A tube of blue acrylic paint (sourced from a local reuse shop) and the back of a propane oil receipt are the starting points for creative explorations inside my hardback sketchbook 👇🏽

Blank sketchbook spreads are like welcoming testing grounds for creative exploration.

My 5.5″ x 8″ sketchbook (purchased from Michaels) comes in so handy when such a creative playtime presents itself!

My own spread here inspired some fun romping around using acrylic paint and thick card stock 👇🏽

As shown (above and right), I dried brush acrylic blue paint straight across a spread.

Then, using using acrylic matte medium, I adhered my paper cut shapes and scraps from a receipt, in fact, which had been left hanging on my front porch door.

In case you’re wondering, I lightly sketched out my North and South America landmass shapes (and Caribbean island shapes, too) onto the receipt card stock using a regular pencil and a world map photo reference.

While this spread example doesn’t display much more than what you can see here, the point of this spread wasn’t so much a finished portfolio piece as it was:

  • an opportunity to flirt with ideas,
  • test and learn more about the compatibility of combined mediums,
  • unleash creativity,
  • and otherwise HAVE FUN with everyday materials.

The latter point (about not needing a finished portfolio piece) is key; it underscores that creating mixed media art can — and is — a practical activity and doesn’t require fancy tools or expensive supplies to enjoy and achieve!

Maybe I’ll go back at some point and do or add something more to this sketchbook spread ??

Honestly, I’m not sure.

But the beauty of ANY sketchbook is that you can do whatever the heck you want or don’t want.

So only time will tell how this spread may evolve (or not) but it’s much more about the experience and enjoyment I had while testing and romping around that will stay with me forever.

Yours in mixed media 🙏🏽