How to Capture Nature's Texture with Surprising Ingredient

Would you like to re-use an everyday disposable product as the material to create texture in your landscape painting? Use this organic, rich-textured material in your art: welcome food box insulation! Gousto, and other meal box companies, use biodegradable insulation to keep their food fresh and it is perfect for making stunning mixed media art. Any type of insulation would do but this was what I had to hand and I loved the results.

REASONS TO USE BIODEGRADABLE INSULATION:

- Can mix it with all types of materials and can be pasted on to the canvas with paint, glue and all other sealants.

- It creates amazing texture that can be used in any type of painting, abstract or figurative.

- It feels good putting disposable materials to good use.

- It's fun to play about with it and to sprinkle it on the canvas.

- It's free!

Materials needed for this landscape mixed media painting:

• Acrylic paint

• Charcoal + graphite stick

• Pastels

• Sealant (I used water mixed with PVA glue)

• Thick paper, canvas or canvas board for your backing (I used mixed media sketchbook paper)

• Insulation (I used it from a Gousto meal box)

Work Sequence

1. Do an initial sketch to get confident with your image and decide on the layout/composition.

2. If using minimal colours, test out a few until you have a palette you are happy with. After doing this exercise I chose to use different shades of red and black.

3. Start the actual mixed media painting. Draw the picture outline with graphite stick. Be free with your drawing - there are no rules so just go with what feels natural to you.

4. Use white paint and blend with the graphite stick to create shadows and a 3D look.

5. Spread out the mixture where you want to have most texture (I wanted it to give depth and shape to the earthy and tree-covered areas). Paste it down with watery PVA glue. Leave to dry.

6. Use acrylic paint to give your painting colour and depth. I like to use my hands to smear the paint on when I'm working in a 'messy' style.

7. Use black and white pastels to give definition to areas and to make the focal point clearer.

8. Seal your amazingly textured mixed media painting to keep everything in place and protected.

Pat yourself on the back as you have now done colour, texture, mixed media and composition sketchbook experiments to explore your own personal style and have a completed piece of art you can display or sell!