The Best Mixed-Media Boards for Intricate Compositions

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A good foundation is key to any art project, but when working with mixed media, it’s especially important to have a good base. While canvas is perfect for painting, and paper is prime for pencil, board is ideal for mixed-media compositions: it holds up to both wet and dry materials and won’t crumple, pill, or dissolve. The mixed-media genre began with cubists Picasso and Braque, who started adding collage elements to their paintings around 1912. The practice spread as artists increasingly wove unconventional materials into their work, and some, like Matisse, Cornell, Dubuffet, and Kelly, adopted the genre. Today, many established artists incorporate a variety of materials in to their pieces. Choose a sturdy board for your next mixed-media project from our selection of the best options below.