Definition of Mixed Media in Art
The term "mixed media" refers to a work of art made with more than one material. The common use of mixed media was a significant trend in the evolution of art in the 20th century.
Collage
The art critic Clement Greenberg suggested that collage, a form of mixed media in which various items are combined into a single composition, was one of the most significant steps in the development of modern art. Greenberg places the origin of collage in the work of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the years between 1911 and 1913.
Significant Mixed Media Works
Braque's "Fruit Dish" (1912) is identified by Greenberg as one of the first true mixed media paintings, and Picasso's "Guitar" (1913) is an early collage that had major implications for the future of art in the 20th century.
Painting
The combination of painting media such as oil, acrylic and watercolor in a single work has become a common practice among painters.
Drawing
The mixture of different drawing media, as well as the combination of drawing with media such as painting, is another common form of mixed media art.
Printmaking
The combination of printmaking techniques, such as lithography and woodcuts, has a long history, and advances in technology have encouraged printmakers to experiment with mixing traditional techniques with digital printing and photography.
