I would prefer oil or acrylic, but Watercolor, gouache and pastels are ok the basics apply to all, but my working with you in some media may not be a facile. You don’t have to get all the stuff listed below, it’s over kill, and the minimum basics are fine.
The main thing to remember is we are painting small mostly 2×3” at first. Some will get to go bigger other students will stay small until they get a breakthrough. Be sure to bring (your own) photos with clear contrasts and interesting shapes. Remember to double-check your kit, we always forget something.
EASELS – Either a full or half French easel for beginners or on a higher end budget, pochade box with tripod. Remember this is for portable use painting outside. Please don’t bring an easel designed just to put paintings on. They don’t work.
BRUSHES & PALETTE KNIFE
- For oils and acrylics, #5, #3 and #1 bristle
- Flat and a small rigger for detail stuff, and a small rigger. A palette knife is useful for all
- Mediums. Be sure to get the kind with the inverted handle rather than the
- More awkward model shaped likes a table knife.
PALETTE – Wood or Plexiglass or Glass.
PAINTING SURFACES
- Canvas board least 4-6 panels for class in sizes of 6×8 or 8×10 these you will break up into several paintings on one.
SOLVENT
- Oil painters should bring at least a pint of Gamsol is best and safest (Turpinoid is too oily)
- A brush cleaning jar with a coiled wire on the bottom (Silicoil makes one for about $5). I like the Hoblein metal container with the inside separator. Gamblin and Windsor & Newton are the best cheap brands however, Hoblein is my favorite for advanced work. No water based oil if you can help it.
COLORS
- COOL RED – Alizarin crimson
- WARM RED – Cadmium red light
- ORANGE – Cadmium orange
- WARM YELLOW – Cadmium yellow medium
- COOL YELLOW – Cadmium yellow light, pale or lemon
- GREEN – Viridian
- BLUE – Both ultramarine and cobalt
- BLACK – Ivory
- WHITE – Large tube of titanium white. I like Rembrandt nice and creamy is the rule.
- If your lazy like me add yellow Ochre, Sap Green and Mineral Violet or Dioxide Purple.
MEDIUMS – linseed if you want, not really necessary till advanced.
MISCELLANEOUS STUFF – Big, big hat (a must), sun block, Paper towels or rags for cleaning, trash bag. Razor blade scraper for your palette, clamp on umbrella for your easel (a must), sketchbook, pencil, a digital camera and a backpack you don’t care about for all your stuff.