Every aspiring artist faces one big question at the beginning of their career: that is, what medium should they choose? Of course, there is no pressure to pick only one, or even stick with the one you no longer identify with. Still, the reason that choosing the right medium is so important is that the more exposure and practice to a particular medium, the more refined the craft will become.

Understanding the different media on offer and the particularities of their possibilities is the first step to understanding which is most suited to an individual’s style. Since almost anything can be made into art when the right amount of imagination and technique is applied, this list does not aim to cover every possible medium. Below is a list of the most common sculpture and painting media to help inform and inspire creative urges.

Sculpture

Bricks, Clay, Terra Cotta

These are some of the most traditional sculpture media, in use since ancient times. The most commonly used today is a form of clay since it is both easy to work with and able to produce a variety of different styles. The sculpture is often fashioned with the use of a wheel, it is then left to dry, glazed and then fired in a kiln to keep its shape.

Resin

Resin is an increasingly popular medium being seen frequently in modern and contemporary art. It is becoming incredibly popular for home crafters who use silicone rubber for moulding and creating their own moulds.

Wires and Metal

Many different forms of metal can be used in the making of sculptures, from gold, to lead, to steel and copper, depending on the desired outcome. Wire is also a popular form, as seen in the work of the metal artist Richard Carey.

Marble

A century-old medium used to create some of the world’s most famous sculptures such as Michelangelo’s David, marble sculptures is usually formed through the careful use of a hammer and chisel.

Painting

Acrylics

Acrylic is one of the most versatile types of paint, it can be applied to almost any surface using many different techniques, from intricate brushwork to glazing and staining. It has the potential to be highly pigmented, so it offers a wide range of colours.

Oil

Oil is a smooth, rich medium which can be used in a variety of ways, from a fine wash to thick layers of impasto, as used by Vincent Van Gough. Since it is slow to dry, it allows for a more relaxed painting experience.

Water Colour

Watercolour is a translucent paint that contains both pigment and binder. When water is applied, the pigment is then transferred to the water, remaining suspended until it dries. Watercolour paint dries relatively quickly, with a more transparent finish than the others mentioned. The excess of water means that thicker paper is needed.

Gouache

Gauche, like watercolour, is water-soluble; however, it is an opaque paint, which means that it has a less transparent finish, with a chalkier consistency. When working with gouache, it is worth remembering that it dries out to be a darker colour, and it can often take days to dry completely.