Supply List

 

This is a list of personal supplies that I generally use and is quite typical of what most artists carry and use. The list is to be taken as a general guide, but please pay particular attention to the colors and panels/pads. I would like students to make sure they have a complete painting kit, just as if they were going out to paint on their own.Use what you have but make sure you have the basics. 

 

Colors Required: 

Permalba White     

Titanium White     

Cadmium Yellow Pale     

Indian Yellow     

Equity Orange     

Yellow Ochre      

Cadmium Orange     

Brilliant Pink     

Cadmium Red     

Alizarin Crimson    

Magenta     
Dioxazine Violet     

Ultramarine Blue     

Transparent Oxide Brown     

Cobalt Blue     

Kings Blue      

Neutral Grey N5     

Viridian      

Sap Green     

Phthalo Green Lake

 

Note: Paint brands I recommend: (MH) Michael Harding, Rembrandt, (G) Gamblin, and Winsor & Newton.  No student grade paint! Your art is worth the good stuff.

 

Panels Surfaces - Raymar Oil Primed Belgian Linen panels, Centurion Deluxe Oil primed Linen panels, Aluminum - alumacomp panels.

 

Stretched canvases are not recommended for some of the techniques I’ll be demonstrating.

 

Figure/ Portrait Workshop Surfaces: Yes 

 

11x14, 12x16, 16x20

 

We will be working on one pose the entire workshop.  You will want to have two or three panels or Canvases.  I will be painting on a 16x20.  I prefer to paint on Linen.  I like the fine weave and smooth texture. Make sure your easel can accommodate a stretched canvas if that is what you have. Linen or Canvas Pads:These are a great alternative to a panel.  I choose to paint from the model on these whenever I can.  They are easy to store after drying and can be stretched or put on a panel and cropped to any size.   

 

I recommend the Centurion acrylic or oil primed pads in an 11x14, 12x16 or 16x20 (they are easy to cut down). They’re high-quality, lightweight and inexpensive and can be found at Jerry’s and/or ASW. You can have a coupe different pads and leave the sheets attached and paint directly from the pad. 

 

Plein Air Workshops Surfaces:

Centurion Deluxe, oil primed linen panels.  AlumaComp, aluminum Panels any size.  Any size. 

 

You will want a smooth, fine weave for some of the techniques I’ll be sharing with you.  

 

Odorless Mineral Spirits:

Gamsol is what I prefer.

 

Medium:

Students should also have a medium.  I prefer Gamblin Solvent-free gel.  Gamblin Galkyd lite or Neo-Megilp. Or Michael Harding painting medium.

 

Brushes:

 

Hog bristle or synthetic- at least two of each size 2 thru 12 (even numbers) filbert or flat.     I love Silver brushes. Also, A few soft bristle brushes in assorted sizes (sable, mongoose or badger hair). I prefer the Rosemary Master Series (I use all sizes and shapes).  Again bring what you have. 

 

Palette knives:

What ever you use.

 

EXTRA TOOLS:

 

Pocket Level, latex exam gloves, paper towels, cotton tipped applicators - pointed. Sculpture pointed stick.

Bowl scrapers can be found at kitchen supply store.  You’ll see me use these each a lot.  

 

Brush Cleaner: 

Bring a portable size brush cleaner to hold your solvent. I always carry two.  One clean for painting,and one that I clean my brushes with.

 

Shade Buddy Umbrella:

 

 

These are a bit more pricy but worth the investment.  Mine has survived many a storm.

 

 

SUNSCREEN BUG SPAY 

 

Sketch pad:

 

Plus some assorted soft charcoal pencils and charcoal sticks and soho eraser.  You will  find it helpful to draw and take notes during the demo. 

 

Wet panel carrier:

 

You will need some way to keep your wet paint safe.  I use a berry crate for my wet paint on pads. I absolutely love and Highly recommend the Raymar Panel Carrier but you can make due without. Raymar makes a great and simple carrier www.raymarart.com.  

 

Palette:

 

(glass, wood or plastic, whatever size fits inside your portable easel).

 

Plein-Air easel--highly recommended:

Most artists paint outside and therefore have a plein-air easel setup that they like and are familiar with. These tend to take up less space and are easy for the students to move around.If you do not have a Plein-Air easel please let me know and we will make arrangements.

 

I use and recommend with a few modifications the Edge line of boxes created by Casey Baugh and manufactured by his family as they are ordered.  You can see my set up above.  This is a investment and well worth it when you decide to take your painting on the road and into the plein air.  I use a Manfroto tripod (not pictured) with a quick connect ball head (pictured below) another investment and well worth it.  

 

 

The Easy L box set up is wonderful for those jumping into plein air.  You can get everything you need  - box, tripod, accessories  - and they all function beautifully together.  This is my recommendation for beginners as the guess work is removed and you will be ready to paint when you add your brushes, paints, panels, and solvents.  I wore out my Easy L pictured below.

 

Easy L link

 

 

I'm also very excited about Peter Campbell's  brand new Falcon Pochade box that will be available by end of October 2021.  You are on your own to get a tripod and quick connect with this system so do your homework on that.  I'm hoping to have one of these and options for purchase at the Sedona and Tubac Workshops.  Check it out below.

 

Falcon easel link

 

What to look for in a tripod:  

Ball head

Easy up and down  

No nobs to twist

Latches that flip open and close

Two to three joints for adjustment and height (If you are tall you will want a tall one)

 

Quick connect: I recommend getting two of these so you can double duty your tripod.  This simple device will make or break your set up.  

 

 

ACRYLIC PAINTERS:

 

For you Acrylic Lovers, I have done some research, asked the finest acrylic, Plein air painters out there painting, and this is what I would suggest for you to have in your Plein Air kit.

 

Golden Heavy Body acrylics and Utrecht acrylics (available at Dick Blick).  

Buy the large 8oz. tubes and don’t be afraid to use paint. Always choose a quality heavy body Titanium White.

 

The student brands are just to watered down. You are worth it!  Your art is worth it.  Spend the extra$ and don’t be afraid to use the paint.

Start with these colors listed above where possible but these below will work.

 

Utrecht Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna (must), Lemmon Yellow (must), Titanium White (quality heavy body Titanium White), and Permanent Red.  

 

In the field use glazing medium instead of water to thin the paints.
This slows the drying time down to about 30 seconds.

 

Mister Water Bottle Sprayer- you know you need one.$1 empty mister water sprayers from Walmart (about 3” tall and clear) are perfect for producing a fine mist. You’ll find them in the travel section bins near the hair spray and deodorants.

 

Store paints in a plastic compartmented container, like the kind hobby stores sell for storing jewelry parts. The paint in each compartment comes into less contact with air, so it dries more slowly.

 

Outdoors with proper misting, working with wet paints for two to four hours is not a problem. And with the lid closed, the paints stay wet for a few days.  Consider the vitamin, med storage containers as well. 

 

Acrylic paint must be put on the palette in large clumps to slow the evaporation down.  Don’t be afraid to put the paint out and shelter the acrylics from direct sun, heat, or wind.

 

When trying to blend a large area like the sky, dampen the canvas and paint fast.

 

Supplies can be ordered from any of the following:

 

Daniel Smith (www.danielsmith.com )

ASW Express (www.aswexpress.com)

Blue Ridge (www.blueridgeartist.com)

Jerry’s (www.jerrysartarama.com )

Sourcetek (www.canvaspanels.com )

Utrecht (www.utrechtart.com )

Raymar (www.raymarart.com)

Cheap Joe’s (www.cheapjoes.com )

Amazon (www.amazon.com)