Artist Materials For Creative Expression

Artist materials are many and varied and can be used in a variety of ways to create different effects. An artist has free reign when it comes to their imagination and thanks to the wide variety of material available, can create a wonderful palette of colors, textures and designs.

Defining which type or art materials you will feel most at ease using will probably be your hardest decision. Some artists will only use oil paints, others prefer to work with chalk pastels on paper, yet others swear that the best medium is acrylic paint. Other options include oil pastels, pencils and crayons. There is a wide selection of brushes on offer too and artists can choose between large bristle brushes or ones so fine that they contain but a few hairs to paint with.

Early cave dwellers first began depicting aspects of their daily lives and images of the world they saw around them by applying pigments to the walls of their caves. These early pigments were made from powdered elements like chalk, shell, iron ore, iron oxide and other naturally occurring materials. The pigments were applied by mixing them with saliva and applying directly to the stone or by using moss or animal hair.

Modern pigments are manufactured in an industrial environment and have undergone extensive testing to ensure that you are using a fine quality product that will deliver the best results during application. Color formulations range from primaries to pastels and every color in between to meet your specific needs. The testing of paints for ever improving quality products costs paint companies millions of dollars.

For those wishing to paint on silks and textiles, specialized silk and textile paints have been specifically created as regular oil paints would be too heavy for this delicate material. Fabric painting has become a popular pastime and there is a wide selection of colors available for you to choose from.

Many artists use a product called gouache, a liquid gum product that is mixed with pigment for improved viscosity and to hasten the drying time of traditional oil paints. Oil and acrylic paints are traditionally applied to canvases, squares of material that are pulled taut and nailed to a frame before being primed with a base coat.

Other options include working with chalks, water colors and inks which are traditionally used on a special type of paper designed for this. Whether you choose paint on canvas or ink on paper, each technique can take time to master with each artist finding their own unique methods of application. Working with colored pencils is also a very popular option.

A further option available to artists is mixed media, which amounts to just about anything! Material, beads, cork, veneer, natural materials like bark or sea shells and many other items can be combined with traditional paints, pastels and chalks to create an innovative and exciting color and texture palette as a feast for the viewers eyes.

Don't shy away from an enjoyable experience because of the cost of art supplies online. It is true, most art materials can be pretty pricey. Do your own research and follow expert guidance. This is a good idea to do when you are looking for artist easels, canvas, and other items online.