and 

methods, combining two and three-dimensional approaches in 

executing a single work of art. Its application and processes are 

broad in scope. It has no specific material and it uses different 

substances and objects as material to produce a work of painting 

with a very good visual effect. Contemporary painters mix their 

media by attaching objects to their canvases (Fichner-Rathus 

1998). Adams (1997), and Adams (1999) state that mixed media 

involves making use of found objects which are taken from 

everyday sources and incorporated into a work of art. There are 

different types of mixed media art. They include collage, 

assemblage, installation, wet and dry media art. Collage involves 

pasting and gumming of weightless objects such as paper to a flat 

surface to form a composition. Sayre (1997) situates that collage is 

an all-inclusive medium. 

 

Mixed media painting 

Mixed media painting technique is a technique or style of painting 

that combines two or more mediums or art forms to create a work 

of painting. Hagger (as cited in Adjei 2007) defined mixed media 

art as the use of different painting materials such as watercolour, 

crayon, oil, Indian ink, or similar combinations on a single support. 



Preparatory Steps and Processes for Mixed-media and other painting genres… 

203 

 

In mixed media, different media or materials are used to create 

unique visual art. It is an art form that doesn’t place restrictions on 

people who do not know how to draw. Elements such as paper, 

wood, sand, fabric and others, are added to the support before 

painting. The addition of another element to the painting helps to 

create interesting texture and colour that can be incorporated into 

the painting. mixed media painting can be done either on wood, 

board or canvas. Materials used for mixed media painting include 

Wood panel, Colour, Paint brushes, Pallet knives, Water for mixing 

paint, Cotton cloth – for cleaning paint drops, Colour palette, 

Scissors, Sand, Stick, and Glue. While preparing to execute a 

mixed-media painting there are important factors to consider; 

support with which to make art, materials to work with, and a work 

space. 

 

Steps in surface preparation for mixed media painting    

In painting, "support" refers to the physical surface or material 

upon which a painting is created. The support serves as the 

foundation for the artwork and can significantly affect the final 

appearance and durability of the painting. Different types of 

supports can be used in painting, and they can include: Canvas, 

wood, paper, metal, Masonite and fabric. Surface preparation refers 

to the various methods that can be used to treat the surface of a 

material prior to coating application, the use of adhesives and other 

procedures. Surface preparation can be done either chemically or 

mechanically to clear the surface of pre-existing coatings, residue, 

surface imperfections, organic matter, oxidation and other 

contaminants. Various surface preparation techniques are used to 

prepare substrate material such as aluminium, concrete plastic, 

steel and other alloys and wood. There are different methods of 



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204 

 

surface preparation for different materials and applications. They 

tend to follow some set stages.  

Stages in preparation of a Support  

There are several stages that are followed to successfully prepare a 

surface for adhesion, coating, welding or other procedures. 

 Surface condition assessment  

 Remove old coating 

 Remove oil, chloride, Acid and other surface containments  

 Remove loose parts of the surface  

 Profile the surface   

 Dry the surface 

Surface preparation ensures that a material is ready to receive a 

coating, be adhered to another material or other similar surface-

related application. A dirty, oily, flaking surface can greatly reduce 

the effectiveness of a new coating, cause adhesion failure or 

undermine the process. Surface preparation work to ensure good 

bonding, adhesion or weld quality. It also helps to militate against 

later problems such as corrosion and mechanical damage. 

  

Steps in priming a surface for acrylic 

Decide how the texture and colour of the surface should be.  

 This will determine your choice of gesso and whether it will be 

tinted with acrylic paint or not. 

 If a canvas is being used, then it should be stretched and stapled 

onto the stretcher bar to ensure a tight surface for painting. 

 Thin the gesso with water to ensure a smooth and even finish 

for the surface. 

 Use a soft bristled brush or roller for smooth, application of 

gesso. 



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205 

 

 Cover the entire surface evenly. 

 Use a palette knife or coarse brush for a more textured finish 

on the surface 

 Glue other material you wish to use for the mixed media. 

 Apply your colour where it is necessary until you are satisfied 

with the colour and the  result 

 Allow to dry frame. Show photos and label them 

Priming a surface for oil Colour Painting 

Priming your surface for oil colours is similar to the methods used 

for acrylics, with very small differences. When preparing the 

surface of a canvas, the following steps are observed. Sizing of 

support is a process that fills holes or pores on the surface of the 

canvas, to stop or prevent leaking. The sizing of a surface is done 

using glue. It is important when painting with oil colour as the oil 

can rot the surface over time if it comes into direct contact with the 

material. Sizing will primarily act as a sealant for the canvas 

surface. Once the size has dried, the ground (or gesso) can be 

applied on top to create texture, provide a uniform base colour and 

alter the level of absorbency of the surface, as well as give an extra 

layer of protection for the surface. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plate 1: Emulsion paint. 

© Chinonyelum 2023 
Plate 2: Top bond. © 

Chinonyelum 2023 



Chinonyelum Okonkwo 

206 

 

 

 

                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plate 3:  Stretched canvas. Photo Credit: Chinonyelum Okonkwo 

Importance of preparing a surface.    

Preparing the support before embarking on a painting is a crucial 

step in the artistic process, holding profound importance for the 

outcome of the artwork. This preparatory stage serves several key 

purposes, each contributing significantly to the quality, longevity, 

and aesthetic appeal of the final piece. 

