Inspired by Kristina Smethers - 2016 - Recreated by Heather Walker 2017

Art Medium Pros and Cons 

Markers - or - Sharpies - Copics Ink is liquid, delivered to the paper by a felt (fabric) tip. Comes in a wide variety of tip

sizes - fine point, regular, thick, lots of colors, and both permanent and washable inks.

Pros: ● Flows easily - bright colors ● Good for BOLD lines or outlines ● Come in a wide range of colors

Cons: ● Can “bleed” or run ● Can show layer marks ● Too much pressure can smash and ruin the marker tip

● Depending on the tip of the point of the pen, can be used for fine lines and precise drawing and textures

● Line thickness varies with pressure ● Can layer or blend or mix colors ● Colors become darker or more saturated with layers ● Good for Stippling technique

● Cannot erase ● Hard to achieve smooth blending / transitions ● Can be very basic (Crayola) or very expensive (Copic)

Watercolor Paint Painting using translucent (see-through) pigments suspended in water. May come in dry pigment trays, or tubes of (thick) liquid.

Pros: ● Semi-translucent paint ● Can be remoistened and altered after they dry on the

page. (Brought back to life) ● Have a wide variety of techniques to create textural

effects ● Balance of pigments and water - Not too much of

Cons: ● Must wait to dry between layers if you want color to

darken. (Requires patience) ● Work best on watercolor paper. (thicker paper) ● It is best to tape down paper to combat warping. ● Can be difficult build up color if not using proper

techniques.

water ● Easy to blend / create color transitions ● Work from light to dark in layers - don’t use white ● Can come in colored watercolor pencil form.

● Don’t use white paint - use the white of the paper.

Pencil (Graphite) ● Drawing/shading pencils. ● Good for sketching out ideas no matter what medium you want to use. ● Good for developing a range of grayscale (white to black) values for shading.

Pros: Cons:

● Graphite is fairly easy to control. ● Can be mechanical or traditional pencil ● Draw light until it’s right.

● Can smudge easily if not careful ● Can be hard to erase if you don’t control pressure. ● Metallic color never fully black.

● Can coat with spray fix (to prevent smudges when finished)

● Can create a wide range of values and textures ● Directional mark making is VERY important to create

3D effect.

● Can be sharpened by hand or sharpener.

Colored Pencil ● Pencils of compressed pigments held together with wax. ● Cheaper ones have more wax less pigment(Crayola) more expensive have less wax more pigment. (Prismacolor)

Pros: ● Come in a wide variety of colors. ● Work best when layers of different colors are built up over

time, rather than a single color used heavily. ● Can layer and mix colors. ● Easy to use for fine detail or large areas. ● Can create rich, textural layers of color as well as very

smooth, refined shading- it depends on the technique ● Can purchase colorless blender pencils to help blend

Cons: ● If used with too much pressure will not take any more

color or allow for more layering. ● Do not erase fully. ● To create depth and realistic color must do layering

and vary pressure - most people want to just use one color and press harder or lighter - this will not result in realistic colors or depth.

● Have soft cores that can break easily if dropped.

colors - white can sometimes do this as well ● Works well on colored (toned) paper ● Directional mark making is very important to create 3D

effect / realistic shading. ● Can be contained in wood like a pencil or woodless and

like small sticks of solid color.

● Need to be sharpened often and by hand.

Oil Pastel ● Resembling a large crayon, oil pastels have a thick, creamy texture and can be spread and some can be blended with a wet

paintbrush (like a watercolor pencil).

Pros:

● Like a large crayon, oil pastels have a thick, creamy texture and can be spread and some can be blended with a wet paintbrush (like a watercolor pencil).

● Available in a wide range of colors ● Easy to blend, layer and create textures with ● Can mix colors ● Rich and bright colors ● Easy to fill in large areas quickly

Cons: ● Challenging to get fine detail - need to use blending

stick - blending stick must be sharpened with sandpaper.

● Easy to smudge and blend which can get messy ● Can be fragile - easily broken ● Need to be cleaned with paper towel after layering

on other oil pastels - they pick up other colors ● Do not erase.

● Can work well on colored (toned) paper ● Work well with blending sticks

Chalk Pastel ● Compressed, dry pigments usually in a rectangular or cylindrical stick- powdery and relatively soft, similar to charcoal. ● Never blow on pastels to remove dust - it puts the particles into the air which can get into your eyes or lungs, neither of

which is good for you. Instead, GENTLY tap your work against the table surface to get rid of excess pigment, and wipe up the mess at the end of class.

