Artist Materials To Express Your Creativity

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.

Each artist must find the medium that best suits their style and specific requirements. Are you a fan of canvas or paper? Are you more at ease with the wonderful textures of oil pastels or do you prefer the selections available in oil paints? Do you prefer applying paints with a sponge, a finely bristled brush, your fingers or even using an orange stick? Brushes range from fan shaped to as broad as a mans palm or fine as a few eyelashes.

Early man felt a need to record the magic of the surrounding world by creating cave paintings to immortalize important events or to simply express himself. These early pigments consisted of materials that included iron oxide, manganese, charcoal, iron ore and ochre, powdered and mixed with saliva for easy application. Often the materials were chewed and then literally spat onto the surface. Either that or the colors were applied with horse hair, moss or chewed on twigs or bits of bark.

Over the centuries application techniques and the pigments themselves have evolved. Modern suppliers have made great advancements in the overall quality of todays paint supplies. The products are of the highest quality standards and will keep their color and integrity for many years to come.

The density and quality of paints have been modified for application to delicate materials like silk. Material painting is a popular pastime and suitable materials have been designed for that purpose. Traditional oil paints would prove too heavy for silk painting, thus silk and textile paints were created in a variety of colors.

Gouache is an often used medium that is a type of opaque gum often mixed with pigment to give a smoother texture. When used with oil paints it thins the paint, allowing it to spread more easily upon the canvas and giving a smoother texture. Artists who use oil paint usually apply it to a prepared canvas. This is usually a woven even-textured material that is stretched across a frame and then treated with a primer paint.

The artist whose chosen medium is water colors or ink will most often apply this type of pigment to a special type of paper created for this purpose. The application of ink and water color is very different to the application of oil on canvas and these techniques can take years to master. Pencils are another great creative tool and are manufactured in a variety of thicknesses and grades and a huge assortment of colors.

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.