PLEIN AIR, STUDIO & SKETCHBOOK SUPPLY LISTS ~ Oil, Acrylic, Gouache, Watercolor
Note: Bring a sketchbook, pen and pencil (2B/3B) to every class. You will be sketching and taking notes.
OIL ~ PLEIN AIR & STUDIO SUPPLY LIST
SUGGESTED COLOR PALETTE
The colors listed below are the palette that we will work with. I will be instructing classes & workshops with this limited palette. Purchase a professional grade paint. PAINT BRANDS : I use Gamblin, RGH, Williamsburg, Windsor Newton, Utrecht. Gamblin “1980” student brand is the only student brand that is good.
#1 LIMITED PALETTE ~ Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Medium or Cadmium Lemon, Permanent Alizarin, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White.
#2 LIMITED PALETTE ~ Azo Yellow or Hansa Yellow, Napthol Red, Ultramarine Blue or Colbalt Blue, Titanium White, Burnt Sienna or Terra Rosa,
BRUSHES
I use synthetic brushes most of the time. I mostly use brights & flats. I have used bristle brushes, “Hog Bristle” brushes ( Utrecht 209 B Brights). My “go to” brushes are Synthetic Bristles (Utrecht 300B, Brights. Silverwhite 1502 Brights & Flats & Silver Bristlon ) in the following sizes.
Brights & Flats: An assortment of sizes: Number 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12
I also use soft haired brushes and riggers for fine details & signing a painting (Suggestion ~ badger hair, mongoose, sable brushes or synthetic brushes) in 00” or 000” up to a 1”size brush.
SUBSTRATES ~ PAPER & BOARD
We will paint lots of “starts” so I suggest an inexpensive substrate. I gesso heavy paper, matboard or multi media board. I cut it into small sizes 5×7″, 6×8″, 8×10″ so I can paint lots of them fast. You need to gesso both sides of the substrate. 2 coats should be enough.
PAPER
Gessoed paper (98lb or heavier)or Arches oil paper
BOARD
Multi Media Board , gessoed mat board, hard board, Masonite
CANVAS/ CANVAS PANELS or LINEN
Suggested sizes for outdoor studies: 5×7″, 6×8″, 8×10”, 9×12”, but not larger than 11×14”. Have a selection of sizes with you to choose from. I buy gessoed linen and canvas by the yard. I cut it up and tape it to cardboard to paint en plein air.
Centurion Linen panels or linen
NOTE: In Plein air classes : we paint many small “starts”.
CAMERA
Bring a digital camera or your phone, which ever you prefer.
EASELS FOR PLEIN AIR
Portable easel for working outdoors on site: CLASSIC FRENCH EASEL , EasyL Light weight Plein air easel : Plein air pro, Guerrilla, strada
PAINT THINNER/BRUSH CLEANER/MEDIUM
BRUSH CLEANER: No-odor mineral spirits ,walnut oil, lavender spike oil, non solvent cleaner. THINNER: Oder-less mineral spirits. MEDIUM: Liquin, Galkid, Walnut Oil
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Hat or Visor
Umbrella (There are not always shady areas to paint in. The umbrella will keep the sun off your painting surface and palette; it may also keep the sun off you too. There are many on the market. I use one that I bought through Bestbrella it will clamp on any of my easels.) Judsons also has a nice large one that inserts into the ground.
Sketchbook
Palette knife
Pencils , ink pen
Small container to hold paint thinner
Drinking water or some type of beverage
Folding chair or stool (optional)
Paper towels
Bug repellent
Bungee cords and or spring clamps
Sun block
Trash bags
Rubber gloves (Optional) Painting smock or apron (Preferably a gray, dark or neutral color. White or bright colors reflect back into your canvas.)
WATERCOLOR ~ PLEIN AIR & STUDIO SUPPLY LIST
There are many providers of art materials that produce quality products for the watercolor artist. This information and list is for guidance, especially if you are diving into watercolor for the first time.
Paint : Simplicity in the palette is a guiding principle, especially for beginning watercolorists. Basically your palette needs only one cool and one warm hue of the primaries, 3 secondary colors at most, and one or two versatile neutrals.
This suggested list will help keep your palette as simple as possible and includes recommendations for both professional and student grade colors. Student grade colors are much less expensive than professional colors and are fine for learning and experimenting with watercolor.
