Late Summer Expressions: August Art Guide

Bold Colors and Mixed Media Magic

Introduction

Welcome to August's vibrant creative journey! As summer reaches its peak intensity, we're celebrating with an explosion of color, texture, and mixed media experimentation. This month is all about bold expression, layered techniques, and the joy of combining multiple art materials to create dynamic, energetic compositions.

August brings that special late-summer energy—days that feel both abundant and fleeting, colors that seem more saturated, and a sense of creative freedom that comes from warm, lazy afternoons. Our projects this month capture this spirit through expressive mixed media work that combines the fluidity of acrylics and inks with the richness of oil pastels and the precision of markers.

Each week explores a different approach to color and form, from flowing organic expressions to geometric constructions, from layered transparencies to bold contrasts. The beauty of mixed media lies in its unpredictability—the way different materials interact, blend, and sometimes resist each other, creating effects that no single medium could achieve alone.

This month encourages experimentation and play. We'll be working with multiple layers, varied tools, and the exciting possibilities that emerge when we let different materials have conversations on our pages.

Materials

Paint Media:

• Acrylic paints;

• Liquid acrylics or acrylic inks;

• Oil pastels;

• Acrylic markers in various tip sizes.

Tools & Application:

• Brushes in various shapes and sizes (flat, round, detail, large wash);

• Palette knives;

• Paint scrapers or old credit cards;

• Sponges;

• Spray bottles;

• Cotton swabs.

Papers & Support:

• Mixed media paper (heavyweight recommended);

• Paper towels for lifting and texture.

Additional Supplies:

• White gel;

• Fine liner;

• Masking tape;

• Plastic wrap.

Amazon Storefront Note: Find all these mixed media supplies organized on my Amazon Storefront - everything you need for bold summer creating!

Our Late Summer Palette

Colors that capture August's intense, saturated energy:

Electric Pink (#FF1493) - Bold summer blooms and vibrant energy
Turquoise Blue (#40E0D0) - Clear summer waters and bright skies
Lime Green (#32CD32) - Lush late-summer growth
Golden Yellow (#FFD700) - Intense summer sunshine
Orange Burst (#FF4500) - Sunset fires and tropical fruits
Deep Purple (#8A2BE2) - Dramatic storm clouds and evening sky
Coral Pink (#FF7F50) - Warm summer evenings
Bright White (#FFFFFF) - Clean highlights and breathing space
Navy Blue (#000080) - Deep contrast and grounding elements

Mixed Media Techniques for Bold Expression

Start with broader applications (acrylics, inks) and build up to more precise details (markers, oil pastels). Each layer should interact with or complement the previous ones. Experiment with how different media blend or resist each other. Oil pastels over wet acrylic create different effects than over dry paint. Markers behave differently on textured versus smooth surfaces. Don't just use brushes—try palette knives for bold strokes, scrapers for interesting textures, sponges for organic patterns, and even unconventional tools for unique mark-making. While these pieces may look spontaneous, consider composition and balance. Let some areas be very active while others rest. Create focal points through contrast and detail.

Weekly Projects

Week 1: "Summer Bloom Explosion"

Organic flowing forms with vibrant color interactions

Inspiration: Create an explosion of organic, floral-inspired forms that burst with summer energy. Think of flowers blooming in fast-forward, with petals and leaves flowing and overlapping in joyful abundance.

Approach:

• Begin with loose, flowing acrylic washes in warm colors

• While still damp, drop in contrasting colors and let them blend naturally

• Once dry, add oil pastel details in flowing, petal-like shapes

• Use acrylic markers to add linear details and definition

• Layer transparent and opaque elements for depth

• Add splatters and gestural marks for energy

• Use palette knife to create texture in some areas

• Finish with white gel pen highlights for sparkle

Color Focus: Hot pinks, corals, lime greens, and golden yellows with white accents

Techniques to Explore:

• Wet-into-wet acrylic blending

• Oil pastel over dried acrylic for rich color

• Splattering for organic texture

• Gestural brushwork for movement

• Layering transparent and opaque colors

Week 2: "Fountain Fireworks"

Radiating celebration with water and light explosions

Inspiration: Create a spectacular composition that captures the magic of water fountains illuminated by fireworks - the upward spray of water catching colored light, the burst of celebration, and the feeling of summer festivities reaching their peak.

