Working in Different Art Mediums
Left: Birth of Venus, 1485 - Painting by Sandro Botticelli
Right: Birth of Venus, 2019 - Photograph by Szabolcs Matefy
As artists, we don’t just stick to one medium; sometimes we explore several to find out what we like or dislike. Then there are other times when some of us like to have a hand in everything. Exploring different art mediums can be beneficial. For example, one may love producing ceramics and also collage, or one may loathe drawing but love printmaking. When you stick to one medium, you perfect that skillset to the point of boredom, and you may get stuck or stop producing artwork, but then the mind begins to wander…” what’s next?” This is when it’s time to cross over into a different medium.
🤔 How do you know what you like?
If you’re a self-taught artist, then you are no stranger to dabbling in different mediums. This is the route you took to find what you were good at, with flexibility and ease. Others who took the formal route most likely stuck to what they were talented at from grade school, leading into college. This surely wasn’t the most flexible route, but a route nonetheless. Depending on the college, you had x amount of elective classes that you could explore a different medium, but if you were a painting major, painting was the only highway you were on until graduation. From experience, when I was in college, I took advantage of my elective classes, not because I was bored with painting (which was my major at the time), but because I wanted to see what other creative options were out there. I took a film critique class, art history (mandatory in my case), graphic design, and animation. To my surprise, with every different medium explored, I developed a profound appreciation and curiosity for each…and years later, found myself in a career that was in one of these areas. I’ll give you a hint…it’s not in painting!
🤨 When to make the switch?
Artists have the freedom to do just about anything. Let’s take a look at Picasso. He touched almost every medium you can think of, from drawing, ceramics, photography, and even tapestry. He was one of the greats, but he wasn’t the first, nor was he the last. Throughout history, artists have been fluid when working in different mediums. But when you’re on your artistic journey with one medium (let’s say painting), there really isn’t a rulebook that says you have to stick with this for the remainder of your art career. However, artists typically know when to do the switch or begin exploring because creativity slows down, and burnout sets in. Yes, this is a thing! Artists can get burned out working in the medium people love or want to buy more of, and depending on the artist’s situation, they either push through or do a hard stop.
When you feel creativity has left your soul, or you have low energy, this is when you give yourself some time. I recommend disconnecting from technology and go frolick in nature; just kidding, but a period of time to give yourself to breathe will help reset the creative juices. Sitting in the park, reading a good book, or even traveling can evoke inspriation.
😅 Preventing unfinished projects
Every artist has a surplus of unfinished projects; this is common knowledge in the realm of art–even I have some unfinished works from years ago. When you’re on an exploration journey from one medium to the next, most likely, projects will pile up. Depending on the type of medium, for example, if you’re exploring watercolor but want to begin ceramics, the best thing to do is to house all your ideas in a single sketchbook. This will help minimize scattered and half-start projects–it’s also considered ‘research’. Doing some light or heavy research before switching mediums is always beneficial; it prepares you for what you’re about to dive into. When switching from watercolor to ceramics, it doesn’t hurt to ask a fellow artist who works in ceramics. Ask what their recommendations are when starting. Most likely, they will always give you tips from their mistakes.
If you are the type of artist who just dives in, it would be wise to commit to a single project and complete it. When you have the final product in front of you, there is a moment where you know whether this is the medium for you or not. A finished project may also inspire how you approach the rest of the exploration phase.
Dabbling in different mediums will always help, not hurt you. Trusting in the exploration phase will surprise you–and given my experience, had it not been for my curiosity, I don’t think I would have ever picked up clay. So, pick up that paintbrush, charcoal pencils, or stylus…you never know where the different mediums will take you.