Mixed Media Painting: Combining Acrylic with Pencil, Pastel, Ink & More
Nikee MatemanShare
Mixed media painting allows artists to move beyond a single material and explore richer surfaces, textures, and visual layers. By combining acrylic paint with materials such as pencil, pastel, ink, oil sticks, or gold leaf, artists can create work that feels both structured and expressive.
This article explains how mixed media works, which materials combine well with acrylic paint, and how both contemporary and historical artists have used mixed media techniques to expand their visual language.
What Is Mixed Media in Art?
Mixed media refers to artwork created using more than one medium in a single piece. In painting, this often means combining acrylic paint with drawing materials, inks, collage elements, or other paint types.
Acrylic paint is especially popular in mixed media because it:
-Dries quickly
-Acts as a strong binder
-Works well as both a base layer and a final layer
Because of its flexibility, acrylic can be used to build structure, while other materials add detail, contrast, or texture.
Combining Acrylic Paint with Drawing Materials
Acrylic + Pencil
Pencil is often used in the early stages of a mixed media painting.
How to use it:
-Sketch directly on gessoed canvas
-Draw between acrylic layers
-Reinforce shapes or add fine details
Graphite can be sealed with a thin acrylic glaze to prevent smudging.
Acrylic + Pastel (Soft or Oil Pastel)
Pastels add softness, movement, and expressive lines.
Important considerations:
-Soft pastels should be applied on top of dry acrylic layers
-Oil pastels and oil sticks resist acrylic paint, creating interesting textures
-Final sealing is recommended, especially with soft pastels
Pastels are often used to enhance edges, add highlights, or introduce a hand-drawn quality.
Acrylic + Ink
Ink adds strong contrast and precision.
Common uses:
-Line work
-Drips and splashes
-Calligraphic marks
Ink can be applied before acrylic (then partially covered) or on top of dried paint for clarity. Waterproof inks are preferred for layered work.
Combining Acrylic with Other Painting Materials
Acrylic + Oil Paint or Oil Sticks
This combination requires careful layering.
Golden rule:
Acrylic can go under oil, but oil should never go under acrylic.
Oil sticks are frequently used on top of acrylic paintings to add:
-Bold lines
-Rich texture
-Gestural marks
Surface Preparation Matters in Mixed Media
Mixed media requires a stable, well-prepared surface. A properly stretched and gessoed canvas helps materials adhere correctly and prevents cracking or peeling over time.
Related reading:
How to Prepare a Canvas for Acrylic Painting
The texture of the gesso layer can also influence how materials behave, smoother surfaces work better for pencil and ink, while textured surfaces suit pastel and expressive marks.
Mixed Media in Art History and Contemporary Practice
Many well-known artists have worked with mixed media:
- Jean-Michel Basquiat combined acrylic paint, oil stick, text, and drawing
- Robert Rauschenberg incorporated paint, collage, and found materials
- Anselm Kiefer used paint, ash, straw, lead, and gold leaf
- Cy Twombly layered drawing and paint to create expressive surfaces
These artists used mixed media not as decoration, but as a way to expand meaning, texture, and emotional impact.