Art medium wheel
Twenty-two materials, from the pencil you already own to clay and printmaking. Spin, then draw or make whatever you like with only that.
SpacespinCtrl+Enterspin while typingFfull screen
One entry per line. Add *3 after a name to give it three times the chance.
Winners show up here, newest first.
Colors
Ready-made list. Edit it to make it yours: changes stay on this device, and Reset brings the original back.Open in the main spinner →
How the challenge works
- Remove anything you don’t have. Before the first spin, check your supply drawer.
- Spin, and use only that material for the session. No pencil underdrawing unless the result is Pencil.
- Pick a subject you know well, or spin the drawing prompt wheel for one.
- Spend 30–45 minutes. Note one thing the medium did well and one thing it fought you on.
Tips for the less familiar ones
- Charcoal: work from big to small, use your finger or a tissue to blend, and a kneaded eraser to lift highlights.
- Ballpoint pen: build darks with layers of light hatching. You can’t erase, which is the lesson.
- Gouache: like watercolor but opaque, so you can paint light colors over dark ones once dry.
- Oil pastel: press hard and layer. Scratch through the top layer with a toothpick for texture.
- Ink and stick: dip a twig in ink and draw. The lines are wild and unpredictable in a good way.
- Stamp printing: cut shapes from a potato or a sponge, dip in paint, and print. Adults handle the knife.
- Torn paper: no scissors. Tear colored paper into shapes and glue them down. Edges become soft and organic.
For art teachers
Trim the list to what the art room stocks and spin one medium per week as a mini unit, or one per table for a carousel lesson where groups rotate every 15 minutes. Full screen mode (press F) makes the spin easy to see on a projector.
Questions and answers
Which materials are best for young kids?
For ages 3–6, keep Crayon, Chalk, Markers, Torn paper, Collage, Stamp printing (with an adult cutting) and Air-dry clay. Remove the rest and save it as a separate wheel.
What does Mixed media mean?
Use two or more materials in one piece, for example watercolor with pen lines on top, or collage with oil pastel. It is a good last spin after you have tried several on their own.