Inside My Digital Mixed Media Process: Bridging Analog Acrylic and Digital Technology
Art is my way of blending the tangible with the intangible, the traditional with the modern. My process in digital mixed media is all about exploring how acrylic paints and digital manipulation come together to create something entirely new—something that exists between worlds. In this post, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my creative process, from the first brushstroke to the final pixel, and share why this hybrid approach feels so right for my work.
Step 1: Acrylic as the Foundation
Every piece starts with a canvas (or paper) and acrylic paint. For me, this is where the soul of the artwork begins. Acrylic allows for spontaneity—it dries quickly, which means I can layer, blend, or even scrape away paint in the moment. The textures and imperfections created during this stage are crucial because they serve as the foundation for everything that comes next.
While painting, I let intuition guide me. This is where I explore themes of perception and deconstruction. Bold colors dominate my work, and I often focus on how they interact and create a sense of movement or emotion. At this stage, the art feels raw and tactile, which is exactly what I want.
Step 2: Capturing the Physical Artwork Digitally
Once the acrylic base is complete, I digitize the piece. High-resolution photography or scanning ensures every detail is preserved—the ridges of paint, the subtle gradients, and the interplay of light and shadow. This step is critical because it’s the bridge between the physical and the digital realms.
I view this as a form of preservation, but also as a way to unlock new creative possibilities. In its digital form, the artwork becomes a canvas within a canvas, ready for a new layer of exploration.
Step 3: Manipulating with Digital Tools
This is where the magic happens. Using software like Lightroom, I begin the process of digital manipulation. Filters, overlays, and adjustments allow me to transform the physical piece into something entirely different.
Here’s what I focus on:
Color Enhancement: Amplifying hues or shifting tones to create emotional resonance.
Exposure: Adjusting the brightness and shading of the aspects of the work, how light and dark the details appear.
Vibrance: Selectively boosts the intensity of muted colors while protecting already vibrant tones.
Saturation: Aggressively affect the intensity of colors and hues.
Tint: Impact the final output with warm or cooler overtones.
The goal isn’t to obscure the original painting but to build on it. It’s a collaborative dance between the organic and the digital, where each medium complements the other.
Step 4: Print and Paint
I supervise the printing process. I use the highest quality giclee printing techniques. Then I add more paint. I make art pieces that have been painted, digitally manipulated, printed, and painted again. These are not embellished prints, these are original 1 of 1 works of art.