 

Firstly, preparing the support ensures a stable and durable 

foundation for the paint to adhere to. Whether it's canvas, wood, 

paper, or any other surface, applying a proper ground, often in the 

form of gesso or primer, creates a uniform and slightly absorbent 

surface. This not only prevents the paint from seeping into the 

support, which can compromise colours and detail but also offers a 

consistent texture for the artist to work on. It minimizes the risk of 

the support warping or deteriorating over time, a concern especially 

relevant in the case of canvas. 

 



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207 

 

Secondly, the choice of support preparation can influence the 

overall aesthetic of the artwork. Different grounds can yield 

various textural qualities, from a smooth and crisp surface to one 

with a more pronounced grain or tooth.  

 

Moreover, preparing the support facilitates the painter's control 

over the medium. The absorbency and texture of the prepared 

surface can affect the flow of paint, the blending of colours, and 

the ability to layer and manipulate the medium.  

 

In essence, the preparation of the support is the foundational step 

that ensures the success of the entire painting process. It safeguards 

the artwork against deterioration, enhances its visual and textural 

qualities, and empowers the artist to bring their creative vision to 

life with precision and control. It's a critical, albeit often 

overlooked, aspect of the artistic journey, one that elevates a simple 

canvas or panel into a receptive and enduring canvas for artistic 

expression. 

 

Meaning of Gesso 

Gesso is the most common ground for preparing a surface to paint 

on. It can be applied to almost any surface and will stiffen the 

substrate as it dries, readying the surface to accept paints Acrylic 

gesso is the most common kind and is suitable for painting with 

both oil and acrylic. Though, for oil painting the surface should be 

size or seal before applying gesso. The most traditional and 

common gesso to white gesso which gives artist a bright, neutral 

surface to begin their painting from. 

Example of gesso is as follows: 

 

 



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(1)- Liquitex super heavy gesso primer. 

This help to create a sculptural effects on the canvas especially 

when applied with a coarse brush or palette knife. 

 

(2) - Liquid Gesso Primer-This helps to achieve a smooth surface 

for painting 

 

How to create a mixed absorbency surface 

Prepare your surface-  

Start with any substrate and follow the necessary procedures 

required for pre-painting. For example, watercolour paper needs no 

preparation but can be primed with gesso to add strength, 

cardboard, canvas and wood panels do not need any preparation if 

they are already sealed and primed. If the substrates are raw wood 

with no sealer or primer, they will need some preparation. 

 

Apply surface grounds:- 

Apply acrylic binders to your surface, such as gels and pastes. 

Absorbent surfaces are always matte, which is one way, one can 

tell if a surface is absorbent or not, it will have tooth and rough 

surface. Glass or metal are normally glossy and non-absorbent  

 

Choosing a binder 

Mediums are generally pourable and fluid, gels are thicker and 

create textures, and pastes are also thick and create texture. Gloss 

mediums and gloss gel create a non-absorbent area on the surface. 

Matte medium and matte gel create a semi-absorbent area. Choose 

a binder of your choice, and apply it thickly on the surface. 

Over-paint the custom surface 

Once the surface is dry, over-paint it with paint. It is important to 

dilute the paint 



Preparatory Steps and Processes for Mixed-media and other painting genres… 

209 

 

before using it. One should use the correct items to dilute according 

to the medium one is using. For example, Dilute with water for 

watercolour and acrylics. Dilute with solvent for oily colour. Then 

apply the diluted mixture over the dry surface. 

   

Mixed absorbency surfaces 

Try making a mixed surface by using three or more products. Pick 

at least three binder products to apply an absorbent one, a non-

absorbent one and a middle absorbent one. Apply products all over 

the substrate. Overlapping products provide a surface with a variety 

of absorbency that will produce a surface with different effects  

  

Summary 

Mixed media includes all forms of art that use more than one 

material in their composition. Mixed media painting is a creative 

area of study in which anybody who is interested can easily learn 

and do. It involves the combination of two or more media to make 

a work of art. One of the most common methods of mixed media 

art is the process of collage, in which pieces of paper and other 

substances are combined to make a new two-dimensional image. 

Another method is an assemblage of all sorts of found objects and 

combines with other mediums to create a new object in three 

dimensions.  According to Rooney (1999) and Sayre (1997), 

installation is the art of arranging or assembling 3-dimensional 

objects or using paint and other media directly onto a wall or a 

floor. There are different steps in mixed media and each of the steps 

is followed in order to produce a good output.  Also, there are 

different surfaces, surface preparations and ways of application of 

material for mixed media painting. 

 

Questions  
What is mixed media painting? 

What are the materials used for mixed media painting? 

What are the steps in mixed media painting? 



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Why is it important to prepare a surface before painting? 

 

  

REFERENCES 

Adams L S (1997), History of Western Art, McGraw Hill Inc. New 

York  

Adams, L. S. (1999) Art across time, McGraw-Hill – Hill College, 

New York 

Adjei, K. (2007) Mixed media in ceramics, unpublished thesis 

submitted to the school of graduate studies, Knusi Kumasi. 

Fichner-Ratus, L. (1998), Understanding Art (5th edition) Prentice 

Hall Inc .pg132 

Hobbs J. (1985) Art in context, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 

publishers 

Rooney, K. (1999) Encarta World English Dictionary, Bloomsbury 

Publishers plc London. 

Sayre, M. H. (1997) A World of Art (2nd edition) Prentice Hall Inc, 

New Jersey Pg 254 

 

        

   

 

 

 