Pros: ● Bright and available in a wide range of colors ● Easy to blend, layer or mix ● Work very well on colored (toned) paper ● Work well with a blending stick.

Cons: ● Messy / powdery ● Easily smudged ● Fine dust created when used ● Cannot totally be erased

● Easy to fill large areas quickly. ● Able to create many textures with.

● Must be sprayed with fixative to fix colors in place. ● Challenging to create fine detail ● Need to be cleaned after mixing with a paper towel.

Charcoal ● A very loose, powdery medium made (traditionally) of charred wood. It comes in two colors, black and white. ● Never blow on charcoal to remove dust - it puts the particles into the air which can get into your eyes or lungs, neither of which is good

for you. Instead, GENTLY tap your work against the table surface to get rid of excess pigment, and wipe up the mess at the end of class.

Pros: ● Easy to blend and create detail ● Comes in two colors black and white ● Great for contrast, shadows, highlights, and shading

(value) ● Can produce very light or very dark marks - all about

pressure ● Works well on black or colored (toned) paper.

Cons: ● Smudges easily ● Produces a dust / fine powder ● Needs to be hand sharpened ● Very soft and can be easily broken if dropped ● Can not fully erase ● Must be spray fixed to fix charcoal into place to

prevent smudging when finished.

● Comes in pencil, stick, and vine forms. ● Easy to lighten with eraser ● Works well with a blending stick ● Directional mark making very important to creating

3D effect / form / depth.

Tempera Paint ● A liquid paint that is typically semi-opaque (not see through). Once tempera dries, it can be remoistened. ● Can be used similar to watercolor but color is more vibrant or bright. Chalky once dried.

Pros: ● Semi-opaque paint ● Can be remoistened and altered after they dry on the

page. (Brought back to life using water.) ● Have a wide variety of techniques to create textural

effects ● Easy to blend / create color transitions ● Can layer easily.

Cons: ● Must work quickly to blend colors before paint dries. ● It is best to tape down paper to combat warping. ● Can be difficult build up color if not using proper

techniques. ● Some people don’t like the chalky consistency it dries

to ● Some colors mix inconsistently because of the

pigments used.

● Cheaper kind of paint

India Ink ● A liquid ink (typically black in color) that becomes permanent when dry, that typically comes in bottles, allowing you to use it

for a variety of purposes, with either brushes or pens (calligraphy) and tips of pens (nibs). ● Pens have a variety of tips (nibs) that can be changed out of the nib holder. They range from being able to create very fine

lines to creating very broad, thick lines (good for calligraphy).

Pros: ● Can be applied with a variety of pen tips designed to be

dipped into ink and can also be used like paint, with brushes.

● Good for creating textural drawings with intentional,

Cons: ● Cannot erase at all!

(Draw your idea in lightly in pencil first!) ● Will stain clothing. ● Takes skill and planning to control.

clear marks - lots of contrast ● Can be thinned with water while still liquid to create

lighter tones/values. ● Brushes are soft and flexible and typically round, not flat

and come in a variety of sizes. ● Great way to create a value painting

● May work in layers like watercolor but does not come back to life with water.

Ink Pens - Ballpoint Pen - Gel Pens ● Ink, generally thick and gel-like, that is applied to paper with a small, rolling metal ball at

the tip of the pen. ● Traditionally black and blue, but now comes in a wide variety of colors - especially gel

pens.

Pros: ● These are fairly easy to control, will typically not “bleed” ● good for fine mark-making and detail ● Easy to create texture.

Cons: ● Most are NOT permanent ink. ● Does not erase. ● Can smudge if built up thick or sometimes drop out blots

● Can be used to create value by layering (usually hatching & cross-hatching or stippling)

● Can vary line thickness and darkness with careful changes in pressure.

of ink.

Acrylic Paint ● A thick, liquid paint that is typically semi-opaque (not see through). ● These paints are water soluble while still wet (meaning the pigment can be washed out using water), but are water-resistant

when dry. This is especially important to keep in mind when caring for paint brushes- acrylic paint left to dry in a paintbrush will forever ruin that paintbrush.

