How to Find Your Perfect Art Medium

When it comes to art mediums, the number one piece of advice I can give artists is to experiment a lot (as in, try everything) and then go with the medium that feels most natural. You can make beautiful art with any tools, so you simply need to find a medium that supports your best work. No medium is too simple or too silly if it works for you.

The best way to experiment with mediums is to take classes. I was lucky enough to take oil painting, pastel, colored pencil, and acrylic classes as a child. I found out pretty early which mediums I did and didn’t like. I always gravitated towards colored pencils, markers, and pens because those felt the easiest, until I discovered gouache. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any gouache classes as a child, so I discovered this medium in my thirties. When I found gouache, a lightbulb clicked. All the things that were holding me back in the past suddenly weren’t an issue. It made my work that much easier, and I hit the ground running as far as the amount of art I was producing. I love how sophisticated and clean it made my art look. Because of gouache, I fell in love with my art all over again.

I know gouache isn’t everyone’s thing, so this post is all about how you can discover your perfect medium - the medium that makes you a better artist. Looking back, I wish I had some guidance on this topic. If you’re still trying to find your perfect medium, as most artists are, below are some factors to consider that really helped me out.

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Ease of Use

It’s hard enough to sit down and make art. Don’t make it more difficult on yourself by choosing a medium that’s difficult to use. A great example for me is oil painting. I love the look, but the fact that it takes two weeks to dry and a large ventilated workspace doesn’t work for me. It’s way too complicated. To someone else, this may not sound complicated. It’s about being honest with yourself as to whether a medium is going to slow you down. When I say ease of use, you should also question whether the medium fits your lifestyle. For instance, if you like to make art while traveling (like I do), that eliminates a lot of mediums. If you’re really unsure where to start, I recommend beginner artists use drawing mediums, because they will give you the most control. They’re also very portable, and intuitively easy to use because we used them as kids. I don’t regret starting with colored pencils, markers and pens. This was necessary in order for me to succeed with gouache later. I had to master colors and forms using mediums that came easy to me, before moving on to the next phase of my work.

Messiness

Does making a mess bother you? It sure bothers me! If not, does your space allow for messes? I used to be very into pastels, but they’re just too messy for me. I hate how dust goes everywhere. I work out of a bedroom in my home, so I don’t want to trail colorful dust through the house. To some people, the mess of pastels might be exhilarating. Or maybe you have an industrial workspace that allows you to make a mess. Pastels are charcoal are the biggest messy offenders. Oil paints can be too. Less messy mediums would be pens, pencils, markers, acrylics, watercolors and gouache. Bonus points for digital art, because no mess is made there!

Cost

We should all be making art with the mindset that we’re forming a lifetime habit. Art fights depression and is a great way to be present in your day - similar to meditation. It should be your happy place. If the cost of art supplies is stressing you out, it takes the fun out of things. Choose a medium where you’re comfortable with the price. This applies to what you create your art on too. I use paper over canvas, because I like the idea that I can scrap a painting whenever I want at very little cost. Contrary to popular belief, art supplies don’t have to be costly. I’ve seen amazing work created with pencil and paper alone.

Health Risks

Some mediums are better to use than others when it comes to your health. Any medium with a distinct smell or dust poses risks. I love oil paints, but I cannot stand the smell of mineral spirits, and I question the long term health effects it may have. As someone who makes a lot of art, I would be highly exposed to whatever medium I use. This is something to consider when choosing colors too. Some colors pose health risks, like Cadmium for example. Many paints are now using Cadmium-free shades.

Consider Your End Product

Are you selling originals? If so, will you be transporting or mailing your work? If you’re selling prints, how does your medium look scanned in? If you’re making art just for yourself, is your art easy to store? This factor comes back to ease, but also practicality. For instance, when I was creating my art with colored pencils, the pencil shavings and smudges drove me nuts when I would edit my art prints! It would take me twice as long.

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Below I’ve documented my own experience with the most popular art mediums.

Oil Paints

If you want the richest colors, this is your best bet. These paints take up to 2 weeks to dry, so you can rework your painting until it’s perfect. Also, you can blend really well, creating a nice softness, because you have this extended dry time. Downside is the extended dry time. If you want to apply a brand new layer, you have to wait a very long time. Also, oil paints can be smelly to work with because of the mineral spirits (that you use to rinse your brushes - you can’t use water), so you need a large ventilated space. Not ideal for anyone who is sensitive to smells. Also, you typically work on canvas, which makes things less portable and more expensive. The paints themselves are also pretty expensive, but they will last you a while. Oil paints are what all the old masters used, and typically what you see in art museums. The beauty of the final product can’t be rivaled, but it’s not the easiest process to get there.

