New Approaches to Mixed Media

This six week course, run by Julie Gowers, completed the Society's studio programme for the year. The aim of these sessions was to demonstrate how new technologies, such as digital cameras, scanners, printers, certain computer software and other devices can extend creative options when used in combination with more traditional media and processes. Members began by producing starting points using a variety of conventional materials and methods, which they then developed further using electronic processes, such as scanning or taking a digital photograph of what they had created. Some of the results were then manipulated using the digital imaging software, PhotoShop.

Two sessions were carried out in a room equipped with computers and not only were some basic PhotoShop tools and commands practised but members were also shown how to research images on the Internet and access the Society's own website. Apart from discovering how to combine and build upon artwork produced in either physical or electronic media, those who attended the ICT sessions also experienced how digital tools can be used independently to produce artwork with its own particular characteristics.

Most of the activities however, were intended to focus upon the equivalents that can be identified in each area, so tasks involved collage, the creation of semi-transparent layers and a wide variety of techniques and effects.

Over the weeks, those who attended the sessions became more willing to experiiment with the electronic devices and increasingly comfortable in using them. The different activities were succesfully blended with more familiar art and design methods and some very exciting and original pieces were achieved.

Artists always seem prepared to try something new and then use what has been experienced to realise a personal outcome. It was a great pleasure to see what had been produced at the final session and the many different ways each person, irrespective of their past experience with ICT, had applied what they had learnt. Here are a few examples.


Coloured rectangles were photographed using a slow time setting and the camera moved during the exposure. The image was then manipulated in PhotoShop and used later in combination with other images which had been created using both electronic and traditional media.


Gradients were created in PhotoShop and used as backgrounds for other superimposed images.











Collages and drawings created from traditional media were combined with digital images.











Photographs, were combined with both traditional and electroonic images using a copier. The images were superimposed to build, layer upon layer, complex pictures.









These examples show how a starting point, a collage or other conventionally produced image can be extended using electronic tools, such as digital imaging software, a digital camera, copier and printer .

Anna began with a collage from magazine strips, photographed it and transformed the image in PhotoShop. She applied further tools and commands to produce a result that could resource a block print.



Irene photographed one of her watercolours of lilies, modified it in PhotoShop and then placed it on a gradient background. She selected an area from the image and enlarged it onto watercolour paper. She used the digital image to inspire her use of colour and effects, coming full circle through her use of different tools and media. She has shown how both pysical and electroinc media can successfully interact.