#1 LIMITED PALETTE ~ Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Medium or Cadmium Lemon, Alizarin, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White.
#2 EXPANDED PALETTE ~ Cadmium Lemon, Cadmium Yellow Medium or Azo Yellow, Cadmium Red or Napthol Red , Alizarin, Ultramarine Blue, Colbalt Blue, Viridian /Phthalo green, Sap Green, Titanium White, (extras: Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Paynes Gray, Ivory Black)
Use Professional Grade paint. Recommendation – I use Daniel Smith, Winsor Newton, Holbein.
Paper:
If you are buying paper for the first time, I recommend sticking with 140lb Cold Press surface in either Arches or Cheap Joe’s Kilimanjaro brands. It is most cost-effective to buy paper in full sheet (22” x 30”) sizes and cut or tear them down to workable sizes. You can have them bound at Staples into a sketch book if you prefer.
Watercolor blocks are very popular, convenient, and easy to transport, especially for outdoor painting. They come in different sizes also. Inch for inch, however, they are also the most expensive way to buy watercolor paper.
Brushes:
Five quality synthetic or synthetic/natural blend brushes are all that you really need to do the trick. There are many quality brushes by a variety of manufacturers.
My favorite brushes are the Loew- Cornell Ultra Round 7020 series, a cost-effective synthetic round brush that can produce both broad washes and fine lines. It is easily identified in racks by its polished black handle with a broad red stripe at the ferrule. Whatever brand you chose these are the types and sizes that you need. (Sizes 2-10)
Rounds : # 6, 8, 10
Flats : 1” and 2”
Rosemary Brushes: I use the water color brushes that are a sable blend dagger. 1/4″ and 1/2″. I f I can only bring one brush this is it. These are my “everyday go to” brush. A flat and a liner in one brush.
Palette :
Any– at least 10” x 12”- sturdy, deep welled, white plastic palette with a cover will do. Again, there are many manufacturers that produce good plastic watercolor palettes.
I use a Mijello traveling palette and love it. I have both sizes. Mijello
The John Pike palette is a great choice, as it is extra sturdy plastic, has large wells for paint and a large, open mixing area. John Pike Palette
Support Boards: When working on single sheets, a stiff support is needed. A product known as “Gatorboard” is a popular option. It is a sturdy but lightweight board made of non-water absorbing material.
Paper is mounted and stretched with tape or simply clipped to the board with bulldog clips. Gator board is purchased in several standard sizes which correspond to the sizes of quarter, half and full sheet watercolor paper. Tempered masonite, plywood or luan sealed with varnish also work well, although are somewhat heavier than Gatorboard.
Related Materials:
2B – 6B drawing pencils along with a larger size sketch book – 9×12, 11×14 – will do for any drawing and sketching.
Small watercolor sketchbook, no larger than 9 x 12, for quick color sketches and color studies.
Small sketch book 5×7, 6×8
Other items that you might need are, sponges, tissues, paper towels, and a pencil sharpener.
2 Containers for water – plastic jar with screw on lid is good. It is easiest to use two water containers – one to hold clean water and one to use for rinsing brushes. (I have a little jar for field sketch box and a bigger one for the tube paints. I keep a plastic gallon jug of water in my car to replenish the supply when it gets dirty.
I also use the following items all the time in my sketchbooks and carry them in my back pack everywhere I am traveling:
Winsor Newton Watercolor Field set
DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Color Map Mixing Set – Item #: 285 250 309
GOUACHE ~ PLEIN AIR & STUDIO SUPPLY LIST
GOUACHE PAINT Comes in tubes and pans. I like & use both. The pans are sold in sets in a plastic case with a mixing area. They can be used like water colors in thin sheer washes and painted opaque and thickly. A small spray bottle of water spritzed on them keep them damp and ready when using. They dry out fast. The pan sets are an economical alternative to the tubes. If you buy the tubes you will need to purchase a palette for them. Recommended below.
GOUACHE – PAN SETS
CARAN D ACHE GOUACHE SET – FOR TRAVELING A pan gouache set that is handy for travel. (they don’t crack when they dry out)
GOUACHE – TUBE SETS – GLYCERIN – I find a couple of drops of glycerin added to my gouache when I load it into my palette helps to keep them moist & last longer in between painting sessions.
