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10/31/2024 12:09:39 PM

Outdoor Painting Workshop Supply List

Kevin Gleason /

Really, eventually every artist needs to find the materials that they feel most comfortable working with and that give them the effects they are looking for.  You are welcome to bring what you like if you have alternatives to these pieces of gear or materials.  

 

Easel-- Your favorite French easel or Pochade box.  Basically whatever allows you to have your palette and medium and brushes before you and your art propped up before you.  

 

Canvasses-- Any primed panels or canvases will be fine.  I prefer a "portrait" grade which means the weave has very subtle texture, but any type will work and give a different surface.  For the workshop, bring three 6x8" panels and a three others between 9x12" and 14x18", depending upon what size you like to work.  I consider these smaller sizes that allow me to focus more on design outside without the stress of covering a large surface.  This will enable you to slow down and really look at what you are seeing and to finish before your light changes too drastically. 

 

Palette-- The bigger mixing area, the better.  I use a glass palette that I built.  Disposable paper palettes work great as well. 

 

Brushes-- This is really up to the artists' preference.  For my graphic style, I use mainly long flat brushes in a couple of sizes from #4-10. Many artists prefer filberts to flats as they can make more of a variety of edges and marks, so those would fine too.  Synthetic or natural hair brushes are fine.  What is important to me is that there is enough "snappy" stiffness in the bristles.  A small #4 round brush is useful for fine details.  

 

Mediums-- Gamsol in a brush washing container.  Alternatively or in addition you can use pure walnut oil, which is less toxic but not as effective at cleaning brushes.  I also like to sometimes use Gamblin's Galkyd medium (or alternatively M. Graham's Walnut Alkyd Medium.)  These speed up the drying and change flow consistency of the paint.  

 

Paints-- The brand doesn't matter, but it is good to get Artist's quality rather than Student Quality paints... it is definitely worth the investment.  As far as colors, many times I will just squeeze out the three primaries and white to make a painting.   For my more broad palette, I like to have a warm and cool of each primary and white, so my basic palette is the following:

Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Indian Yellow, Cadmium yellow light, Ultramarine Blue, Cerullean Blue Hue (or Pthalocyanine Green), and Titanium White.    

 

Rags-- Old cut up t-shirts or blue shop towels are my favorites.  I wear a glove on my brush cleaning hand so it doesn't become covered in paint.  

 

Other stuff-- A hat, sunscreen, waterbottle and snacks.  

 

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