Pencil (#2) or Mechanical Pencil 2B lead)
Eraser -kneaded, gray
Paper towels -Viva preferred but any will do
Masking Tape or Artists Tape - beige or white, avoid colored tape
Water Sprayer -fine mist, like an old hair spray bottle
Water Container - plastic or metal, quart-size or large)
Watercolor palette - with a lid to keep paints moist, at least one large mixing area
A Board for your Watercolor Paper -A board must be lightweight and waterproof. Large enough to accommodate your paper size. Plastic corrugated board, such as signage board found at hardware stores works well. A board is needed only if using individual watercolor paper sheets. It is not needed for watercolor paper blocks.
Watercolor Paper: Fabriano Artistico, Saunders Waterford, Arches- Cold Press or Rough, 140#, individual 22x30" sheets, cut into quarters. A quarter sheet size is approximately 11x15"- easy to transport and finish a painting in class. If preferred, watercolor blocks are available which are multiple sheets of watercolor paper already mounted on a board.
Watercolor Paints: Artist-grade paint in tubes such as Holbein, Daniel Smith, Winsor Newton, Michael Harding, etc.
If you are a beginner, these first 6 basic paint colors will get you started. They are warm and cool versions of each primary:
Quinacridone Gold (or Gamboge, New Gamboge) (warm)
Aureolin Yellow (or Indian Yellow, Cobalt Yellow) (cool)
Ultramarine Blue (or Indanthrone Blue, French Ultramarine) (warm)
Cobalt Blue (cool)
Scarlet Lake (or Cadmium Red Light) (warm)
Permanent Alizarin Crimson (or Carmine, Permanent Rose)(cool)
The rest of the Palette:
Raw Sienna
Cadmium Yellow (Winsor Newton)
Cadmium Orange (Winsor Newton)
Brilliant Orange (Holbein)
Cadmium Red Light (Holbein)
Quinacridone Coral (or Quinacridone Rose, Permanent Rose)
Cerulean Blue
Manganese Blue Nova (Holbein)
Lavender (Holbein, or Michael Harding's Pale Violet)
Lilac (Holbein)
Cobalt Turquoise (Daniel Smith or Winsor Newton)
Horizon Blue (Holbein)
Cobalt Violet Light (Holbein)
Dioxazine Violet (also called Permanent Violet)
Burnt Sienna
Permanent Brown (or Brown Madder)
Sepia (Michael Harding)
Neutral Tint
Extra Colors, used directly from the tube, or squeezed out fresh when needed:
Warm White (Michael Harding)
Chinese White (Holbein or Da Vinci)
Lamp Black
Indigo
Naples Yellow (Winsor Newton)
Brushes: Most painting is done with a large, round brush, either synthetic or synthetic/natural hair blends. Sumi-type brushes are good for loose painting. Occasionally, others are used for specific techniques. Examples are listed below but use brands you prefer.
Round Pointed Brush: Bristles are Synthetic, Sable, Squirrel or a blend. Any large round brush with a good point will work. Good choices are Escoda's Perla Toray, Princeton Velvetouch Long Rounds. Silver Brush Black Velvets are a very good choice for a softer, blend brush. Larger sizes are 12 - 16. Smaller sizes for details are 4, 6 or 8
Flat Brushes, Synthetic: Silver Brush, Black Velvet, 1”
Sumi brushes: Connoisseur Soft Magnolia, Connoisseur Rat Tail Fine Line
Mop or Quill: These can be Synthetic, Squirrel, or Synthetic-Squirrel blend bristles. Larger sizes are used for glazing or sky washes, smaller sizes for loose details. Sizes are not standard but generally a #4 or #6 or larger is what you want. Examples: Silver’s Black Velvet Brushes, DaVinci Casaneo, or natural hair squirrel Richeson and Raphael brushes
Rigger, Liner or Needlepoint: #2, #4 or #6, used for fine line work—limbs, fences, grasses. Needlepoints have a fatter belly that hold more paint than regular liners and riggers, but any will work. Examples: DaVinci Casaneo, Silver Brush Ruby Satin
Lifting or Scrubber brushes (or small Toothbrush): Nylon Bristle Brushes (round, flat or moon-shaped) approx. 1/4 to 1/2 inch size in width. Used to soften edges, correct areas. Examples: Royal & Langnickel, Cheap Joes Fritch Scrubber Brushes
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OPTIONAL:
A clear or see-thru ruler -helps with drawing buildings, perspective, masking application, painting lines.
Terry cloth towel or sponge – to control water in the brush
Scrap Watercolor Paper -scraps or backs of old paintings, used to test paint colors, a brushstroke or paint color studies.
Sketchbook -used for value studies, notes
Masking Fluid - Reserved for tiny details that are impossible to paint around. My go-to is Masquepen Supernib which has a built-in applicator making it easier to use. Pebeo Drawing Gum or QOR Masking Fluid can be used to refill it.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (with wavy ridges) - Found in the cleaning aisle of the grocery, used for soft-edged effects, lifting out shapes.
Notebook and pen -Take notes if it helps. Some students watch the demonstrations and paint later.
