Brushes:
My personal preference is for natural hair brushes, Kolinsky sable
or red sable. Strathmore series 585 is a good choice for rounds.
However, excellent results can be obtained with synthetic fiber
brushes which are less expensive, especially in the larger sizes.
Purchase the best you can afford, better to have a few very good
brushes than many of lesser quality. A few good brushes: A large
round, size 8 or larger; a 3/4”-1” flat; a 1&1/2”
or 2” flat; a medium round,size 5-7; a Liner, size 3 or 4;
and maybe a small round, size 3 or 4.
Paper:
I like Winsor & Newton 140 lb. Hot Press. However, many artists
prefer cold press and recommend it for beginners. Try different
papers and see what you like. For the workshop you should have
two or more quarter sheets (11” x 15”), larger only
if you are an experienced painter, ready to use, i.e. soaked,
stretched, fastened (stapled) to your watercolor board, and dried.
Watercolor blocks also work well. They eliminate the need to soak
& stretch, but are more expensive. I often use the 12” x
16” size. I will demonstrate how to soak, stretch and secure
paper to board at the workshop if there are those that desire
such a demonstration. If you have some other method which you
prefer, please feel free to use that method. An extra piece of
w/c paper to use as a touch sheet is often helpful.
Watercolor Board:
There are many different watercolor boards and edge fastening
systems or methods available. I prefer to use and recommend a
basswood plywood watercolor board, or other board suitable for
stapling the paper to with a regular paper stapler. You will need
something to prop the edge of the board up about two inches.
Paints:
Tube type watercolor paints such as Winsor & Newton Artists’
Watercolors, Holbein Watercolors, or Daniel Smith Watercolors.
Colors: If you paint, bring what you have found you like to use.
The following list is a suggestion; Aureolin; Quinacridone Gold
&/or Raw Sienna; Quinacridone Burnt Orange &/or Burnt
Sienna; Carmine or Alizarin Crimson; Winsor (Phthalo) Blue; Ultramarine
Blue; Cobalt Blue; Cerulean Blue; Winsor (Phthalo) Green; Viridian;
Hooker’s Green; Sap Green; Cadmium Yellow Pale; Permanent
(Quinacridone) Rose; Mineral Violet or Ultramarine Violet; Brown
Madder Alizarin; Purple Madder (Alizarin); Violet Grey; and Light
Red. Also, a tube of Permanent White Gouache. It is not necessary
to have all the colors listed.
Palette:
A flat bottom white enamel butchers tray makes the finest palette.
Difficult to find. Mine does not have a flat bottom and I find
I must use one or more plastic or metal palettes along with it.
If you use gouache, you will need a small plastic lid or two to
use as a gouache palette.
Accessories:
Water Container(s); A small plastic spray bottle with adjustable
nozzle; A 4x6” absorbent sponge & a smaller one; Paper Towels;
Sketchbook and Pencils, B & softer or a #2; an Eraser, Art Gum
or Kneaded; White Mask Liquid Frisket and junk brushes or something
to apply it with.
Any additional supplies you enjoy working with.
Mail order art supply catalogs: Jerry’s 1-800-827-8478; Daniel Smith 1-800-426-7923; Cheap Joe’s 1-800-227-2788