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William Wray Materials List


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 facile. You don’t have to get all the stuff listed below, it’s overkill, 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 a 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 at 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 Holbein metal container with the inside separator. Gamblin and Windsor & Newton are the best cheap brands however, Holbein 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 you’re 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 STUFFBig, big hat (a must), sunblock, Paper towels or rags for cleaning, trash bag. Razorblade 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.