ALWAYS CHECK WITH A SPECIFIC WORKSHOP FOR SPECIAL MATERIAL NEEDS! FOLLOWING IS A GENERAL LIST OF MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED FOR MY WORKSHOPS:
I USUALLY DEMONSTRATE IN OIL OR SOMETIMES WATERCOLOR.
• DEPENDENT ON YOUR CHOSEN MEDIUM, you will need an easel, palette, etc. to work on. I encourage people to make “sketches” out on location, and then “paint” back in a studio setting more conducive to good painting. I often plein aire sketch with a small watercolor kit, colored pencils or sketch in pen and ink, which doesn’t require a backpack full of equipment.
• BRING THE PAINTING MATERIALS AND SUPPORT SUPPLIES FOR THAT MEDIUM THAT YOU PREFER TO WORK IN.
I welcome any medium, I work primarily in oil. I DO NOT SUPPLY ART MATERIALS, SO COME PREPARED! If you are flying, remember you can’t bring solvents with you on the plane. Airport banned materials may be purchased after you arrive.
FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF MATERIALS I RECOMMEND YOU STOCK UP WITH:
SKETCHING: Here are some sketching materials you should always have on hand:
9 x 12 spiral bound sketchbook
several #2 pencils
pink pearl eraser
pencil sharpener
assortment of BLACK Sakura nylon tip pens
small case of colored pencils, 12 colors.
I find I can get a lot of plein aire sketching done with this simple list of materials, and all of it fits inside a small shoulder bag that is
easy to carry around.
COLORS: Here is a list of the oil palette I work with:
Prussian Green...................................Windsor Newton
Prussian Green...................................Grumbacher’s Pre-tested
Cobalt Blue..........................................Utrecht
Thalo Blue............................................any manufacturer
Dioxanine Purple.................................Grumbacher’s Pre-tested
Payne’s Gray.......................................any manufacturer
Lamp Black..........................................Winton
Quinacridone Red................................Grumbacher’s Pre-tested
Cadmium Red Light.............................any manufacturer
Transparent Red Oxide........................Rembrandt
Alizarin Crimson...................................any manufacturer
Cadmium Orange.................................any manufacturer
Cadmium Barium Yellow Deep............Grumbacher’s Pre-tested
Cadmium Yellow Light.........................any manufacturer
Titanium White.....................................Weber Permalba
Yellow Ochre.......................................any manufacturer
Though I don’t use a lot, I prefer Weber’s Resingel to have on hand for a thinning/drying medium.
EASEL / PALETTE:
You will need something to mix your paint on. I use a wooden box that has a cover on it. Inside is a sheet of glass to mix oil paint on. I use old metal enamelled butcher trays for watercolors. Disposable palette tabletswork well. Make sure you match up for the medium you are working in. I use and recommend an “Open M” painting easel when oil painting out on location. You will need something to hold your work. Check with friends or call me for recommendations for this plein aire equipment.
BRUSHES:
You will be surprised at the variety of brushes, both large and SMALL, that I use when oil painting. I have no preferences of manufacturers, I usually go with the best brushes for the cheapest price. I find people generally paint with too large of brushes, and instead of a masterful painterly brushstrokes, get an awkward clunky look to their painting. I also use palette knives, credit cards, sticks, my hands, and whatever else works to get paint on the canvas in a creative and painterly manner.
I am very particular about watercolor brushes. I have a range of sizes and styles. I find Richeson to be an excellent manufacturer of reasonably priced water color brushes of exceptional quality.
PAINTING SURFACES:
This is dependent on your medium. Unless otherwise prescribed in the workshop syllabus, I suggest sketching in a small size, 12 x 16 or smaller when painting in a workshop, if painting plein aire I find 9 x 12 or 11 x 14 a very comfortable "outdoor" size canvas. For finished studio work I would suggest not working larger than 16 x 20 or it may become difficult to get work completed by the end of the workshop. I will usually demonstrate in oils on 9 x 12 and smaller panels. If you are painting in oil or pastel, you need to have a storage means to protect finished/wet work.
For painting plein aire I like oil painting on Frederix Green Label Linen Panels or on gessoed masonite. If you paint on masonite, make sure it is UNTEMPERED MASONITE. This material will have a light brown color and usually is quite rough on the back side. TEMPERED MASONITE has a very dark brown color to it and will not allow paint to permanently bind to it. The masonite, as well as raw canvas needs to be “sized” with two or three coats of acrylic gesso. I like the quality of the surface when I use Kilz acrylic house primer, which I often use in place of gesso.
I think you run into a lot of needless problems when you try to paint on cheap watercolor tablet paper. I recommend buying the best watercolor paper you can afford, your favorite art material supplier will have many good choices.
ALWAYS BRING LOTS OF PAPER TOWELS!!! PLASTIC GROCERY SACKS FOR PORTABLE TRASH BAGS.
