Recommended Painting Supplies

(These are color recommendations only – Oil, Acrylic, or Water Based Oil – I don’t care - although with a fast drying acrylic you’re missing a lot (most) of the fun.)

I use Utrecht, Gamblin, and Windsor Newton paints. If you sell your paintings you should use the good stuff, otherwise, the Winton paints by W/N will be fine.

Large Tube titanium white (I happen to like the Gamblin Zinc Titanium mix.)

Small Tubes cadmium yellow cadmium orange lemon yellow terra rosa or burnt sienna viridian ultramarine blue cobalt (expensive), or cerulean or manganese blue burnt umber yellow ochre windsor violet (dioxazine) or similar Colors you don’t need (We can blend richer and far more interesting colors.) raw umber paynes grey

Gamsol odorless mineral spirits (brush cleaner/solvent) and a brush cleaner container, or buy a jar of something that has a good screw on lid.

Brushes and Canvases:

Brushes are a matter of personal preference – you have to try the different shapes. Bristle for oil, synthetic for acrylic. I happen to like the Brights (square tip). I used to use only the Filberts (rounded edges), but I’ve never had any use for the Rounds. That’s just me. 4,6,8,10,12 Even on a smaller canvas you need large brushes to block in the basics. With a little practice a large brush can paint like a smaller one. Not so much, the other way around.

A palette knife for mixing is very handy.

Have a couple of canvases available for each class. Some ideas call for a big canvas, some not. It’s nice to have a choice. 9x12, 11x14, 18x24. If you like the long landscape size (10x20) buy one. We’ll give it a shot. (Look over the canvases at the store closely – even the good brands are often warped or bowed – and look at the corners.)

Drawing Supplies

You should always have a pad, and charcoal or a soft lead pencil and a kneaded eraser with you.