4. Decide On a Medium and Technique
If you only ever use one medium then you don't have to decide which one you think is best for this particular subject. But what about the technique you're going to use? For example, if you use acrylics, are you going to use them thickly or thinly, like watercolors, are you going to use retarders to slow down the drying time? If you use watercolors, are you going to use masking fluid to keep areas white?
5. Decide On the Type of Support
Are you going to paint on canvas, primed hardboard, or paper? Will it be a canvas with a fine weave, such as linen, or a coarse weave that will show through? Will it be a smooth, hot-pressed paper or a rougher watercolor paper? This is a decision that not only influences the texture of the final work, but also how you work, for example canvas will stand heavy impasto being reworked repeatedly. Alternately, the technique you're wishing to use will determine the best support.
If you are using oils, acrylics, or gouache, will you be using a ground and what color should it be? How about using a complementary colour to the main colour in the picture? If you are using pastels, what colour paper will you use? And will you lay down an initial layer of complementary colors?
6. Decide On Colors
Are you going to use color realistically or not? Are you going to use whatever colors you've got or select out a few to make up a palette just for that painting? Working with a limited range of colors can contribute to a sense of unity in a painting and great a sense of identify or unity between paintings.
