Apart from working hard at painting, he examines social developments and disorders, and then explores these themes using various methods and media-including ink wash, acrylic paint, paper, clay, photocopies, collage and traditional carving. He also frequently writes about the difficulties faced and obstacles overcome by traditional Chinese ink-wash painting.
袁金塔對中國水墨的感情是一種根生於血液之中的感動，他除了辛勤作畫，把社會的變化、進展和相偕而來的各種亂象，藉由筆墨、壓克力、紙張、陶土、影印、拼貼、傳統雕刻等不同的媒材與方法將之表現出來，他也不斷地寫作，討論傳統水墨畫在現代的困境和突破之道。