GET READY : ART SUPPLIES

You have signed up for this valuable 2-day workshop. What makes it valuable? Many factors. But first, we need to understand goals. This is very important part of the preparation for the class.

What's the difference between an average painting workshop and one like this?

Mainly, this one is all about learning how to handle general, foundational things. It is about directing your existing experience and talent to a channel of learning and practicing skills at a different level and may be of a different kind. For instance, if after I painted watercolors or studied drawing, I want to learn oil painting now.

It’s most likely the time when a good amount of supplies to be used over the next months, and they do not have to be top-notch and most expensive, or art supply store variety each item. You may need plenty of canvas panels and a few sketchpads, but a limited number of oil paint tubes. I will help you here with what items to choose and not devastate your budget. The most important things are your motivation, right direction, and persistence.

Back to art supplies.

ART SUPPLIES LIST

Below you can find my concise Art Supplies List in PDF for this workshop. If you want to learn more in detail, read further.

Art Supplies List - Workshop 1.pdf
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Art Supplies List - Workshop 1.pdf

➡️ : NOW LET'S READ THIS IN DETAILS

OIL PAINTS

Almost every brand of oil paints produces at least 2 major lines of paints:

  • Student Grade (or Studio)
  • Professional Grade (Artists')

Student grade has less pigment and has more non-pigment filler like marble dust. The student-grade paint line has limited colors available.

If you are just a first-time beginner and have a limited budget, you can go with Student grade paints. Suggested Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Paints

If you choose to proceed with Professional grade paints, I think you can find an affordable price-tag with decent quality with

  • Gamblin Artist's Oil Color
  • Utrecht Artists' Oil Paint
  • Blick Artists' Oil Color (not Studio)

COLORS CHOICE

I recommend for beginners bring to the workshop

  • Titanium White (considered to be the most white of all oil white paints) - larger tube 5-7 oz. (150-200 ml.) 

Cadmiums are probably the most expensive paints in your palette. But you will need them. Again, avoid buying imitation, hue, or substitute. Please, read the label carefully.

  • Cadmium Yellow (Lemon or Light)
  • Cadmium Orange.
  • Yellow Ochre
  • Raw Sienna
  • Alizarin Permanent (Alizarin Crimson is OK if can not find Permanent)
  • Transparent Oxide Brown or Burnt Sienna
  • Burnt Umber
  • Olive Green
  • Ultramarine Blue (or French Ultramarine). Won’t be wrong if you buy a 150-200 ml tube.
  • Manganese Blue imitation (only Imitation I recommend)

BRUSHES

Stiffness. In general, we need few stiffer brushes for the first layer and few softer ones for the top layers. 

Shape. Flat and round brushes are very useful. Filbert brushes can be used instead of flats and rounds.

Let’s start with the budget Brush choice, which has 3 Bristle and 3 softer synthetic brushes for just $7. I think this set is not great, but good enough to start with. 

If you prefer buying separately:

Of course, these are not top choice brushes, but good to start with, and good to paint simple landscapes or still-lives. With practice, you will figure out which ones work best for your style and subject choice. And you will learn later other types of specialty brushes.

CANVAS, PANELS

During the workshop, we likely won't paint something exceptional that you may want to sell. However, using consistent quality of painting surface, along with paints and brushes will let you feel confident each time, you approach new painting work. New work is an artistic challenge, and you better focus on art, rather than on the unexpected behavior of your art materials.

A good choice is not always very expensive. Shopping online and together with another artist may cut down your expenses for art supplies.


Overall our choice is stretched canvas or canvas panels.

For studies, I recommend using canvas panels, unless you prefer stretched canvas for a special bouncing feeling while you paint. Panels are more affordable, durable and easier to store. 

You can use oil primed canvas panels, but they are quite expensive and you may have a feeling of making a difficult choice to go with other canvas panels for an extra study. Same situation with linen canvas or linen canvas panel.

Most useful in our situation are canvas panels, acrylic primed. Great, if you painted on canvas panels, that you are going to use during the class, and paint spreads well over the surface. 

What if you had no chance to try panels? To avoid any surprises with a surface that may cooperate not well during the class, you need to apply a thin layer of diluted white school glue to seal excessive surface pores. Do that at least a day before the class. Dilute white glue with water 1:1 and apply to canvas panel evenly with a wide brush. Let it dry on a horizontal surface.

Suggested sizes:

2-3 panels of 8”x10” or 9”x12"

2 panels 11”x14” or 12”x16"

Budget choice and no need to apply an extra layer of white school glue:

https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/marseilles-studios-artist-canvas-panel-9-x-12-3-pack/product/114468

PAINT THINNER / SOLVENT

During the workshop, we use Odorless Mineral Spirit, like this one. You don’t have to bring it with you, it is complimentary during the class.

https://www.dickblick.com/items/weber-turpenoid-quart-plastic-bottle/

MEDIUM

Used to increase paint flow, while making the paint more durable and glossy after it gets dry. Medium is also used to speed up or slow down paint drying time.

In most cases, medium is an oil or alkyd resin. 

Recommended: 

Galkyd Gel https://www.dickblick.com/products/gamblin-galkyd-gel-medium/

Galkyd or Galkyd Light https://www.dickblick.com/items/gamblin-galkyd-medium-169-oz-bottle/

EASEL

If you are a plein air artist, you can bring your own portable easel with a tripod.  There will be space to accommodate it.

Also, you can bring your own tabletop easel.

Contact us in advance, if you need an easel, so we will arrange a tabletop easel for you for the class. We have a limited number of them, so we need to be sure we get enough extra ones.

PALETTE

There are a variety of palettes for artists to choose from. I would suggest you use one that you are comfortable with. There are paper palettes; plastic ones with lids, glass, wooden handheld ones and some of the newest ones are palettes that work with the French style easels.

I work on a glass or plexiglass palette since love using the scraper for easy and quick cleaning. PALETTE CUP (double is better) for medium and solvent. Like this, or bigger: https://www.dickblick.com/items/palette-cup-small-double/

PALETTE KNIFE – Highly recommended! Small or medium size. I recommend smaller https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-painting-knife-style-46/ or larger https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-painting-knife-58-x-2-78-traditional-style-50-/

SKETCH PAD or DRAWING PAD. Ideal for the class is 9”x12”

SOFT PENCILS, one or two is enough. Add an eraser and pencil sharpener or office knife.

WET CANVAS CARRIER or FLAT BOX (that can fit your canvas and panels)

PAPER TOWELS

Let me know in the comments section below if you have any ideas or suggestions.

If you have questions, email me at [email protected].

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