If you’re just starting out as a painter or even if you want to explore other mediums of painting to get your creative juices flowing, it can be difficult to know which medium is “right” for you.

The right medium is essentially one which you enjoy and one which turns out well for you. Sometimes it’s not just about which is the easiest to learn but more about which is truer to the way you want to express yourself.

To find out what works for you and what doesn’t, it’s okay to try them out yourself first.

Finding the right medium is more than just getting a grip on the the technical know how of paints. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you choose the right medium for yourself.

Who are you?

The kind of personality you have plays a big role in the medium you enjoy the most. Are you patient and detail-oriented with the kind of work you do and your hobbies? If yes, then you probably will have an easier time learning watercolor painting.

If you’re more free-spirited and like to do things in the whim, you should try out acrylic paints first. Not only do they dry faster, it’s easier to make “corrections” when you need to.

What is your living space like?

You need to assign a specific place to paint because this makes it easier to organize your art supplies in one place.

You can access them all at once when you need to. Oil paints can create a lot of fumes and are not ideal for use in small spaces.

They also take longer to dry and need to be kept in a separate room to prevent damage.

What seems easier to you?

Let’s take a look at all your options.

Watercolor

Watercolor paintings look vibrant, are easy to set-up and don’t need the help of additives.

However, it’s more challenging to fix mistakes in this kind of work. But with all mediums, you have to start somewhere!

Try your hand at water color and train yourself to practice restraint.

Pen and ink

Black ink and pointers can create some stark black and white imagery which looks beautiful. If you’re not drawn to colors and like sepia tones, then you can start out with charcoal and transition to pen and ink.

Color pencils

Along with graphite pencils, color pencils are the most basic medium you can start with. They help you create almost realistic work and are easy to erase as well. You can also make all kinds of images with them such as animals, anatomy, still life, landscape etc.

What kind of art do you like?

This plays a big role in deciding the kind of art you want to recreate.

Some people are attracted to anatomy sketches or like to doodle when they’re bored.

Some like to paint horses or make landscapes.

The journey has just begun. You can find the medium most suitable for you and buy the necessary art supplies from us when you’re ready. Contact us for more information.