About This Page
I've designed this page to help you purchase the supplies that you'll need for this class. It includes some tips on Art Supply stores that you might use. I'm sure there are more in your area - these are just a few that I'm familiar with. If you have questions about the supply list or the class that are not answered on this site, please feel free to email me at csuniqueartworks@yahoo.com and include "VBA Question" in the subject line.
Supply List and Advice
- Straight edge: I suggest a 12" or 18" ruler but a protractor or T-Square would work just as well
- Pad of Acid Free Drawing Paper 90lb or Bristol Board: 18” x 24”
- Tracing paper: It is tough to find 18” x 24” tracing paper so I’d suggest getting as large a size as you can find. Often tracing paper comes in sizes around 11” x 14” & 11” x 17”. Sometimes tracing paper is also called vellum.
- Substrate: canvas board, stretched canvas, gesso board, gessoed mat board, canvas paper, watercolor paper, etc.) *I suggest that you buy this after the first class so that you have a chance to figure out a comfortable size to work with.
- Drawing Pencil: You can bring whatever works for you. I personally prefer a 2B pencil.
- Erasers: Kneaded & plastic
- Pencil sharpener
- Masking or Blue Painters Tape: available at hardware stores
- Paper towels
- Paint brushes: *2” flat brush (can be purchased at hardware store -- This brush will be used for covering surfaces quickly and does not need to be expensive), *1” or ½” flat or square acrylic/oil brush or #6 angled acrylic/oil brush, *¼” flat or square acrylic/oil brush, or a #4 filbert acrylic/oil brush, *#0 or #1 small rounded acrylic/oil brush (suggest sable or synthetic sable brush for this size) *There are loads of brushes out there. Synthetic brushes can be great brushes and can be a good alternative to expensive bristle or sable brushes. However, you want to try to avoid very cheap brushes, which will not keep their shape and will lose bristles while you are painting. If you are unsure about how a brush handles, I recommend visiting Daniel Smith, where you can experiment with the brushes before you buy them.
- Spray bottle for water, with an adjustable sprayer (fine/splatter) -- You can find these at drug stores and places like Target and Wal-mart
- 2-3 water containers: large clean yogurt or cottage cheese containers work well
- Palette: There are many palettes available. Because acrylic paints dry quickly I suggest a palette that will keep your paint wet for long periods of time. If this is your first class and you are unsure about this new medium, I suggest a divided Tupperware container with a good seal. I personally prefer one with 3 or 4 divided sections. These can be easily found at Target or Wal-Mart.
- Palette Knife: metal preferred, but you can substitute a plastic butter knife
- 3-5 still life objects you'll enjoy working with
- Basic regular or heavy body artist acrylics: Please do not buy student grade (Liquitex's student grade paints are labeled "Basics", Windsor & Newton labels them "Galeria Acrylic Colour"). I suggest buying tubes for convince sake. I've used the following Golden, Liquitex, Utrecht, and Daniel Smith brands myself, which can be purchased locally at Utrecht, Daniel Smith, Artist & Craftsman stores. However, I’m sure that there are other brands that offer artist grade paints that work well. As well as providing you with a high quality color, consistency, and longevity Artist Grade paints enable you to use various brands together with few or no problems. If the tubes aren’t labeled artist or student grade, please do not hesitate to ask a store employee about the paint. *You will need the following colors for the first day of class: Titanium White, Quinacridone Red, Phthalo blue (Red Shade), Primary Yellow (If buying Golden Paint) or Hasana Yellow Medium (If buying another brand) *Additional recommended colors: Burnt Sienna, Hookers Green, Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, Raw Umber, Yellow Ocher, Paynes Gray, Alizarin Crimson, Dioxane Purple, Mars Black or Ivory Black
- Acrylic Gel Medium Gloss: 1 pint or smaller
- Acrylic Gesso: 1 pint or smaller
- Soap for cleaning brushes or brush cleaner: I suggest Masters Brush Cleaner
Optional Supplies: Here are a few helpful supplies if you’d like to compliment your set of tools
- Gloves: Nitrile (blue chemical resistant gloves), or latex, vinyl: Boxes of 100 can be purchased from hardware stores like Home Depot in the painting department
- Liquid or Gel Acrylic Matt Medium: 1 pint or smaller
- Acrylic Molding Paste
- Photos or resource materials (illustrations, calendars, photocopies of things you’d like to paint or collage, etc.)
- Tissue Paper: acid free is available at Artist & Craftsman
- Additional textured materials: old forks, combs with varying tooth, old toothbrush, orange net bags…
- Dish sponge with scrubber
- SARAL wax free tracing paper