My EASY 7-Step Mixed Media Art Process "The Hamburger System" - Perfect for Mixed Media Portraits & Mixed Media Beginners!

I've shared my Mixed Media Secrets before, but NEVER like this... in 7 Easy to Follow Steps!!! If you're a mixed media beginner, THIS video series is all you need to get started. 

If you've ever been lost or confused as to what mediums go where in the world of mixed media art, OR in what order they should be assembled to create gorgeous mixed media portraits in your art journals and mixed media canvases, you're in the right place for all the answers.

I've named my signature mixed media process "The Hamburger System," and have broken it down into 7 simple steps. I've even created a cheatsheet for you! 

Simply click on the button below and I'll send your cheatsheet straight to your email inbox.

The BIGGEST problem I hear from my students and other artists in the mixed media / art journaling space, is that they don't know the "order of operations" when it comes to layering their mixed media art supplies, so they end up with SUCCESS, instead of a mixed media mess!

Over the years, I've developed a consistent way of layering my mixed media art supplies that works beautifully on both art journal pages and on mixed media canvas. I call it "The Hamburger System," because it's kinda like layering the perfect burger or sandwich. There are 6 simple steps (7 if you count the sealer/finishing layer!), and I guarantee you will have mixed media success IF you used the same products, in the same order!

Real quick, before we continue- All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links, but by law, there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support!​

Make sure you download my Hamburger Cheatsheet so you can follow along with me when you watch today's video!

For layer number one, I love to start my projects with mixed media collage because it's relaxing, it's FUN, doesn't take any brain power at all (so kinda serves as a warm up), plus it basically picks out my color scheme for me so I don't even have to think!

I ALWAYS use matte medium for my collage layer. Lots of people ask me why I don't use mod podge here. I LOVE mod podge, but even matte mod podge has a sheen to it, that can present some problems here. If you paint over it- you run the risk of your acrylics peeling or flaking off the mod podge. You also can't really draw over a dry layer of mod podge using pencil, because the pencil will slip right off!

Matte medium also helps to prep whatever surface I'm working on (art journal page, canvas board, even wood!) to accept a layer of acrylic water based paint, because matte medium was developed specifically to work with acrylics. If you want to learn more about when to choose matte medium instead of mod podge, I did a whole video on that as well. 

Your second layer in my Hamburger System is where your acrylic paints go. Lots of people choose to do stenciling here. There are tons of different ways you can apply paint at this stage. When I made today's video, I was going for an edgier look, so used an old credit card to swipe paint across my collage. 

Typically my mixed media art pieces have a subject in the foreground - often a girl's face or a cute animal. Wherever this subject is going to go, I will often lay down a light layer of gesso to kick my collage layer into the background a bit, and prep this area to accept more acrylics. 

Gesso is your best friend here, and kinda like a primer. It can also serve as your "eraser" if you hate what you've created and want to start over in an area. I've also got a video for you ALL about gesso, if you need or want to learn more about this product. ​

If I'm painting skin tones in next for a mixed media portrait- I will often reach for a bottle of craft grade paint here because I prefer to use something right out of the bottle rather than mix paints to come up with the perfect skin tones. Personal preference! That's just me, I find it saves time, these are cheap and yes, I'm a little lazy here :)

For Layer 3, there are SO many products you can play with! I will typically draw back in my facial features in pencil as needed, and then have a blast working with my gelatos to do a little face shading. This is SO fun. If you've never worked with gelatos or art crayons before- I've got a video ALL about Faber Castell Gelatos for you as well. 

Once you've finished with your acrylic paint and art crayons layer, it's time to move on to layer number 4 - adhesive/sealer. This is where I finally bring in my mod podge! A generous coat of matte mod podge over my entire piece at this point will lock everything I've done up to this point, and also prep my piece for the next fun layer.

Layer 5 is my FAVORITE layer because I love to draw just as much as I love to paint, and in layer 5, I can doodle all over and add details to the facial features that are waiting to come to life. 

Once that layer is dry (I typically just hit it with my hair dryer for about two minutes), there is this gorgeous new surface to draw on top of with my pitt pens and posca pens. See that beautiful sheen in the pic above? It feels like my pitt pens and posca pens are ice skating when they hit this surface!

Pitt pens work amazingly well on this shiny surface. They are an archival product filled with permanent ink and will last you forever! I think I've only ever had to replace my white and a couple of skin tones over the years. I've got an entire video dedicated to working with pitt pens if you'd like to learn more about them as well. 

When you're happy with your pitt pens and paint pens (remember WATER based paint only) layer, it's time to seal your piece up once more with another layer of mod podge, and we're almost done!

I get asked ALL the time how to keep art journal pages from sticking together. Our very last step is dedicated to this issue. I use this simple sealer/finisher spray by Americana, and that's it! No more sticky art journal pages. Beware this stuff is super stinky so I take my art journal outside for this step.

Be sure to watch ALL the videos in my Official Hamburger Series because they are seriously jam packed with mixed media goodness! 

Each video takes a deeper dive on every individual layer of my signature Hamburger System so you can learn EVEN MORE about:

• The Best Surfaces for Mixed Media
• All About Mixed Media Collage 
• All About Mixed Media Painting
• All About the BEST Mixed Media  Art Supplies 
• When & How to Seal Mixed Media Art 
• How to Use Faber Castell Pitt Pens
• How to Prevent Sticky Art Journal Pages 
• A Flip Through of my Mixed Media Hamburger BOOK

If you'd like to get a hard copy of my Mixed Media Hamburger System book, you're welcome to check that out on Amazon, along with all of my other how to draw books and art books. 

​Thanks for hanging out with me today!  

Don't forget to grab my FREE HAMBURGER SYSTEM CHEATSHEET. Once you print it out, join me on YouTube for my Hamburger System Series, and I'll explain everything you need to know about mixed media art supplies, and my simple mixed media layering process! 

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