The artwork featured in this post is a digital rendering and not an original, hand-created piece. To view my original artwork, please visit my gallery
🎨 Exploration in Mediums
The biggest challenges in experimenting with different media and surfaces is not knowing how the medium or surface will respond to my brushwork or mark making. So, the work might not always go according to plan. This is also the fun part of this, as there is also the possibility that I can discover a new technique or effect that I never even thought of! It is good to work consistently in a particular medium until you have a good process and handle on your techniques, but no matter how long you work to hone your skills, there is always something more to learn. The best way to learn is through experimentation.
🖌️ The Mediums Reflect Me
I don’t think the materials I work with have their own personalities. Instead, they respond to mine. Whatever I’m feeling, it shows up in the marks I make. If you look closely at my brushstrokes or the way a pencil moves across paper, you’ll see my mood and intensity written right there. It all flows through me, no matter what medium I’m using.
🔄 When a Painting Goes Sideways
If a piece starts to drift off course, I try to correct it, regardless of the medium. Some materials are easier to fix than others, but I don’t let that stop me from trying.
Sometimes I’ll even start a painting over completely if it’s gone too far from what I’m trying to achieve. Just recently, I finished a painting in one medium and decided I didn’t like it, so I re-painted it in another. I go with what feels right in the moment.
Other times, I’ve learned that stepping away is the smarter choice. Coming back the next day with fresh eyes can completely change how I see the work and the decision I make about it.
🌟 A Medium I Can’t Wait to Try
I’m really excited about the idea of painting with gouache. It’s water-mixable like watercolor, but opaque like oil, which feels like the best of both worlds.
I love how watercolor looks, but I don’t always enjoy working with it. Gouache seems like it might be the middle ground I’ve been hoping for. You can thin it with water for transparent washes or keep it thick and rich like oil. It offers the flexibility to pull out exactly the qualities you want for each piece.
📊 My Totally Biased Medium Rating Scale
Because every artist has opinions, here’s mine. Five mediums, rated from “why did I even bother?” to “I could paint with this forever.”
1 – Watercolor “The prettiest troublemaker. Beautiful results when it works, but it runs all over the place and leaves me frustrated more often than not.”
2 – Acrylic “Fast-drying and fussy. We don’t fight, but we’re not exactly friends either.”
3 – Charcoal “Reliable and forgiving. Like that friend who’s always up for a deep conversation and doesn’t mind if things get a little messy.”
4 – Pastels “Dreamy but messy. Some days I love them, other days I find pastel dust in my coffee.”
5 – Oil Paint “My forever favorite. Slow, dramatic, high-maintenance but worth every bit of effort.”
