Mixed Media Layers: Why There Is Always More to Discover
Have you ever noticed something new in a painting you thought you already knew?
Perhaps you stepped closer and found a line almost hidden beneath the color. Maybe the afternoon light caught a raised edge of paper, or a shape suddenly reminded you of somewhere you had been.
That moment of discovery is one of the reasons I am so drawn to mixed media layers. I want a painting to hold your attention from across the room, then reward your curiosity when you come closer. There is something deeply meaningful to me about artwork that gives us a reason to pause—and something more to discover when we do.
In my Fairfax, Virginia, studio, I build original mixed media paintings through an intuitive conversation between materials, marks, and whatever begins to emerge. Each layer changes that conversation. Sometimes it brings clarity. Sometimes it complicates everything. And sometimes it reveals the very thing I didn’t know I was looking for.
What Are Mixed Media Layers?
Mixed media artwork combines more than one artistic material. In my painting practice, that can mean acrylic paint, paper collage, pastel, ink, and expressive drawing brought together on a single surface.
Mixed media layers develop as these materials overlap, interact, and transform what came before. A painted passage might show through a translucent glaze. A piece of collage might interrupt a smooth area of color. A scraped mark might uncover an earlier decision that suddenly feels essential.
Some layers create physical texture. Others create visual depth through transparency, contrast, or partially hidden imagery. Together, they give the surface a history that cannot always be understood in one glance.
For me, that feels connected to being human. We carry memories, changes, disappointments, and discoveries within us. My paintings give me a way to explore that complexity through color and materials.
Building a History on Canvas
When I begin a painting, I rarely know exactly where it will lead. I might start with an intuitive mark, a color that catches my attention, or a piece of paper that suggests a direction.
Then I respond.
A bold acrylic passage may cover much of the beginning. Collage can introduce a new rhythm. Pastel might soften an edge or bring energy to a quiet area. Sometimes I scrape back through wet paint and uncover a flash of color beneath it.
Even a layer that disappears can influence what follows. It may leave a raised edge, change the way the next color reads, or guide a decision I would never have made on a blank canvas.
That is what I mean when I talk about building history into a painting. The finished work holds the consequences of those choices, including the ones you can no longer see clearly. Its surface develops through experimentation, attention, and a willingness to change direction.
The Messy Middle Is Where Discovery Happens
I am currently working through two new 36-by-48-inch canvases, and they have reminded me how much I love this unpredictable stage.
There is enough happening to feel excited, but plenty still remains unresolved. I step back, notice a connection, and imagine what might happen next. Some passages need room to breathe. Others are asking for a stronger mark or a different relationship with the surrounding color.
Occasionally, I like what is happening so much that a little studio dance becomes necessary. Apparently, the creative process includes choreography now. 😂
The messy middle asks me to stay curious rather than rush toward a finish. If I try to solve everything immediately, I can miss what the painting is beginning to offer.
This is where my mixed media layers become a conversation. I make a decision, observe its effect, and respond again. The direction develops through that exchange.
Living With Layered Original Artwork
For someone collecting original art, this process becomes part of the experience of living with the finished painting.
From across the room, you encounter the whole composition: its movement, color relationships, and presence within your space. A large abstract painting can give your eye somewhere to settle or bring a welcome sense of energy to a familiar room.
Closer up, another experience begins. You might notice a fragment of collage, a delicate line, or an earlier color peeking through. In some of my paintings, asemic writing—expressive marks that resemble writing without a fixed readable message—invites you to sense something without being told exactly what it means.
Light adds another dimension. Raised textures can cast small shadows, and different lighting may make certain surface details more noticeable. The painting stays the same, while your attention moves through it differently.
You may also find that your relationship with the artwork changes over time. A passage that once felt like movement might later suggest stillness. A shape may connect with a memory you hadn’t considered when you first saw it.
I love leaving space for that. My story begins the painting, but yours becomes part of the experience.
Experience Mixed Media Layers in Person
Photographs offer a wonderful introduction to artwork, especially when you can compare the full painting with close-up details. Seeing it in person gives you another way to understand its scale, surface, and presence.
I am delighted to invite you to the opening reception for my six-month exhibition, Through Me: Where Wonder Finds a Way, presented with ArtsFairfax at Springfield Town Center.
The reception takes place on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM. There will be guest speakers, a few words from me, and an opportunity to celebrate the work together.
To RSVP, please email Robin Salmon at robin.salmon@preit.com.
I would love to see you there, hear what catches your attention, and share some of the stories behind the paintings.
Meanwhile, How Does Your Garden Grow?, my 36-by-48-inch mixed media painting, has arrived safely at ADC Fine Art in Cincinnati for the Art Comes Alive exhibition. After an impressive amount of foam, bubble wrap, and packing assistance from Todd, its next chapter is officially underway!
New Paintings, New Stories
Back in the studio, I am preparing six new paintings for release, including the two large canvases still unfolding on my wall.
I am giving them the time they need. The painting, finishing, and presentation all matter to me, and I want to feel confident in the work before I introduce it to collectors.
Until then, there is plenty to explore.
Visit Recent Paintings on my website to see my original mixed media paintings, compare their full compositions with their layered details, and read the stories behind the work. If a piece speaks to you, send an inquiry—I would love to help you consider it for your space.
You never know which small detail might become the part you return to most. 🩵
Precious Burger
Contemporary Mixed Media Artist
Fairfax, Virginia | Washington, DC Area
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