Describing Your Work: The Medium Line
What to Include in the “Medium” Box
When submitting your work, your medium should clearly describe what the work is made from and how it is presented. This helps us understand both the artwork and its practical requirements.
1. Be specific, not vague
Avoid:
“Mixed media”
“Painting”
“Various materials”
Instead, list the actual materials:
Oil on canvas
Acrylic and charcoal on paper
Kiln-fired clay with glaze
Ink on handmade paper
If you’ve used more than one material, name the key ones.
2. Include the surface (what it’s on)
This is often missed, but we find it informative and important.
Oil on linen
Watercolour on paper
Ink on Japanese paper
Acrylic on board
The surface affects how the work is handled, framed, and displayed.
Need more guidance? Check out: On the Surface: What to consider when choosing and preparing your artwork’s support.
3. Keep it clear and readable
This isn’t the place for a concept or process description.
Avoid:
“Natural pigments collected over time and layered intuitively…”
Keep it simple:
Pigment and binder on canvas
Resin and found objects on panel
4. Use standard, recognisable terms
Write what people expect to see:
“Oil paint” not “oil-based medium”
“Charcoal” not “carbon drawing material”
If in doubt, use the most widely understood term.
5. Only include what matters
You don’t need to list everything—just the defining materials.
Acrylic, ink, and collage on paper ✔ :)
Acrylic, ink, graphite, pencil, varnish, glue, tape… ✖ :(
Think: what actually defines the work?
6. If it’s unusual, make it clear
If you’re using something less common, include it—but keep it precise:
Vegetable dye on textile
Quartz and resin sculpture
Hand-stitched yarn on canvas
You can explain how you have used it, or what it is, in the dedicated Artwork Description box.
The Simple Formula to Follow
[Primary material] + (optional secondary materials) + on [support]
Examples:
Oil on canvas
Charcoal and pastel on paper
Ink on handmade paper
Glazed ceramic (kiln-fired clay)
Bronze sculpture
Our Final Words of Advice
Your medium is one of the first things we read; it should help us quickly understand what your work is about, not raise more questions.
Happy submitting, we can’t wait to see your work!