Art Idea With Embellished Letters
Embracing The Lost Art of Letter Writing and Mixed-Media Art
Letter-writing is a beautiful thing, especially when coupled with mixed media art techniques. Spin your letters into creative pieces of art.
Letter-writing seems to be getting lost in the shuffle of modern age technology. Studies have shown that people are writing less with traditional pen-and-paper methods in comparison to the use of modern communication devices. It is no wonder letter writing is becoming such a lost art.
For this mixed-media art project, you will need the following materials:
- Watercolor paper
- Watercolor pencils, assorted colors
- Watercolor paint, assorted colors
- Paintbrushes, an assortment of sizes
- Black ultra-fine sharpie or gel pen
- Straight edge ruler
- Sharp pencil
- Gum eraser
- Stickers and flat embellishments
- Brads and eyelets
- Eyelet punch and setter
- Mini-envelopes
- Walnut distress ink
- Mail themed rubber stamps
Follow these simple instructions to create this mixed media art project:
- Find the center of your paper using the ruler and pencil. Make sure to draw your lines very lightly.
- Once the center has been marked, measure a two-inch border all the way around the edge of the paper and draw a frame very lightly. Erase everything aside from the frame using the gum eraser.
- On the inside of the frame, add one or two rubber-stamped images in the corners or along the edge somewhere you like. Allow the images to dry completely.
- Create a light color wash along the framed area of the paper. Choose a color that is one of your favorites. Allow the paint to dry completely.
- Using the watercolor pencils, create pictures in the painted area. This can be a crawling vine, a swirling pattern, miscellaneous objects, or anything else you choose. Blend the paint using a fine-tipped paintbrush. Allow the paint to dry completely.
- Add color to the stamped images using watercolor pencils. Using a small amount of water (wet the brush, then blot on cloth), blend the colors in the images lightly. Allow the color to dry completely to prevent smudging.
- Layer embellishments, mini-envelopes, and stickers over the painted areas, the frame itself, and the rubber-stamped images. This will take away the boxy feel of the frame.
- Hammer in eyelets or add brads the corners of the piece, either the corners of the paper or the corners of the drawn frame.
- Rub walnut distress ink along the edges of the entire piece of paper to add dimension.
- Clean up any pencil marks still showing using the gum eraser.
Now that the paper has been manipulated with mixed-media art techniques, it is time to write the letter. Do this using the ultra-fine black sharpie or gel pen. For a less dramatic look, use colored pens or glitter gel pens. The glitter gel pens also work as a great alternative over using the watercolor pencils to color in the rubber-stamped images.
Embracing the lost are of letter-writing through mixed media art techniques is a great way to keep it alive and well. Introduce these methods to your friends, family members, and children. You will be surprised how inspired they will be to write a letter.
