PAINT

The colors you chose are a personal decision.  Please just bring what you already use.  They should, however, be a professional quality paint.   If you are a beginner & don’t have any, I would suggest just getting your primaries:

Yellow – cadmium medium, azo, aureolin, gamboge, yellow ochre, raw sienna…your choice!

Blue – if you get just one, I would suggest an Ultramarine.  I love blues & use my cerulean & cobalt a lot, too.

Red – cadmium medium & alizarin crimson (cooler red)

I think it makes more sense to start with just a few high quality tubes of professional paint than to get the cheap sets which often have colors you don’t need & sometimes mix white in the pigments which make them more of a gouache than a watercolor.  Originally, I used primarily transparent colors but have expanded my palette to include lots of fun, more opaque choices such as horizon blue, orchid, and mint julep! (White can be used with any color to produce a more opaque tint)

BRUSHES

Again, just bring what you have; some of my favorite brushes are cheaper synthetic ones.  I use flats, rounds, mops & riggers.  If you can buy just one brush, I would suggest a nice large round that makes a good point.

PALLETTE

I’ve used a variety of plastic ones with covers, large wells & ample mixing areas.  A butcher tray or even a plastic plate will do in a pinch!  Please just bring what you’re currently using.  

PAPER

My two favorite brands are Arches & Fabriano.  I recommend cold press or rough for this workshop.  140 # is adequate.  I also like the blocks.  Please don’t skimp & get student grade paper.  Feel free to work on the size with which you’re comfortable (If your goal is to paint looser, though, I would suggest you work a little larger & with larger brushes!)

MISC.

-small spray bottle

-masking tape (wide, not colored)

-gator board, Masonite, Plexiglas or some other sort of support for your paper (if you’re using a block, you won’t need anything)

-paper towels or cotton rags

-landscape reference photos 

-water container

-masking fluid (if you use it) 

-pencil

-kneaded eraser

-scrap watercolor paper for smaller value studies, technique practice or color testing 

-snap cutter (those cheap plastic cutters you get at the hardware store where you just snap the blade off when it gets dull)

-toothbrush

If you plan to do some plein air, make sure you bring your plein air easel!