Mediums I Use

There are so many artistic mediums out there to explore, and while I haven’t tried them all, I definitely have some favorites. I started my journey with pencil, then moved into charcoal. Charcoal quickly became a favorite when I was beginning—it’s incredibly versatile and expressive, perfect for learning value, depth, and texture.

After high school, I decided it was time to try oil painting. I found a private painting class, and that’s where I completely fell in love with oils. I’ve been using them ever since. The richness, the blendability, the depth—there’s nothing quite like them. Of course, the downside is that they can be toxic and the cleanup takes time, but for me, the results are worth the effort.

Later on, I fell in love with watercolor painting. I discovered some fantastic tutorials on Pinterest that helped me learn how to create beautiful landscapes and even handmade greeting cards. Watercolor is a medium I’m still working on mastering, but that’s part of the fun—it constantly teaches me something new.

Most recently, I’ve become obsessed with soft pastel pencils. I use them for all of my pet portraits, and they’ve become an absolute staple for me. The setup and cleanup are easy, and they’re fairly affordable—though the specialized paper can get a bit pricey. Still, the vibrant colors and soft blending make them one of my favorite tools to create with.

Each medium has taught me something different, and exploring them continues to shape me as an artist.

What mediums do you like to use?