TUBES: PURCHASE A YELLOW, RED, BLUE & LARGE TUBE OF WHITE FOR A LIMITED PALETTE. CHECK COLORS IN OIL SUPPLY LIST FOR SPECIFIC COLORS. Some brands sell a boxed set of primary colors that are great to start with. (Note: M Graham tube gouache & DaVinci also do not crack when dry)
M GRAHAM GOUACHE , ROYAL TALENS, WINDSOR & NEWTON GOUACHE, DA VINCI
PALETTE :
Any– at least 10” x 12”- sturdy, deep welled, white plastic palette with a cover will do. Again, there are many manufacturers that produce good plastic watercolor palettes.
I use a Mijello palette and love it. The small size is perfect. Mijello
I also use some tiny traveling metal palettes by Meeden. My small Meeden palette.
BRUSHES – I use the following brushes
WATER BRUSH SET – Flats & rounds – nice variety inexpensive.
NIJI Water Brushes – Flats & rounds
Loew- Cornell Ultra Round Brushes – 7020 series
Rosemary Dagger – Pocket Sable/Nylon blend dagger 1/4″
PAPER
Arches is fine and heavy enough to work with.
SKETCHBOOKS – I really like my sketchbooks. I’ve mostly stopped using sheets of watercolor paper as the sketchbooks listed below are so great and easy to use.
MOLESKINE Water Color NOTEBOOK – 5X8.25 LRG
STILLMAN & BIRN SKETCHBOOKS – ZETA, BETA, DELTA SKETCHBOOKS – 6INX8IN Mixed media ~ 180 lb paper – Extra heavy weight. Details here.
Strathmore Watercolor Visual Journal 140 lb , 22 pages, 9×12 : Details here.
Canson XL Mix Media Pads 98lb , 60 pages: 9×12 or 11×14 Details here.
ACRYLIC ~ PLEIN AIR & STUDIO SUPPLY LIST
LIMITED PALETTE
Golden heavy body acrylics or Golden Open Acrylics:
Golden ACRY Titanium White
Golden ACRY Cadmium Yellow Light or Lemon
Golden ACRY Cadmium Red or Alizerian or Primary Magenta
Golden ACRY Burnt Sienna
Golden ACRY Ultra Marine Blue
MASTERSON STAY WET PALETTE Is one of the type of acrylic palettes I use. I works really well . Its big enough and keeps paints wet in between painting trips.
Spray bottle for keeping your paints wet.
Brushes – Princeton makes some good brushes for Acrylics. Princeton Dakota Series: Same stiffness as a natural bristle. #6300B Sizes 2,4,6,8 . Princeton Catalyst Series: A stiff brush. # 6400 Bright Sizes 2,4,6,8,10. Dick Blick Economy Golden Taklon Bright Set of 6. Flat Set of 6. Round Set of 6. These are soft small brushes good for detail. Dick Blick Economy Golden Nylon , A stiff brush. Bright Set of 6. Flat Set of 4.
Easel – Is listed above with oils painting materials.
PAINTS FOR PLEIN AIR : If you are painting in PLEIN AIR I suggest you purchase the limited palette of colors listed above in both regular Golden heavy body acrylics and in Golden Open Acrylics. (You will have 2 tubes of each color – one in Open Acrylic the other in Regular Heavy Body Acrylic.)
NOTE: FOR PLEIN AIR MIXING – IT IS EASIER TO MIX THE REGULAR & OPEN ACRYLICS TOGETHER TO PAINT IN PLEIN AIR. YOUR PAINTS WILL STAY OPEN AND WET LONGER ON THE PALETTE AND STILL DRY RAPIDLY ON THE PAINTING. THERE IS A RATIO OF OPEN ACRYLIC TO REGULAR ACRYLIC PAINT THAT I WILL DISCUSS IN THE FIRST CLASS.
BRANDS : Golden Heavy Body Acrylics, Golden Open Acrylics, Liquitex High Viscosity, Maimeri Brera, Winsor & Newton, Sennelier, and Utrecht are all high quality paints. These brands can be obtained through Art Supply Warehouse or Dick Blick. NO STUDENT GRADE PAINT.