Pros: ● Comes in a variety of colors. ● Easy to mix and create your own colors ● Able to be blended, layered and create a variety of

textures

Cons: ● Once dried cannot be remoistened or reworked

however you can repaint on top. ● Dries fairly quickly if applied in thin layers which can

make blending challenging.

● Many different techniques and styles of painting. ● Can be applied thickly to create texture - (impasto) ● Styles vary from realistic to abstract. ● Takes a lot of practice to get used to ● To create depth - mix colors with darker colors avoid

large quantities of black - use purple or blue - ● Can show brush strokes or be blended smoothly ● Can use paint brushes, fingers, or pallet knives to paint

● Takes lots of practice, patience and persistence. ● Best to plan out your painting in pencil first. ● Acrylic paint left to dry in a paintbrush will forever ruin

that paintbrush- MUST CLEAN WELL.

Mixed Media

Pros: ● Any and all art mediums can be combined with one another to create

interesting effects, textures and looks. ● No rules - pick your favorite mediums and try to combine them together ● Often include collaging materials together or cutting out papers. ● Lots of experimentation leads to new discovery

Cons:

● Can be messy ● Some mediums don’t layer well

together. ● Can be frustrating but just takes

● Can use even “non art” materials - leaves, string, cardboard etc. ● Can even involve embroidery or sewing onto and through the art. ● Lots of examples online.

practice.

Printmaking

Pros:

● Can usually make copies of your prints - multiples are called editions

● You can use anything to make a print, linoleum, wood, string, cardboard, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, bark, fruit, and so much more.

Cons: ● Once you carve something away you cannot put it

back. ● Have to think in solid colors there is not really

shading or it is not done easily. ● Words must be carved backwards, anything you

carve will print in a mirror or reversed way.

● Has a very graphic / design look to it. ● Can be layered and use multiple printing blocks on top of

one another to create a layered print image.

● Lots of clean up / proper care and maintenance of tools.

Supplies You Need & Clean Up Notes Markers / Sharpies

- Make sure all lids get back on markers tightly. - If you borrow Mrs. Walker’s colored sharpies - please return them to her. - If a marker dries out - please let Mrs. Walker know before throwing it away. - If you want fine tip or regular black sharpies - ask Mrs. Walker they are stored away. - Place extra paper under your drawing paper so it doesn’t bleed through on to desk.

Watercolor Paint

- Supplies you need: set of watercolor paints, paint brushes, cup of water, paper towels, test paper. - If you are just testing you do not need to tape down your paper - if it is your project you need to see ask about taping it

down. - You are responsible for cleaning paint brushes and supplies. - You may mix your watercolors in the lid of the set - wipe the lid clean when finished with your paper towels - clean brush

between colors - check to see if its clean on your paper towel. - Mrs. Walker may allow you to “check out a set” and store it in your cabinet if you decide to use it. - Watercolors look best when you mix your own colors - don’t rely on colors straight out of the dish.

Pencil / Graphite

- Supplies you need: Pencil traditional or mechanical or both!, paper, blending stick (optional), eraser - Draw light until it’s right!!! - If you want to try some “artist pencils” ask Mrs. Walker (she has a higher quality set stored away) - If you use a blending stick please return it - also make sure you sharpen it with the sandpaper - ask if you don’t know how.

Colored Pencil

- Supplies you need: Colored pencils - a variety of colors - and paper. - NEW colored pencils are sorted according to color and the pencil shape is a rounded triangle - please make sure these end up

back in the drawer - they are higher quality - If you want to try other higher quality sets ask Mrs. Walker she keeps them stored away. - More colored pencils that have even more color variety and are in the drawer next to sink at back of room. - Sharpen with small hand sharpeners over garbage- DO NOT SHARPEN in the wall pencil sharpener - - Careful not to drop them - the lead will break.

Oil Pastel

- Supplies you need: oil pastels, paper towels, blending stick (optional), paintbrush and water (optional), colored (toned) paper (optional), extra paper to cover art project prevent smudging.

- Oil pastels are sorted by color in plastic bags - please make sure they end up back where they belong. - If you need to peel back the wrapper that is okay - but please make sure it ends up in the garbage. - If you use a blending stick - make sure you sharpen it to clean off the oil pastel - ask if you don’t know how. - Use the paper towel to clean off the tips of the oil pastels after using them to blend and layer over other colors. - If you are out of a color - ask Mrs. Walker - she has more stored away. - Be careful not to drop them.

