In art, just like in science, elements are components that can be mixed to obtain a final result, just that in this scenario the end result is an art piece. The elements are the visual components of art and there are seven of them: line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color. By knowing them and manipulating them according to its intention and point of view, an artist is able to create a piece of art. Knowing the elements of art helps to understand an artist’s work , what it involves, and the artist’s thoughts about it.
What does “medium” mean in art? And other 10 terms every artist should know
Whether you are a new or seasoned artist, there are certain art terms you need to know to understand an art piece or an artist’s point of view clearly. Common questions like “what does medium mean in art?”, highlight the need to know and understand essential vocabulary to thrive in the art world.
If you still have doubts about what people mean when they talk about art niches, value, copyright, mediums, and other art terms, we have put together an essential art glossary to answer these common questions and help you expand your knowledge and enrich your art-related conversations.
Read part two of this series here.
Medium is a word used to describe the materials used in the creation of an art piece
Medium
The medium is the substance used to create an art piece. If we dig deeper into the term and its most common uses, we can see it is used to describe several characteristics related to how an artwork is created.
For example, medium is commonly used to describe not only the substance but the materials, tools and techniques used in a certain artwork, for example, a medium can refer to the paints (substance) and the surface (material or support), that’s where descriptions like “acrylic on canvas”, “pastel painting” and even “digital painting” come from. For this particular use the plural of the word medium is “media”.
For more experienced artists and connoisseurs, a medium can also refer to a specific type of additive used to “bind” the pigments in paint. Encyclopedia Britannica defines medium as the “liquids added to paints to bind them and make them workable”.
The word medium can also be used to describe a more general characteristic of an art piece: the genre it belongs to. It is common to see the art genre itself listed as the medium along with the materials, for example: “ink over canvas painting”. Painting, sculpting, photographing, and sketching, these are all art mediums.
These are some of the most common types of Mediums in art:
–Sculptures: 3D figures or objects created in a variety of materials like clay, wood, stone, metal, and mixed media. Sculptures offer artists a new way to work with volume, shapes, forms, and perspective
–Prints: these are reproductions of an original artwork. Art Prints can be created with a wide range of materials and techniques from top-notch printing to woodcut presses, etching, lithography, screen printing, and more.
–Drawings: this is a fundamental and essential art medium that consists of sketching images over a surface with different kinds of art tools like pencils or charcoal, to stylus pens, and drawing pads. Is one of the skills most artists work to develop and master their craft.
–Painting: another essential skill for artists that consists of the application of different kinds of pigments (watercolors, oil, acrylics) over a surface to create an image. Painting is a versatile medium and technique for artists to explore their self-expression from the most abstract to landscapes, portraits, and more.
NFT
If you are still wondering what an NFT is, let’s give you a quick introduction to this world where art and cryptocurrencies intersect. An NFT is a non-fungible token . A token is a single unit , in this case, is the single unit that certifies the validity of the information stored in the blockchain that can include the original file of the art piece (JPG, GIF, MP3), and a traceable certification of ownership. Non-fungible means that this item can’t be interchanged or duplicated . NFT is a concept related to crypto art : crypto art is an art piece linked by a smart contract and minted as an NFT into the blockchain , where cryptocurrencies are used for transactions.
But remember crypto art is not a synonym for NFTs . Crypto art is a digital art piece that can be bought and sold with cryptocurrencies, while NFTs can take many forms, even some that are not art-related.
There are many techniques to achieve an art print: from sketching to high-tech prints like Giclée.
Explore beyond the canvas with Generative Expand
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Compatibility
Cold Wax Medium is compatible with oil colors, alkyd/oil colors, alkyd-based painting mediums, and Gamsol. Fast-drying mediums such as Galkyd and Galkyd Gel will increase the tack when mixed with Cold Wax Medium. Neo Megilp, our silky, soft gel medium gives the wax a smoother feel and will round the peaks of impasto. These alkyd mediums will increase the gloss level of Cold Wax (just as adding Cold Wax lowers the gloss level of these mediums). Adding Gamsol to Cold Wax Medium will make it more fluid without adding gloss.
Cold Wax Artists
We’ve been fortunate to work with some wonderful artists who explore Cold Wax Painting techniques in their work. Whether these artists are working in representational or abstract modes of painting, they all utilize Cold Wax Medium for its unique working properties its effects on the resulting paint layers.
