SUGGESTED MATERIALS LIST
Canvas:
Pre-stretched and pre-gessoed canvas is the easiest thing to paint on. Stretched canvas from the art supply store usually comes pre-gessoed (if it is a smooth white, you know it’s primed and ready to go). I suggest no canvas smaller than 24” x 24”, the bigger the better for this process! In my workshops, students use 36″ x 36″ traditional profile canvases. If purchasing stretched canvas feels inaccessible right now, you are welcome to paint on watercolor paper, panels (pine or masonite from the hardware store), over old paintings from thrift shops, cardboard, old wood, or doors (you’ll want to gesso these surfaces first). Some of these surfaces will not be “archival,” but they are great for practice and learning.
Watercolor Paper:
Watercolor paper can be a great way to start out painting on an inexpensive surface. You can cut it down to any size you want. I like keeping watercolor paper around to wipe my brushes off on at the end of a painting sesh – it becomes the first layer of a new painting, and keeps excessive paint from washing down the drain!
Brushes:
You are welcome to use any brushes you enjoy using for this course. I prefer POLY Foam Brushes (the kind from the hardware store) and any brand of cheap bristle brushes from the art supply store. In my workshops, we use Crafter’s Choice brushes. I also love Blick’s “Mega Brush” series. I suggest using a variety of shapes and sizes, and make sure you have at least one small brush with a pointy tip for details. Start with at least ten brushes (a mixture of foam and bristle).
Other Painting Tools:
Please have a variety of etching and stamping tools such as old pens, bottle caps, bubble wrap, combs, potato stamps, etc. You may also catch me using Catalyst Blades for etching into paint. No need to buy anything new, just look around the house and be creative! The possibilities are endless.
Palette:
I use a sheet of glass with a white piece of paper under it to see the true colors on my palette. Glass is easy to clean with a razor, and it also feels good under a brush. If you are using a glass palette, please tape the edges for safety. Cookie sheets, muffin tins, a piece of card-board, pages from old books, or palette paper will also work as surfaces for your paint.
Water Spray Bottle:
The bigger the better, and make sure it works well on the “mist” setting. You will use your spray bottle for making drips in your paint, and also to keep your paints from drying out on your palette.
Barrier Cream:
Apply barrier cream to your hands to create a thin protective barrier between your hands and the paint. This cream also makes cleaning paint off your hands easier. My favorite brand is called Invisible Care. Please use gloves if you do not want paint on your hands. This is your choice.