Mixed-Media Portrait | "A Woman And Her Pearls"

Working in mixed-media is an art in and of itself. Each medium has it's pros and cons and when placed next to another medium those pros and cons can be raised or lowered. Finding a way for them to work together cooperatively is indeed a challenge, but like most challenges once undertaken it can be engaging, enlightening and rewarding.

There is also a certain hierarchy that reveals itself when working with different mediums on the same piece. Figuring out which way to orient this hierarchy is part of the process of making a piece that contains balance and harmony between those mediums, like various theologies coming together in a single town and trying to live together with order. That's part of the fun. There also appear to be rules that one can develop, but then those rules aren't fixed exactly. They're malleable. Infinitely malleable one hopes.

One thing is for certain: the term "play" should always be incorporated when working in multiple mediums. And who doesn't like to play?

This piece was done using graphite, white gouache, and black India ink.

​- D