Choosing the right medium

Many people already have a preferential medium which they always use, while others like to change from one to another, but there are some people who still haven't decided which way of creating art is for them. So how do you choose which medium to use?

I like to adapt and change mediums depending on what I create. Certain mediums are better tailored for specific types of artwork, so knowing what kind of art you like to create really helps to decide the medium you should choose. I recommend not limiting yourself to one medium though as the change can be fun, and art is all about experimentation.

Here is a very simple list to help those who haven't ventured into trying out each medium:

• Pencils & Pens: Great for creating quick sketches or very precise drawings, pencils and pens don't lend themselves to expression very well, and are more controlled than most other mediums.

• Charcoal, Chalk & Pastels: I find these to be the most expressive and textured way of drawing, almost feeling like painting depending on how you use them. Pastels are particularly good for colourful and detailed work, such as pet portraits or for using outdoors (I used pastels and charcoals for the image above).

• Acrylic Paint: Acrylics are the most controllable and forgiving of all paints and can be used for any subjects. Mistakes can be painted over, and there are many techniques that can be applied. The only limitation is in the fast drying time, making blending tricky and use outdoors a less viable option.

• Oil Paint: Slightly harder to master than acrylic paint, oils have beautiful creamy quality and are great for blending and for use outdoors. Drying times are slow though, so oil creations tend to take longer than other mediums. Oil paints, like acrylics, are especially good for realism.

• Watercolours: Watercolour paints have a wonderful, delicate, natural feel, and lend themselves to still life and landscape work. They take a while to master, but offer some great water and sky effects if you willing to let the paint take over. They are reliant on the paper they are applied to, and are best used for lighter, more subtle paintings. Watercolours are the best medium for quick sketches and use outdoors.

• Mixed Media & Collage: Using several of the dry or water based mediums listed above together can be great for abstract work. For something different, but less realistic, collage can work well to come up with new ideas.