Phillips head screwdriver for easel maintenance.
Panels/Canvas – See Oils materials – I use the same for Acrylics. With an exception. I will paint on watercolor paper with acrylics. I use MultiMedia Board , Masonite panels, heavy weight mixed media paper or Centurion Linen.
Paper towels.
1/2 gallon water bottle and cup for brushes and water.
Plus keep more 2 gallons of water in your car
THE SKETCHBOOK SUPPLY LIST
THE STARTER KIT ~ SKETCHBOOK, PENCIL, PEN
This is a simple list for those of you who do not own any art supplies and want to experience sketching outdoors. These are the materials you can use to start sketching & painting in plein air. When you decide you like sketching outdoors and want to move up to adding color to your sketches, I listed colored pencils, water color pencils and paint choices farther down the list under THE BIG SKETCHBOOK KIT.
SKETCHBOOK: Any size you prefer. 5×7, 8×10 , 9×12, 11×14 or a size that will fit on your lap easily
Buy one with watercolor or multi media paper that is able to handle watercolor – Some good choices:
MOLESKINE Water Color NOTEBOOK – 5X8.25 LRG
STILLMAN & BIRN SKETCHBOOKS – ALPHA, ZETA, BETA, DELTA SKETCHBOOKS – 6INX8IN Mixed media ~ 180 lb paper – Extra heavy weight. Details here.
Strathmore 400 Watercolor Visual Journal 140 lb , 22 pages, 9×12 : Details here.
Canson XL Mix Media Pads 98lb , 60 pages: 9×12 or 11×14 Details here.
PENCILS – HB, 2B , 3B, 4B with sharpener or you can get a mechanical pencil with HB or 2B leds (Staples, office supply store or Dick Blick)
Ink Pens – ball point pen, blue or black, black ink pen medium roller ball or fine point, permanent ink, Pilot Precise V5, gel pens, bring any ink pens you have on hand & try them out!
Eraser
FOUNTAIN PENS – LAMY JOY , LAMY SAFARI SAILOR FUDE
THE LARGER SKETCHBOOK KIT
THE STARTER KIT PLUS SUPPLIES LISTED BELOW
WATERCOLOR Winsor Newton offers a variety of small paintboxes. I use this tiny paint box with paint brush included : Winsor Newton Watercolor Field Box 12 colors
SAKURA KOI 24 COLOR POCKET FIELD SKETCH BOX Small sized set. 24 color set. Details here
SAKURA set is an inexpensive place to start. It has cool & warm colors, has a water brush included and is good for on the run quick sketches. It is small and easy to use. It’s a good starter set. I use this set for painting in small places (my car, a cafe table, a park bench) or for when I want to carry a light tiny set up. For a beginner the 24 colors gives you a large range of colors to work with.
PORTABLE PAINTER ~ A great kit for tube paints. With 2 water wells, it packs up as a small compact case. Portable Painter.
WATERCOLORS TUBES~ I use Daniel Smith colors. I love the pigment load of Daniel Smith paint! Daniel Smith.
WATERCOLOR PENCILS ~ I use Derwent and like them. There are lots of good brands out there. DERWENT SETS
COLORED PENCILS ~ I use Prisma Color pencils. You can purchase them in sets or individually. Prisma Color Pencils
BRUSHES – I use the following brushes
WATER BRUSH SET – Flats & rounds – nice variety inexpensive. I use these brushes for ink washes, watercolor & gouache. I love how easy they are to use for plein air. Meeden Water Brush Set – 6 brushes.
NIJI Water Brushes – Flats & rounds
Loew- Cornell Ultra Round Brushes – 7020 series
Rosemary Traveling brushes – Dagger 1/4″ Watercolor, Round #8 Watercolor
Jar and bottle of clean water.(to clean your brush)
A small kitchen sponge in a plastic zip lock bag (for cleaning your water brush fast.) Some kits come with small sponges for this purpose but I find they are so small they get dirty fast.
ADDITIONAL STUFF
Drinking water or some type of hydrating beverage
Folding chair or stool – I have a 3 legged camp chair that is light and easy to carry. (Kittery Trading Post)
Roll of Paper towels
Bug repellent
Sun block
Trash bag
Sun hat
Snack