Mixing Mediums: Acrylics, Pastels, and Collage

My surfaces are built like palimpsests—layers of different materials conversing. I love combining acrylics with oil pastels, graphite, or bits of paper. Each material introduces a new accent or resistance. Pastel scratches soften against acrylic hardness; collage interrupts the illusion of depth. It’s like introducing new voices to the composition. Sometimes a pastel mark insists too loudly, and I mute it with a wash. Other times, a scrap of paper becomes a crucial pause. The mix is never decorative—it’s structural. I’m not interested in gimmickry; I’m interested in dialogue between textures. Mixed media lets me expand the language of painting without betraying its essence.