Acrylic Paints

Think oil paints with less smell and a shorter dry time. Much shorter. These are usually cheaper than oil paints, but go through the tubes quicker because the paint dries faster. Unfortunately, you lose some of the richness with oil paints. On the positive side, you can create some really nice layering effects because the paint dries quickly. Also, you can mix the paints with water, and use water to clean your brushes. Just don’t wait too long, until the paint is totally dry. The great news is, you don’t have to worry about spilling on your dry painting. The paint is not water-based so it will stay put. You can use acrylic on paper or canvas.

Gouache Paints

This is what I use, so it’s my favorite. I like to describe this medium as the perfect mix between acrylic and watercolor. The paint is opaque, so you can layer nicely like acrylic. It’s similar to watercolor, because it’s water based. That means you can rewet the paint on your palette. You can also add varying degrees of water to great different looks. You typically use gouache on mixed media or watercolor paper. The little tubes are pretty expensive, but they are concentrated, and will last you a long time - much longer than acrylic. Negatives are that if you splash water on your painting, it will cause damage because the paint is water based. Also, the colors aren’t completely opaque so you have to be careful about layering light colors over dark colors.

Watercolor Paints

Think transparent gouache or acrylic. You have a lot less control with this medium, because the water really takes control. A lot of people like the soft, spontaneous look this provides. The paint tubes are small like gouache, so they’re fairly portable. The color in the tubes is really concentrated. You get extremely vibrant colors. These will last you even longer than your gouache tubes because you tend to use more water with them. You typically use watercolor or mixed media paper with this medium. Downsides are the same as gouache - careful of water damage to your paintings.

Oil Pastels

Given the name, it’s no surprise these provide the richest color of all drawing mediums- similar to oil paint. Using these feels like drawing with a melted crayon. If you want color that goes on thick and bold, this is it. The downside is they can be a little messy. Also, they don’t blend well, which can be a cool look if you want to show off your pastel strokes. Because they can smudge, you want to be careful when storing your work. You probably also want to use a fixative spray when you’re done working. There are some brands that are pricey, but for the most part, they are reasonable.

Chalk Pastels

These are completely different than oil pastels, because they’re like drawing with chalk. They blend so nicely, and create a softness that most mediums don’t offer. The colors are also really vibrant and rich. I just LOVE the look of chalk pastels, but I don’t use them because they are far too messy for me. Dust goes everywhere. They are relatively inexpensive. You definitely want to use a fixative over these, because they smudge easily. It’s good to keep in mind that pastel dust poses a health hazard too, since the dust is airborne and microscopic.

Colored Pencil

I started out using this medium years ago, because it felt comfortable. Because colored pencil strokes are thin, you have a lot of control. Because they are thin, covering large areas can be tedious. I find this medium works best in conjunction with another medium - whether it be paint or marker. Colored pencils are nice and portable and pretty inexpensive. They will last a while and are easy to maintain, as long as you keep a pencil sharpener close by. One negative is that the pencil shavings and dust can be a bit messy, especially when trying to edit a painting.

Markers

Markers are great because there isn’t any messiness to them. They are probably the most portable medium. If you get the right brand, you will see some really bold colors. Because the marker tip isn’t as thin, you don’t have as much control. I like using markers with pencil or micron pens, for detail work. There isn’t really a downside to these, except that they don’t really blend. Once the color is set, it’s there for good. Prismacolor is a great marker brand.

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It’s important to continue experimenting with mediums as time goes on, even if you think you’ve found the perfect one. The beauty of mediums is that you can use more than one at once. When I first found gouache, I was only using that. Now, I like to layer a little pencil or pen over my work to create a unique look. Combining different mediums is a great way to uncover your unique style. The more bizarre the combination of mediums you use, the more interesting your work will look.

And remember, there’s no shame in simplicity. There is only shame in neglecting your art. I hear so many artists say they feel guilty or inferior because they like painting on their iPad. Who cares?! IPads are great, and probably the way of the future! If you’re making work regularly, you are accomplishing something most people can’t.

The last piece of advice I can give when trying a new medium is this - don’t purchase the sampler packs when trying out a new medium. Also, don’t start with too many colors. I have more of a minimalist approach to art supplies in that I like to try out a few awesome colors, before committing to buying the rainbow. Some great colors to start with in any medium are yellow ochre, cadmium scarlet, and ultramarine.