Since I first began using Cold Wax Medium 15 years ago, abstraction for me has become increasingly an expressive interaction with the materials. In mixing Cold Wax with oils, the body and the way paint can be layered, the enhanced drying time, and the transparency that it affords all lead to textures and visual depth that are the result of the process. Using Cold Wax helped me to move beyond conscious rendering of abstract ideas into a way of working that felt much deeper and more intuitive. Balancing the spontaneous aspects of my process with thoughtful editing and intention, the work has evolved into a true personal voice.
Rebecca Crowell
I have been using Cold Wax and oil since the 80’s. I love how it extends the oil paint, the textural possibilities, and the way is sets up quickly to create layers.
Lisa Pressman
Cold Wax Medium has allowed me to build on traditional methods of painting to work in unique ways. I use a variety of tools and techniques to scrape, scratch, rub, and add and subtract paint to the surface.
Mark Russell
Wall, Adams Point
My painting process is centered on creating highly textured pieces by building many layers of oils colors, pigments, cold wax, and other amendments including cement, sand, soil, grit, and ash.
Jerry McLaughlin
Patterns Within Music
I fell in love with the rich luminosity of oil and cold wax in 2012 and have been using it ever since. I love how cold wax medium mixed with oil paint creates interesting surfaces and texture, allowing me to scrape, push, pull, and reveal previous layers. Sometimes it feels like I’m going on an archeological dig the way I am able to excavate and scratch into the layers, yet continually add more layers in an intricate dance to conceal and reveal.
Dayna Collins
I have been painting in multiple mediums for 30 years, including encaustic, acrylic, and mixed media. Once I discovered Cold Wax Medium, it opened up new doors in the world of oil painting, with its faster drying time, increased transparency and the ability to build up texture. This medium is the best of many worlds, expanding the ability to work with oils and achieve luminous layers, quite different from all the other painting mediums I’ve tried in the past. This opens a world of new possibilities.
Pamela Caughey
Cold Wax Painting is the technique I found after seeking a way to avoid the toxicity of encaustics. I could never have predicted that this creamy, hazy material could bring so much inspiration to my paintings. I feel as if I’m collaborating with a substance that has ideas of its own. I love the way Cold Wax spreads like butter on bread. It softens yet thickens colors, elevates the texture, blends well, and adds a light, painterly quality that enriches oil paints. Gamblin Cold Wax Medium and Gamblin paints have given me a freedom I never thought possible before.
Cynthia Pepper
The fact that using cold wax medium allows each layer to be individually preserved and accessed makes the process of building a painting akin to the process of growing and recording life experiences. The action of scratching back in or scraping delicately or using solvent techniques to reveal the history of the painting carries the excitement of following a train of spontaneous associations to discover a hidden memory. Additionally, a single color on an early layer can look different on final exposure depending on what was added on top and how much is revealed. The psychology of the finished painting is enhanced by the method of making it. How cool is that?
Helen Shulman
Best Practices – FAQ about Cold Wax Medium
How much Cold Wax Medium can be safely added to oil colors?
We recommend adding up to 1/3 Cold Wax Medium to 2/3 oil colors. Beyond this amount, approximately 25% Solvent-Free Gel or Galkyd Gel should be added to 75% Cold Wax Medium. The addition of these mediums will increase both the flexibility and durability of the resulting paint layer, making it less prone to cracking.
What is the best support to paint on for Cold Wax Painting?
Just like encaustic paintings are done on rigid supports such as panels, we recommend the same for Cold Wax Paintings. Wood or aluminum panels are appropriate, as are panels with fabric adhered to the surface. Rigid supports limit movement the paint layers and will help prevent cracking.
When using Cold Wax Medium alone as a painting medium on stretched canvas, we recommend limiting the wax to 1/3 of the total paint mixture. To use higher percentages of Cold Wax Medium on stretched canvas, add 25-50% Galkyd Gel, Solvent-Free Gel, or for more fluid results, Galkyd. The addition of these mediums will increase the flexibility and durability of the resulting paint layer, making it less prone to cracking.
Are Cold Wax paintings subject to melting because of the wax?
The wax we use to formulate the Cold Wax Medium has a melting point of approximately 155 degrees F. In most environments, Cold Wax paintings will remain quite stable. However, if you need to transport or ship the painting through a warm climate in the summer, consider air conditioning!
Can Cold Wax be used as a varnish?
Yes! We have more information on this topic, please see our Tips & Techniques Varnishing with Cold Wax article.
Brilliance, oil, Cold Wax and Rich Gold Metallic on canvas.
In memory of our friend, Andrea Harris.
