What Painting Materials Are Best For You?

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Quiz Questions

1.
Which materials have you used in the past?
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- A.
  Oil Paint
- B.
  Acrylic
- C.
  Watercolor/Gouache
2.
How important is an easy clean-up to you?
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- A.
  Important
- B.
  Very Important
- C.
  Extremely Important
3.
How much space do you have to create art?
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- A.
  I have a dedicated space.
- B.
  I don't mind getting my supplies out and putting them away when I'm finished.
- C.
  I have very limited space and I want my supplies to tuck away in to a small space when I'm done painting.
4.
Toxicity. How prepared are you to handle materials that might need ventilation, gloves or careful disposal?
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- A.
  I can do that. I'm prepared to take measures to protect my health and the environment.
- B.
  I can be careful about disposal, but need to avoid anything that might be toxic when it comes to ventilation or skin contact.
- C.
  I really need to keep it simple. Nothing toxic or requiring special clean-up.
5.
How important is it for your work to be archival?
- A.
  EXTREMELY.
- B.
  Hopefully it will last my lifetime, but after I die, it isn't important to me.
- C.
  It would be great if it lasted, but it's not a priority for me.
6.
What drying time do you prefer?
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- A.
  Slower - I like to work for a few hours on the same piece and have my paint stay fresh on the palette the entire time.
- B.
  FAST! I don't mind if the paint dries on my palette quickly. I like to paint on top of my brush strokes right away.
- C.
  Medium. I want the best (or sometimes worst) of both worlds.
7.
Investment. How much are you able to spend?
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- A.
  I'm planning to invest a good amount of money. I plan to make art with medium for many years.
- B.
  I can afford to buy what I need to get started.
- C.
  I need to limit my spending on materials.
8.
How important is portability?
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- A.
  I can figure out how to bring what I need with me.
- B.
  It's important.
- C.
  It's EXTREMELY important. I want to take my art supplies almost anywhere.
9.
How interested are you in the origin of your pigments?
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- A.
  OOH fun! I'm very interested!
- B.
  What? Not very interested.
- C.
  Sure. I'm somewhat interested.
10.
How important is it that your paint dry at same value (tone) as when wet?
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- A.
  EXTREMELY Important.
- B.
  Fairly Important.
- C.
  I don't mind doing a bunch of extra mental calculations to get the correct value.
11.
Framing. How prepared are you to spend $$$ on framing?
- A.
  Framing is part of the painting process. I will plan to spend some money on it. $$
- B.
  I don't want to spend any money on framing. I like to paint the edges of my canvases. It looks great and saves a ton of cash. $
- C.
  I love matting, framing and glass. I can spend lots of money to make it look great. $$$
12.
Do you want to try plein air painting?
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- A.
  Yes! I've always wanted to paint landscapes outside!
- B.
  Nope. I am much more comfortable working indoors!
- C.
  Sure! That could be fun to try.
13.
Last question! Do you have a strong urge to use one of these materials?
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- A.
  I love the idea of painting with oils. The tradition, history and rich colors call to me.
- B.
  I love the idea of painting with acrylics. I like the idea of oil painting, but am concerned it will be too messy. I want things to be very easy.
- C.
  I love the idea of painting with watercolor/gouache. I love the gentle sketchy quality of water media.

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Oil Painting!
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Oil Painting is right for you. Welcome to an amazing world with a long history and a lifetime of learning and exploration. Get ready to invest some money, but you'll be creating serious and long lasting, special pieces that can stand the test of time. Oil painting doesn't need to be toxic at all, but you will need special tools to paint safely. You can get started slowly, adding materials as you go. I know you have lots of questions and I've created a FREE pdf guide to getting started with oil painting.
2.
Acrylic!
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Acrylic Painting is a great choice for you. There are so many options with acrylic paint, and it's great for people who have smaller spaces or would like to avoid any exposure to toxic fumes. You can create beautiful work that bridges the worlds of oil and watercolor. It's fast - when you finish an acrylic painting you can frame it the next day! You will need to invest in a sponge palette so your paint won't dry too quickly, and plein air painting is a bit more challenging for acrylic painters, but it can be done! Always choose artist grade paint - there are some gorgeous products available to acrylic painters today!I know you have lots of questions and I've created a FREE pdf guide to getting started with acrylic painting.
3.
Watercolor/Gouache!
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Watercolor/Gouache is a great choice for you. You can combine transparent watercolor with opaque gouache to create beautiful paintings. It's super easy to get started and you can pack everything away for easy storage or travel. It's so nice that you paint on paper with this media instead of canvas, you save a lot of money and storage space. Some of the most enviable sketchbooks are made with watercolor and gouache paint! If you like to travel and paint, this medium hands down the easiest to bring on trips.There are challenges though! The medium takes some getting used to as the values of many pigments change after they dry. And framing works on paper is much more expensive than framing oil or acrylic paintings. But if you are comfortable with working with these issues, you can create wonderful works that fit your lifestyle. I know you have lots of questions and I've created a FREE pdf guide to getting started with gouache painting.

What Painting Materials Are Best For You?

Answer these lifestyle and preference questions to shop art supplies with confidence.

Quiz Questions

Quiz Outcomes