Stunning Examples of Using Photography in Mixed Media Artwork

Real-world examples of using photography in mixed media artwork

Let’s skip the theory and go straight into the fun part: how artists actually do this in the wild. Here are several real examples of using photography in mixed media artwork that show just how flexible this combo can be.

Picture a black-and-white photo of a city street printed on matte paper. Instead of framing it, the artist glues it onto a wood panel, sands the edges, then washes the whole scene with diluted acrylics so the sky turns a hazy teal and the sidewalks glow with a warm orange tint. Over the figures, they draw in ink, extending coats, changing hairstyles, and adding surreal details like floating plants and geometric halos. The original photo becomes the skeleton; paint and line work become the flesh.

Another example of using photography in mixed media artwork: an artist prints a childhood snapshot on transparent vellum and layers it over vintage letters and maps. The photo is only partially visible; handwriting peeks through faces, and old postal stamps line up with eyes and mouths. They stitch around the figures with red thread, turning family members into outlined constellations. The result feels like a memory collage, half-documentary, half-dream.

If you’re more into bold color, imagine a large inkjet portrait printed on canvas. The artist masks off parts of the face with tape and blasts bright spray paint across the background. Once the tape comes off, the original face emerges through a storm of neon. They then add gold leaf accents on the cheekbones and eyelids. This is one of the best examples of using photography in mixed media artwork when you want something loud, graphic, and ready to command a wall.

Examples of using photography with paint, ink, and drawing

Some of the strongest examples of using photography in mixed media artwork come from pairing photos with traditional painting and drawing tools. The contrast between the “realness” of the camera and the looseness of the hand is irresistible.

Many artists print their photographs on heavyweight paper or canvas, then:

• Glaze over them with transparent acrylics to shift the mood. A sunny beach photo can become moody and cinematic with a cool blue glaze and a few dark ink lines.
• Add gestural charcoal marks to emphasize movement. A dancer frozen in a photo suddenly feels like they’re actually spinning when you sketch motion lines and smudges around them.
• Paint over parts of the photo to rewrite reality. Windows can become portals, streets can flood with impossible colors, and skies can host hand-drawn creatures.

One widely used approach is photo transfer. Instead of gluing a printed picture directly, the artist transfers the ink onto a painted surface using gel medium. The transferred photo looks slightly distressed, with missing patches and ghostly edges. Over that, they might add colored pencil, pastel, or more paint. If you want a great example of using photography in mixed media artwork that feels aged and atmospheric, photo transfers on wood or canvas are a go-to.

Artists in 2024–2025 are also mixing digital and analog in interesting ways. They might:

• Edit photos in apps like Procreate or Photoshop, layering in digital drawing first.
• Print the hybrid image on matte paper.
• Then go back in with real ink, acrylic markers, or collage.

This hybrid workflow lets you test wild ideas digitally, then commit to them physically. Schools and museums increasingly encourage this kind of experimentation; many art education programs now explicitly include digital-to-analog mixed media in their curricula (you’ll often see this mentioned in course descriptions from universities like the Rhode Island School of Design).

Collage-based examples of using photography in mixed media artwork

If your inner goblin loves cutting and pasting, collage is where photography really shines.

One classic example of using photography in mixed media artwork is the “fragmented portrait.” An artist prints the same face multiple times at slightly different scales, then cuts out eyes, mouths, and hands. These pieces get rearranged with magazine clippings, painted shapes, and bits of patterned paper. The final work might show three overlapping faces, with one painted eye and two photographic eyes all staring in different directions. It’s part identity study, part visual chaos.

Another approach: environmental collage. An artist takes photos of their neighborhood—storefronts, street signs, cracked sidewalks—and prints them small. These mini-photos are collaged into a painted cityscape. Some buildings are painted, some are photographic, some are pure abstract shapes. When viewers step closer, they realize the “texture” in the painting is actually made from real photos of bricks, leaves, or peeling posters.

Some of the best examples include:

• Using black-and-white photos as a grounding layer, then collaging bright color on top.
• Cutting photos into geometric shapes (triangles, circles) and building patterned surfaces.
• Combining glossy photo prints with matte paint to create a tactile contrast.

Mixed media collage with photography has been popular for decades, but it’s having a fresh moment thanks to the explosion of printable imagery and affordable home printers. Artists can now quickly generate entire stacks of images to cut up, remix, and reassemble.

Experimental examples of using photography in mixed media artwork

For artists who like to push things until they almost fall apart, photography is just another raw material.

One experimental example of using photography in mixed media artwork involves physically distressing prints. An artist prints a photo on cheap paper, then:

• Sands the surface so parts of the ink disappear.
• Scratches lines into it with a blade.
• Stains it with coffee, ink, or diluted paint.

The damaged photo is then embedded in a larger painting or collage, turning decay into a design choice. This approach echoes the “wabi-sabi” appreciation for imperfection and transience, a concept you’ll encounter a lot in art history and design theory courses (many university art departments, such as those listed on Harvard’s arts and humanities pages, discuss this aesthetic).

