Mixed Media Art Supplies: Your Recipe for Creative Gumbo

Mixed media art supplies are a lot like the ingredients list in a cookbook. Picture flipping through a recipe for a steaming bowl of seafood gumbo—the photo looks amazing, but before you can taste it, you need the right ingredients on the table. No shrimp? No spice? No gumbo.

Mixed media works the same way. The finished artwork may look loose, expressive, even a little messy—but underneath is a carefully chosen mix of paints, papers, and tools. When you gather the right materials first, you set yourself up for a creative feast instead of a frustrating flop.

Want the full recipe for mixed media success? Explore the Mixed Media Hub → — packed with tutorials, guides, and courses to stock your creative pantry.

In this guide, I’ll share the essential mixed media art supplies I reach for every day, along with a few “extra seasonings” you might want to try as your practice grows. Think of it as your artist’s pantry—ready to stock, stir, and serve up breakthroughs.

Supplies I Use All the Time

These are my go-to materials for almost every mixed media project I create. Do I add new ingredients occasionally? You betcha! But these are the go-to materials I rely on most. I know how they behave, how they layer, and how to get the best results from them.

• Acrylic Paints – I only buy heavy body for their thick texture and thin them with water for fluid glazing and washes. See my favorite set →
• Watercolors Paints – Great for transparent layers and unexpected color effects. Exact colors are below.  Shop my watercolor picks →
• Acrylic Inks - Excellent way to add transparent layers to mixed media artwork. Mixes well with everything! See the inks →
• Synthetic Acrylic Brushes - You need a variety and I have listed my go-to's below. I use Princeton brands, very dependable! See the brushes →
• Watercolor Brushes - Get a decent grade but avoid all-natural as synthetic blends have come a long way. Shop my picks →
• Collage Papers – A mix of pattered, and printed paper you see me use is from Hobby Lobby, and it's usually found in the scrapbook section. Browse paper packs →
• Palette Knives – Good to have around for scooping paint and smearing techniques. See what I use →
• Blick Super Value Canvas Packs - Comes in many small and medium sizes up to 20x16". Love em'. Best bulk stretched canvas →
• Mixed Media Paper – Sturdy enough to handle wet and dry techniques. Strathmore is the way to go! Best paper for mixed media →
• Watercolor Paper - Top choice is 140 lb. cold press by Fabriano Artistico. Cost effective and crispy white. Best watercolor paper →
• Caran d'Ache Water-Soluble Crayons – Perfect for adding scribbles and linear interest to mixed media art. Check them out →
• Gator Board - Best firm boards you can find! Buy a large sheet and cut out down. These are used as backing for my paper when I paint. Check it out →
• Mod Podge - Reliable and affordable adhesive for paper, thick and thin. And get the Matte! View the glue →

My preferred hues; Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light (or Medium), Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White

My preferred acrylic brushes; #12 Large round, 2x Medium rounds, 2x Detail, or liner brushes, Large and medium fan brush, a few medium size bristles and old, small house painting brush for glue.

Other Popular Supplies You Might Want to Try

Once you get that gumbo down, you can start adding your own twist! Personally, I don’t use these options below as often, but they’re very popular among mixed media artists and might be worth experimenting with.

• Alcohol Inks – Intense, vibrant color for unique effects. Shop alcohol inks →
• Oil Pastels – Rich and buttery, great for bold marks. See oil pastel sets →
• Stencils & Stamps – Add pattern and texture quickly. Find stencils here →
• Modeling Paste / Texture Mediums – For raised, tactile surfaces. Buy modeling paste →
• Matte Gel Medium – My main adhesive for collage work; dries clear and matte. Get it here →
• Found Objects – Buttons, fabric scraps, ticket stubs… if it can be glued, it can be art.
• Colored Gesso – White is standard, but tinted gesso can create interesting base layers. Buy colored gesso →

Final Tip

You don’t need every supply to create great mixed media art — in fact, sometimes too many options can be overwhelming. Start with what you have, build your collection over time, and focus on mastering each material before moving on.

Keep Exploring Mixed Media

Discover more mixed media painting techniques in my Mixed Media Hub