Using familiar objects in unfamiliar ways, such as adhering rulers and soap dishes to the frames or surfaces in Marie Najera's work, awakens the viewer to looking at these objects in a different light. Garage sales, thrift stores and friends are sources for these objects. Many mixed media artists select objects that mean something to them on very personal levels. Photos, and in particular old photos of living or deceased relatives, evoke strong memories and emotions within the artist and are occasionally inserted into collage-style paintings. While the artist knows that the viewer doesn't have a personal relationship with the exact photos and objects he has selected, he is aware that the audience will bring its own memories and life experiences to the viewing of his work.
Familiar objects can stimulate ideas and emotions that are part of the artist's vision.
A wide range of reactions are greatly anticipated by artists who look forward to learning more about themselves and their work's impact through viewer comments. For others, it is the evocative quality of certain materials that provides inspiration. Artist Gregory Deane's abstract expressionism has recently taken a turn toward mixed media. By including a photograph or words from a newspaper, bits of tissue paper or whatever might be at hand, I can evoke a grounded sense of place, whether it's an African jungle or a Chinese market. There's a powerful tactile experience involved in picking up an object and working it into the canvas so it seamlessly becomes part of the composition.