ART SUPPLIES: Carol Liz Fynn:

(Bring all your own, or I provide everything for $35.)

Your own assortment of water color paints squeezed out onto your palette.  (Do this before you arrive.)

An assortment of brushes from smallest to largest; include a rigger brush.

A “fitch” scrubber, masking fluid, a mask lifter, and an optional camera.

Ordinary sponge, a natural sponge, masking tape, and paper towels

An ordinary pencil (mechanical is good) and an art gum eraser

A water container, a little spray bottle for water, a piece of a bar of soap

Graphite paper for transferring a drawing

Professional watercolor paper (Arches) at least 140 lbs. and at least 12” by 16” in size.  It’s okay to use rough or (preferred) grain fin.  It must be cold pressed; do not buy “hot press.”  Your paper must be either attached to a watercolor block of paper or taped to your backboard so that you have a flat surface.  Prepare your paper before you come.

Suggested Colors

These colors are my suggestions.  If you are purchasing your first paints, this list provides a good guideline.  I urge you to purchase Winsor Newton or another professional grade paint such as Holbein or American Journey.  Do not buy student grade paints, e.g. Cotman.  (Although they are cheaper, the color is more transient and has different mixing qualities.)  Your paints are an expensive investment, but you can make them last a long, long time.

MUST HAVE:

Yellow ocher

Aureolin yellow (or another transparent yellow)

Olive green

Cobalt blue

Ultramarine blue

Burnt umber

Payne’s gray

Alizarin crimson (or another “blue” red) (a cool red)

Winsor red (or another “yellow” red) (a hot red)

NICE TO HAVE:  Winsor yellow, quinacridone gold, burnt sienna, vermilion or cadmium orange, Winsor violet, Winsor blue, Chinese white, & brown madder.

PAPER:

Arches cold-press, 140 pound paper is a strong, reliable, forgiving paper.  Buying it in a block (about $40 at Cheap Joe’s for 20 sheets of 16” X 20”) saves the aggravation of stretching and flattening the paper.  DO NOT buy cheaper paper!  You cannot have success on lesser quality paper.

BRUSHES:

Here you can save money; natural hair brushes aren’t necessary.  Buy a selection of different sized brushes, including a rigger.  Miller’s Golden Fleece brushes are very adequate.

Cheap Joe’s at www.cheapjoes.com or 1-800-227-2788 or Jerry’s Artarama are probably the best, cheapest, most reliable, and most comprehensive art suppliers in the country.  You can request a catalog, and Cheap Joe’s mails immediately.