How to choose a creative medium based on your personality

November 10, 2021 0 Comments

Or … How to choose a creative medium without freaking out!

So you’ve put the creativity block monster back in the closet (or maybe you’ve thrown it out for good!) And are itching to get started. Good for you! You’re on and you’re done … then out of nowhere, a percussion bomb explodes …

“How do I start? What method do I choose? And when I choose one, how do I go about it? What if I choose it and it sucks?”

Before your world implodes again and you allow your creativity to be left on the shelf for another, oh, I don’t know, 10 years! – Take a deep breath and take that little monster off your shoulder and put it in the same place where you put the other one and say these words …

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is getting started.”

I’m sure if you’re reading this you’ve heard it before, maybe applied to a different topic. You’ve heard it before, because it’s true. Knowing this doesn’t always help and if you have a hint of perfectionism in you, you may need a little nudge, so here’s a shortcut:

Choose a medium based on your personality.

Hey? Test it! Here, let’s try … do you like things to happen fast, get impatient, and just want to get it done? You are a shoe for acrylic or encaustic paint. Do you like to work carefully and mix colors? You may find that oil painting is your favorite.

There are many more examples and certainly not just a medium to choose from, but if you allow yourself to start there, you will definitely give yourself a great advantage to continue exploring ways to express your creativity because you will not be fighting against the nature of the medium itself and chance will discourages and gives up completely, the medium is more likely to flow with you and you with it.

A medium is simply your tool to express the uniqueness that is within you and allows you to bring it out of yourself to share it, so that the world can be a better place.

Your first choice may not be a medium you end up with and you may find that you like and continue to use several different ones – there are an infinite number of tools to create, from pencils and pens to resins, clay, salt, wax. , plaster – keep it up and you may even discover another!

Here’s an insider secret most artists work with more than one medium! Sure, to create professionally, you probably choose an approach, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

So, let’s go back to the shortcut I promised earlier. A short list on how to combine your personality, or the way you would like to express yourself, with a medium:

  • If you don’t like the fuss with lots of supplies, travel a lot, have mini-moments to create, try: Pencils, Pens, Charcoal, Conte, Ink Wash, Watercolors
  • If you like to work carefully, you have patience, you like to think about your marks, you don’t want the paint to dry too quickly, try: Oil paints, pencils, pens, charcoal, content, watercolors, oil pastels, or chalk
  • If you like to work fast, you are impatient for the next step, like many color options, try: Oil pastels or chalk, acrylic, encaustic
  • If you like a smooth look, mixed colors, realistic images, start with any of the first list, but then try: Oil paints
  • If you like texture, like putting different objects or things together, try: Acrylic, encaustic
  • Are you interested in exploring the base of the medium, the alchemy of the painting you work with? Read about pigments and material safety for artists. then try: Encaustic or oil paints
  • If you are interested in 3D art, sculpture, carving, and ceramics, try: Modeling clay, Sculpting wax

Did you see something you liked? As you read the list, did you find yourself nodding your head or were you surprised and found matches? I’d love to hear your findings on this!

If you’re still unsure or attracted to more than one medium and still can’t choose, that’s fine. You just have to explore a bit more, so head over to your local art store and see what’s available. There are good online stores too, but you really want to get your hands on the product, read the labels and suggestions manufacturers offer, and even smell it. Also look at the various shapes available. For example, oil paints can be used straight from the tube, diluted with oil, come in stick or pan form, and even oil that can be mixed with water.

Local art stores are also a great resource. Most of the time, the staff are artists or even art students who are actively working and many times they are the first to know about new products from a manufacturer or they can share interesting uses for traditional ones that they know or hear from customers. . Most likely, they have tried most of the media and a good number of tools in the store. They may have good advice on complementary products such as supports, primers, enamels, thinners and cleaners suitable for your environment and should also be able to guide you to local groups or classes in your area of ​​interest or even offer classes on site. .

These steps can often take you in an unexpected and interesting direction. Try not to be overwhelmed by the information. Instead, pay attention to what he likes, what makes him listen a little more and trust that.

Remember that the important thing is to start.

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