Actual material used to create a work of art?

Answer 1

Anything. That's what makes art so wonderful and artistic. You can use paint, chalk, paper, pencils, pens, and markers for traditional art. But there's also clay feathers, water, tea, dry noodles, tires, glass. I mean you name it, you can use it.

Answer 2

I think you mean either; 3D design, printmaking and sometimes 2D, or collage.

Answer 3

This is called the "medium" (plural "media"), yet another use for the word.

Answer 4

medium