What Is Mixed Media Art? A Friendly Guide (and Why It’s Everywhere Right Now)

If you’ve been noticing art that feels extra tactile—think shimmering glass bits, stitched borders, metallic leaf, beads and paint all sharing space—you’re looking at mixed media. In simple terms, mixed media art combines two or more materials in one piece. Paint + paper. Resin + pressed botanicals. Fabric + embroidery + acrylic. The charm is in the layers.

Mixed media shows up on gallery walls, on notebooks and cards, and yes—on wearable art like hand-painted totes. It’s creative, personal, and gloriously textural.

Why Mixed Media Is Having a Moment

• Texture you can feel: After years of polished, flat screens, people are craving art with depth and dimension. Mixed media practically invites you to lean in.

• Sustainability + upcycling: Many artists incorporate vintage papers, fabric scraps, and found objects. It’s art with a second life baked in.

• Personal storytelling: Layers = story. Ephemera, pattern, and color choices become little narrative clues.

• Process is mesmerizing: Short videos of layering, pouring, stitching and embellishing are social-media catnip.

• Dopamine décor: Bold color and tactile surfaces spark joy; they also photograph beautifully for modern, maximal spaces.

• Accessibility: You don’t need a fancy studio to start—paper, fabric, and everyday craft materials are a gateway.

What “Counts” as Mixed Media? (Spoiler: More than you think.)

Here are common formats you’ll see—plus how to recognize them:

• Paintings with extra sparkle: Acrylic or oil layered with glass, mica, metal leaf, sand, molding paste, collage papers, or beads.

• Wearable art: Hand-painted totes (hello!), denim jackets with stitched fabric and paint, shoes with leather paint + embellishments.

• Stationery & journals: Collaged greeting cards, art journals with painted pages + washi + stitching, embossed papers, wax seals.

• Home décor: Resin trays with botanicals, mosaic mirrors, decoupaged vases, hand-painted ornaments with glass or glitter.

• Jewelry: Polymer clay + metal leaf, resin + pressed petals, fabric wrapped beads.

• Fiber & textile art: Embroidery over painted canvas, tufted pieces with painted backgrounds, appliqué quilts with ink/paint details.

• Sculptural pieces: Paper-clay with paint and decoupage, ceramic plus underglaze transfers, wood panels with metal elements.

A Peek into My Process

Mixed media is at the heart of my work—especially the way I build texture. Two recent pieces illustrate the range:

 This festive Santa layers acrylic paint with dimensional mediums (modeling paste) and glass, wire rim glasses and vitragraph accents for a joyful, twinkling finish. The beard and trim are built up so they catch the light, bringing that “I can almost touch it” feeling.

 For portraits, I combine smooth skin tones with jeweled textures—beads, metallic finishes, and sculpted mediums. The contrast between soft brushwork and bold embellishment makes the face feel alive.

And because art loves to wander, I also translate these techniques into wearable mixed media—my hand-painted totes. They’re functional, durable, and sprinkled with the same dimensional details you see on canvas. Think of them as walking originals.

How to Appreciate (and Care For) Mixed Media

• Look for layers: Tilt the piece in the light; textures should reveal themselves.

• Mind the materials: Mixed media is about combo-magic, but quality matters—archival glues, UV-safe finishes, sturdy bases.

• Ask about care: Most pieces want gentle dusting and indirect sunlight. Wearable art prefers spot-cleaning and kindness.

• Collect your style: If you love sparkle, go for glass and metallics. Prefer earthy? Seek fabric, paper, and matte textures.

• Start small, then scale up: Cards, journals, and ornaments are approachable entry points before you commit to a large canvas.

Ready to see mixed media you can carry? Browse my hand-painted totes for one-of-a-kind, gift-ready pieces that bring texture and joy to every day. And if you’d like first looks at new holiday designs, join the list—you’ll get early access and a little thank-you perk.

P.S. Have a favorite material you’d love to see layered into a tote or canvas (gold leaf, botanicals, a hint of sparkle)? Tell me in the comments—I adore custom requests.