Chalk Pastel

- Supplies you need: chalk pastels, paper towels, blending stick (optional), extra paper to cover art project to prevent smudging, colored (toned) paper (optional)

- Chalk pastels are sorted by color in plastic bags - please make sure they end up back where they belong. - DO NOT blow chalk dust into the air - instead tap the edge of your paper gently on your desk and wipe up extra dust at end

of class with a damp paper towel. - If you use a blending stick - make sure you sharpen it to clean off the chalk pastel. - Use the paper towel to clean off the tips of the chalk pastels after using them to blend and layer over other colors.

- If you are out of a color - ask Mrs. Walker - she has more stored away. - Be careful not to drop them.

Charcoal

- Supplies you need: charcoal pencils - black and white - extra paper to cover art proejct to prevent smudging, blending stick (optional) - vine charcoal (optional) - stick charcoal (optional) - colored (toned) paper (optional)

- DO NOT blow dust into the air - instead tap the edge of your paper gently on your desk and wipe up extra dust at end of class.

- Sharpen with small hand sharpeners over garbage- DO NOT SHARPEN in pencil sharpener - - Careful not to drop them - the lead will break.

Tempera Paint

- Supplies you need: clear paint pallet, paint brushes, cup of water, paper towels, test paper. - If you are just testing you do not need to tape down your painting - if it is your project you need to see me about taping it

down. - Make sure the lids get snapped back onto the paint bottles and are not messy! - You are responsible for cleaning paint brushes and supplies. - You may mix your tempera paint in the paint pallet - clean brush between colors - check brush on paper towel - You may be able to keep your mixed pallet in your cabinet if you need to. - Tempera looks best when you mix your own colors - don’t rely on colors straight out of the bottle.

India Ink

- Supplies you need: Jar of ink, sumi paint brushes, calligraphy pen and nibs (optional), cup of water, paper towels, test paper - If you are just testing you do not need to tape down your painting - if it is your project you need to see me about taping it

down. - You are responsible for cleaning paint brushes and supplies. - Clean ink pen nibs with water! - When you take off the lid to the jar of ink lay it on a paper towel - dip your brush into the ink - wipe the brush on the sides of

the jar to get off extra ink - YOU DO NOT NEED A LOT -

Ballpoint Pen or Gel Pen

- Supplies you need: Pens (black or blue) or other colors, paper. - Mrs. Walker does not have any gel pens - feel free to bring in your own.

Acrylic Paint

- Supplies you need: white paint pallet, paint brushes, cup of water, paper towels, test paper. - If you are just testing you do not need to tape down your painting - if it is your project you need to see me about taping it down. - You are responsible for cleaning paint brushes and supplies. - Make sure the lids get snapped back onto the paint bottles and are not messy! - You may mix your acrylic paint in the paint pallet - clean brush between colors - check brush on paper towel - You may keep your mixed pallet in your cabinet if you need to - you have to wrap up it up specially - ask Mrs. Walker for help - Acrylic looks best when you mix your own colors - don’t rely on colors straight out of the bottle.

Printmaking

- Supplies you need: Printing ink, linoleum or a printing block of some sort (cardboard, etc.), glass fo rolling ink, brayers/rollers. You may need carving tools if you are using linoleum.

- If you are just testing you do not need to tape down your paper- if it is your project you need to see me about taping it down. - You are responsible for cleaning all supplies - brayers/rollers, ink glass. - Make sure the lids get screwed back on printing ink. - You are responsible for putting all supplies away. - It may be helpful to use multiple pieces of paper then collage prints together.

Mixed Media

- Supplies you need: you can use any of the above supplies for mixed media make sure you follow the proper instructions for whatever media you combine. There is also a collage paper box feel free to rip out of these magazines or use scissors to cut.

- If you are just testing you do not need to tape down your paper- if it is your project you need to see me about taping it down if you are using wet media like paint.

- You are responsible for cleaning paint brushes and supplies. - Make sure the lids get snapped back onto the paint bottles and are not messy! - You are responsible for putting all supplies away. - Be aware that not all mediums will mix well together it may be helpful to use multiple pieces of paper then collage them together. - If a supply gets “ruined” like using a sharpie on top of oil pastel please let Mrs. Walker know.