Approach:

• Begin with radiating circular forms arranged across your page like burst patterns

• Use bright acrylic washes within each circular section, letting colors flow and blend

• While paint is still damp, add contrasting colors that spread and create firework-like effects

• Once dry, add upward-flowing lines and shapes with oil pastels to suggest water spray

• Use acrylic markers to create precise radiating lines extending from each burst

• Add small dots and splatters around the radiating forms for sparkle effects

• Layer transparent and opaque colors to create depth and light effects

• Use white gel pen for bright highlights that suggest light catching on water droplets

• Create connecting flows between burst areas to suggest cascading water

Color Focus: Electric blues, bright magentas, golden yellows, and lime greens with white highlights

Techniques to Explore:

• Circular burst patterns as foundation

• Wet-into-wet color bleeding for firework effects

• Radiating line work extending from central points

• Oil pastel over acrylic for rich, flowing water effects

• Precise marker work for light rays and water streams

• Splattering techniques for celebratory sparkle

• White highlights for dimensional light effects

Week 3: "Underwater Dreams"

Flowing compositions with bubble effects and aquatic energy

Inspiration: Create flowing, underwater-inspired compositions with bubble effects, flowing forms, and the sense of movement through water. Think of swimming through a rainbow-colored ocean.

Approach:

• Begin with flowing acrylic washes in blues, greens, and purples

• While wet, add contrasting colors and let them flow together

• Use spray bottle to create organic spreading effects

• Once dry, add flowing oil pastel strokes suggesting movement

• Create bubble effects using circular stencils or freehand circles

• Add flowing linear elements with acrylic markers

• Use white gel pen for bubble highlights and water effects

• Layer translucent colors for depth and water-like quality

Color Focus: Blues, turquoise, purples, and greens with coral and pink accents

Techniques to Explore:

• Flowing wet-into-wet techniques

• Circular stenciling for bubble effects

• Oil pastel blending for smooth color transitions

• White highlights for dimensional bubbles

• Spray bottle effects for organic spreading

Week 4: "Abstract Urban Energy"

Bold geometric compositions with dynamic color interactions

Inspiration: Channel the energy of summer in the city—construction sites, colorful buildings, street art energy, and the dynamic interplay of structure and spontaneity in urban environments.

Approach:

• Create a foundation of rectangular and angular shapes using masking tape

• Apply bold acrylic colors in geometric sections

• Remove tape while paint is still damp for clean edges

• Add gestural marks and splatters over the geometric foundation

• Use palette knife to apply thick texture in strategic areas

• Layer oil pastels for rich color in selected sections

• Add precise details with acrylic markers

• Create visual paths through color and line

• Balance structured and organic elements

Color Focus: Bold primaries with neon accents—electric pink, lime green, bright orange

Techniques to Explore:

• Masking tape for clean geometric divisions

• Thick texture application with palette knife

• Gestural mark-making over structured foundation

• High contrast color combinations

• Balancing precision with spontaneous expression

Final Thoughts

August's mixed media approach celebrates the abundance and intensity of late summer. These projects encourage you to work with confidence, embrace bold color choices, and find joy in the unpredictable interactions between different art materials.

The beauty of mixed media lies not just in the final results, but in the process of discovery—learning how different materials behave together, finding new techniques through experimentation, and developing your own unique approach to layering and color.

As you work through these projects, notice which combinations and techniques most excite you. These discoveries become part of your personal artistic vocabulary, tools you can use in future creative adventures.

Remember that confidence in art-making often comes from giving yourself permission to experiment and play. These August projects are invitations to be bold, try new things, and celebrate the joy of creating with multiple materials and techniques.

I'd love to see your bold summer expressions! Please, tag me in your posts.

Let's create with courage and summer joy!

Next month: September "Harvest Textures" - exploring the rich, earthy textures and warm colors of early autumn through layered mixed media techniques.