Mark Making Tools For Mixed Media Painting
For mixed media artists, mark making tools are often part of the kit. Whether it’s underpainting graphite marks like Betty Franks Krause (Ep.10) or top layer pastel like Lynn Whipple (Ep. 23), mark making tools are a mixed media staple at every layer.
Let’s take a look at some great mixed media options for mixed media artists when it comes to making marks. Some you’ll already have in your stash.
Image Credit: David Perkins
THE GRAPHITE PENCIL
Your handy dandy pencil is one of your best options when it comes to mixed media mark making. Pencil happens to be Whipple’s final layer of choice (over her pastel marks) and it’s a critical part of Krause’s warm up and underlayers.
The reason? Graphite is unassuming and a lovely, subtle, visual surprise. It’s grey color is neutral on the color front. It has a narrow and variable line so it brings in variation. Plus, it’s easy to grab.
Also pencil lines don't wipe off easily. However, if you aren't planning to frame a piece under glass you’ll want to finish your work with a fixative or a careful layer of matte medium to make sure nothing can rub it off.
PASTEL
When it comes to pastels, there’s a lot to love. First, from color alone it’s a great option. Whipple reaches for soft pastels (think, chalk like sticks of pure pigment) as her pre graphite pencil layer. She makes sure to use a fixative to hold the pastel in place which darkens the pastel just slightly.
But there are more than just soft pastels when it comes to your mixed media mark making options. Oil pastels are also a fun option and they won’t rub off as easily. Oil pastels, like soft pastels, come in dozens and dozens of spectacular colors.
Bonus, you may already have a bunch of fun colors to get started from that pastel gift you got a decade back.
WAX PASTELS - Caran D’ache
If you want to go next-level with your mark making, you’ll love Caran D’ache. Caran D’ache pastels are made with the mixed media artist in mind. There are two types: Neocolor I are wax and are not water-soluble. Neocolor II are water-soluble.
If you want to play with line, you can draw down a water-soluble line and hit it with a spritz of the water bottle to spread it out. These also work great as part of underpaintings if you want to wipe any of it out or mix it with other colors.
If you’re looking for a line that won’t move, grab a pack of Neocolor I. You can cover them up with opaque acrylic paint or use them to draw on top.
Neocolors come in a ton of colors but not nearly as many as more traditional oil or soft pastels. The main downside is that the packaging for the water-soluble and non water-soluble packages look exactly the same. It’s incredibly easy to grab one when you need the other. (I speak from personal experience.) Other than that, you’ll love them.
PAINT PENS
Acrylic paint pens have come a long way in both options and quality in the last decade. You can buy beautiful sets from Arteza or various sizes from Posca. Posca pens seem to be the best from a coverage standpoint and the various sizes of pens is pretty great.
Need a very specific color? No problem. You can also mix your own colors by buying an empty pen from the Acrylic brand and filling it with your own combo of high flow (also known as airbrush paint) from golden. You’ll want to make sure you have a few extra nibs on hand because if they do dry out, you won’t be able to get our paint out through the pen.
Posca and Arteza flow the best but you are limited to the colors on hand. Posca’s line is still limited but slowly expanding. Arteza pens only come in one standard size.
Image Credit: Lucas George Wendt
COLORED PENCILS
Colored pencils make a great option for a mixed media layer. With an almost unlimited number of colors, you’ll always be able to find the color or hue you want. Colored pencils sometimes have a hard time on the plastic gloss quality of acrylic paint but you can always add a medium to give a little tooth to your surface before doing final layers. I like clear gesso with just a bit of matte medium added.
Mark making tools are a great addition to any mixed media tool kit. It takes a bit of practice to learn where in your layers they work best, but each offers another possibility to bring your own hand into your work.
What are your favorite mark making tools for mixed media? Share below in the comments!
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