Canvas is a cotton or linen fabric and is stretched over a wood frame as a support for oil painting. I paint a few layers of acrylic gesso onto the canvas to act as a buffer to the oil paint. Without gesso (or some other canvas primer), the oils from the paint would soak into the canvas and cause damage.

Plein air is French for "open air" and is a common term used to describe paintings which are executed on-site outdoors.

Gouache is opaque watercolor paint. It contains chalk, which reduces the transparency when compared to watercolor.

Oil Paint is pigment particals suspended in a mix of oil, thinner, stabilizer, and drier (to enable the paint to dry). Depending on the ratio of components, oil paintings can take weeks or even months to dry.

Panels are either wood or masonite. Prior to painting, the panel is primed with acrylic gesso. As with canvas, the gesso is a protective buffer to prevent the oils in the paint from damaging the panel.

Paper (watercolor) is bright white paper made of 100% cotton rag. Watercolor paper is available in different weights and surfaces. Cold pressed paper has a moderate surface texture. Hot pressed paper has a smoother finish.

Watercolors contain water-soluble pigments. Watercolor can be applied smoothly over paper when mixed with water. It utilizes the brilliant white of the paper for its whites and pale tints. It dries very quickly.