Mixed Media Painting Tutorials

Exploring Mixed Media Landscape and Collage Techniques

A gallery of recent coastal and urban landscapes created by transforming rejected watercolors into layered, expressive mixed media artworks.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

30 Jun 2023 — 3 min read

Lately, I’ve been mixing it up some with rejects such as subpar watercolors as a starting point for mixed media landscape paintings. Since these paintings have been stashed away in a drawer for quite some time, I believe they provide the perfect playground for exploring new techniques and ideas.

👉 Discover more mixed media painting techniques in my Mixed Media Hub

Urban landscape crafted with watercolor and acrylic mixed media techniques

Loose mixed media landscape painting - Maine coast and lobster boats

Why Use Old Watercolors for Mixed Media

Because they're a great way to look at older pieces and discover hidden gems. Potential breeding grounds for exploring watercolor and mixed media techniques. I’ve been revisiting a stack of “reject” watercolors — pieces that once felt unfinished or uninspired. Rather than letting them collect dust, I’m transforming them into bold new landscapes using mixed media techniques.

This approach lets me explore texture, layering, and composition without the pressure of starting on a blank page. Collage, acrylics, inks, china markers, and even crayons give these once-forgotten paintings a completely new life.

Mixed media coastal harbor scene with layered collage and acrylic textures.

Fishing boat painting with acrylic accents and collage details.

Coastal Scenes with Harbors and Boats

Many of my recent works feature coastal harbors, docks, and fishing boats. These are inspired from the many trips I've made the coastal Maine, and my favorite harbor on earth, Stonington! I layer hand-cut collage paper for texture, add acrylic highlights to define forms, and mix loose brushwork with fine details for depth.

These mixed media coastal scenes feel fresh and spontaneous, combining the structure of the original watercolor with the freedom of new materials.

Rugged Maine landscape harbor scene in mixed media with textured paper and bold brushwork. — Rugged Maine landscape harbor scene in mixed media with bold brushwork.

Dockside scene in mixed media with textured paper and bold brushwork.

Seaside harbor scene created with collage paper and acrylic layers.

Skyline painting using layered collage and bold acrylic brushwork.

Urban Landscapes with Bold Borders

Lately, I’ve also been experimenting with urban and cityscape scenes. Borders created with scrapbook collage paper or bold acrylic strokes frame the city streets and skylines, while expressive marks and layered colors add movement.

This combination of solid shapes, collage textures, and free brushwork creates a dynamic energy you can’t get with a single medium.

Cityscape painting with acrylics, collage borders, and expressive marks.

Urban street scene created with mixed media collage and acrylic highlights.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a creative spark, try revisiting older work. Adding collage, acrylics, and mixed media layers can transform something you’ve set aside into a fresh, vibrant piece of art — and open the door to entirely new ideas.