Mixed Media Art for Beginners - Southwell Library - Adult Learning

Discover the freedom and fun of mixed-media art in this hands-on course designed especially for adult beginners.

You’ll explore a variety of materials and techniques, combining things like acrylic paint, collage, drawing, texture, and mark-making, to create your own expressive artworks.

No prior art experience is needed, just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a collection of vibrant, personal pieces and a whole new toolkit of creative skills to take away.

On this course, you’ll be guided step-by-step through the process of creating expressive, mixed media pieces using acrylics, watercolours, inks, pastels, pencils.

Each session introduces a new creative approach, with plenty of time to experiment and play.

You’ll learn how to layer different media, build interesting surfaces, and develop your own visual style.

With friendly guidance and demonstrations from your tutor, you’ll gain confidence using a wide range of tools and materials, all in a relaxed and supportive environment.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify and use at least four different media (e.g. acrylic paint, collage materials, ink, pencil) to create layered, mixed-media artwork.

• Create a minimum of two completed mixed-media pieces that demonstrate an understanding of composition, texture, and layering techniques.

• Demonstrate three surface-building techniques, such as texturing with gesso, layering collage elements, or incorporating mark-making tools. Confidently experiment with combining materials, making informed creative choices to develop personal expression in your work.

• Reflect on your creative development by discussing your process, identifying what worked well, and areas to explore further.

• Develop and implement a marketing plan using at least 3 different channels (e.g., social media, email marketing, and local events) to promote their products.

What you will need to bring to the course:

For the first session, please bring:

• A sketchbook or notebook (A4 or A5 size, preferably with mixed-media or cartridge paper if you have one)

• A pencil, scissor, eraser

• Any recycled or found materials you’d like to experiment with (e.g. old magazines, newspaper, fabric scraps, packaging, wrapping paper)

• We’ll provide some basic materials to get you started, and you’ll have the chance to explore what you enjoy working with before deciding what else to bring.

For the rest of the course, you will need:

• Acrylic paints – a small selection of primary colours, black and white is enough to start

• Glue stick and/or PVA glue

• A selection of collage materials – e.g. scrap paper, textured card, fabric, old book pages, envelopes

• A few basic brushes (small, medium, and large)

• Optional: Oil pastels, inks, charcoal, stencils, or any other materials you’re curious to try

We encourage using recycled and repurposed items where possible—it’s a great way to keep costs low and support sustainable creativity!