Another experimental route: printing on unexpected surfaces. Artists have been known to print or transfer photos onto fabric, wood, metal, and even dried acrylic skins. Once the image is on a non-paper surface, it can be sewn, burned, bent, or layered.

Imagine a landscape photo transferred onto raw canvas, then heavily embroidered. The artist might stitch over tree branches with bright thread, add beaded raindrops, and leave some areas unstitched so the original photo peeks through. The final result is part photograph, part textile art.

There are also mixed media artists who incorporate text fragments, scientific diagrams, or anatomical imagery from public-domain archives (for example, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s historical collections) and combine them with their own photos. The collision of personal photography with archival material creates narratives that feel both intimate and historical.

Digital, AI, and 2024–2025 trends in photo-based mixed media

Let’s talk about the elephant in the studio: digital tools and AI. In 2024–2025, many mixed media artists are:

• Generating AI-assisted photo references, then printing them and painting over them.
• Combining smartphone photos with scanned drawings, then printing the mashup.
• Using glitch effects and data-moshing before turning the image into a physical collage.

One current trend is the “paint-over print.” An artist creates a highly detailed digital composition, prints it on canvas, and then uses thick acrylic, oil sticks, or markers to selectively emphasize or disrupt areas. The tactile paint strokes sit on top of the ultra-sharp photographic or digital details. This contrast between smooth print and chunky paint is visually addictive.

Another trend: mental health and identity themes. Artists use self-portraits or medical imagery in their mixed media work to process experiences of anxiety, chronic illness, or neurodivergence. They might overlay their own photos with handwritten notes, therapy phrases, or anatomical diagrams from reputable sources like the National Institutes of Health. The photo grounds the work in reality, while the mixed media elements express what’s harder to say out loud.

These are powerful examples of using photography in mixed media artwork not just for aesthetics, but for storytelling and emotional clarity.

How to create your own examples of using photography in mixed media artwork

If you’re itching to try this yourself, you don’t need a fancy studio or a huge budget. Start with a few printed photos (laser prints, inkjet prints, or old photo lab prints) and a surface like watercolor paper, canvas board, or wood.

Here are some simple pathways you can explore, woven into your own experiments:

• Use a portrait photo as a base, then paint over parts of the face to alter identity—add patterns, symbols, or abstract color blocks.
• Print a landscape in black and white and reintroduce color with watercolor washes and colored pencils.
• Create a memory board: glue down family photos, then layer them with handwritten text, maps, and painted shapes.
• Transfer a photo onto a painted background using gel medium, then sand and repaint areas to blend the image into the surface.
• Print the same image multiple times, cut it into strips, and weave it together with strips of painted paper.

As you experiment, think about why you’re choosing photography. Are you documenting, distorting, honoring, or questioning reality? The best examples of using photography in mixed media artwork usually have a clear emotional or conceptual reason behind them, even if the process looks chaotic.

If you’re working with personal or sensitive photos—especially of other people—remember to consider consent and privacy. While art-making is often therapeutic, ethical questions around representation are discussed frequently in contemporary art circles and art education programs (you can find discussions and guidelines through university art departments and arts organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts).

Frequently asked questions about examples of using photography in mixed media artwork

Q: What are some simple beginner-friendly examples of using photography in mixed media artwork?
Start with a printed photo glued onto sturdy paper or canvas. Add a light acrylic wash to tint the whole image, then use pen or marker to outline and extend key shapes—like turning a simple tree into an elaborate, swirling pattern. Another beginner-friendly example of mixed media with photography is to collage small photo prints into a painted background, treating them as “windows” into other scenes.

Q: Can I use my phone photos for mixed media art?
Absolutely. Many of the best examples today start as phone snapshots. Just make sure the resolution is high enough for printing at your desired size. You can edit contrast, color, and composition before printing, then treat the print like any other art material—cut it, paint on it, stitch it, or transfer it.

Q: What’s an example of using photography in mixed media artwork without traditional painting?
You can combine photo prints with drawing, collage, and stitching only. For instance, print a black-and-white portrait on cotton paper, then add details with colored pencils and embroidery thread. No paint required, but it still qualifies as mixed media because you’re combining multiple materials and techniques.

Q: Are there any rules about which materials are safe to use with photos?
Some solvents and heavy mediums can damage certain types of prints. Water-based acrylics, gel mediums, and most drawing tools tend to be safer choices. If you’re concerned about fumes or skin contact from art materials—especially if you’re working in a small space—resources from organizations like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and art-safety guidelines linked by universities can help you make informed decisions.

Q: How do I keep my mixed media photo artwork from fading or peeling?
Use acid-free surfaces and adhesives, and seal your finished work with a suitable varnish or fixative that’s compatible with all your materials. Avoid direct sunlight and extreme humidity. Many museum conservation resources, often hosted on .edu or .gov domains, emphasize light and moisture control as key for long-term preservation.

In the end, photography in mixed media is less about following a template and more about asking, “What happens if I treat this photo like paint, fabric, or wood?” The most memorable examples of using photography in mixed media artwork come from that playful curiosity—when you stop treating the photograph as something precious and start treating it as raw material ready to be transformed.