DIGITAL CAMERA
I find a digital camera to be of tremendous value when gathering resource “notes” for paintings. Any digital camera will work well. To be of greatest use you should also bring a laptop computer or other means of viewing the digital photo images you have collected.
MISC.
In a plein aire, painting outdoors workshop, think about your personal comfort and health. Bring comfortable clothes that can be layered depending on the weather. A rain jacket is helpful. I wear gore-tex hiking boots when out on location, so my feet don’t get wet depending on circumstances. If at a high altitude or dry climate , bring water bottles/canteens and drink a lot of water to prevent altitude sickness. Also, I suggest long sleeve shirts and pants, and a good wide brimmed hat to prevent sunburn. A folding stool or chair will add to your comfort. In summertime, don’t forget mosquito spray! When painting outdoors it doesn't hurt to keep a roll of toilet paper in your materials!
If most of the workshop painting occurs indoors; tables, chairs, lighting, trash containers, water, restrooms are provided.
ALWAYS BRING LOTS OF RAGS AND/OR PAPER TOWELS
FOR PEOPLE WISHING TO LEARN HOW TO CONSTRUCT A GOLDEN
PROPORTION:
In almost every workshop I teach someone asks for me to show them how to calculate the golden proportion of a canvas or paper. This is a way of dividing up the "pictoral plane" into segments pleasing to the eye. If you wish to be taught this bring a compass, the kind you draw circles with, and a straight edge such as a ruler, a pencil and eraser and sketchbook.
I USUALLY DEMONSTRATE IN OIL OR SOMETIMES WATERCOLOR.
• DEPENDENT ON YOUR CHOSEN MEDIUM, you will need an easel, palette, etc. to work on. I encourage people to make “sketches” out on location, and then “paint” back in a studio setting more conducive to good painting. I often plein aire sketch with a small watercolor kit, colored pencils or sketch in pen and ink, which doesn’t require a backpack full of equipment.
• BRING THE PAINTING MATERIALS AND SUPPORT SUPPLIES FOR THAT MEDIUM THAT YOU PREFER TO WORK IN.
I welcome any medium, I work primarily in oil. I DO NOT SUPPLY ART MATERIALS, SO COME PREPARED! If you are flying, remember you can’t bring solvents with you on the plane. Airport banned materials may be purchased after you arrive.
FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF MATERIALS I RECOMMEND YOU STOCK UP WITH:
SKETCHING: Here are some sketching materials you should always have on hand:
9 x 12 spiral bound sketchbook
several #2 pencils
pink pearl eraser
pencil sharpener
assortment of BLACK Sakura nylon tip pens
small case of colored pencils, 12 colors.
I find I can get a lot of plein aire sketching done with this simple list of materials, and all of it fits inside a small shoulder bag that is
easy to carry around.
COLORS: Here is a list of the oil palette I work with:
Prussian Green...................................Windsor Newton
Prussian Green...................................Grumbacher’s Pre-tested
Cobalt Blue..........................................Utrecht
Thalo Blue............................................any manufacturer
Dioxanine Purple.................................Grumbacher’s Pre-tested
Payne’s Gray.......................................any manufacturer
Lamp Black..........................................Winton
Quinacridone Red................................Grumbacher’s Pre-tested
Cadmium Red Light.............................any manufacturer
Transparent Red Oxide........................Rembrandt
Alizarin Crimson...................................any manufacturer
Cadmium Orange.................................any manufacturer
Cadmium Barium Yellow Deep............Grumbacher’s Pre-tested
Cadmium Yellow Light.........................any manufacturer
Titanium White.....................................Weber Permalba
Yellow Ochre.......................................any manufacturer
Though I don’t use a lot, I prefer Weber’s Resingel to have on hand for a thinning/drying medium.
EASEL / PALETTE:
You will need something to mix your paint on. I use a wooden box that has a cover on it. Inside is a sheet of glass to mix oil paint on. I use old metal enamelled butcher trays for watercolors. Disposable palette tabletswork well. Make sure you match up for the medium you are working in. I use and recommend an “Open M” painting easel when oil painting out on location. You will need something to hold your work. Check with friends or call me for recommendations for this plein aire equipment.
BRUSHES:
You will be surprised at the variety of brushes, both large and SMALL, that I use when oil painting. I have no preferences of manufacturers, I usually go with the best brushes for the cheapest price. I find people generally paint with too large of brushes, and instead of a masterful painterly brushstrokes, get an awkward clunky look to their painting. I also use palette knives, credit cards, sticks, my hands, and whatever else works to get paint on the canvas in a creative and painterly manner.
I am very particular about watercolor brushes. I have a range of sizes and styles. I find Richeson to be an excellent manufacturer of reasonably priced water color brushes of exceptional quality.
PAINTING SURFACES:
This is dependent on your medium. Unless otherwise prescribed in the workshop syllabus, I suggest sketching in a small size, 12 x 16 or smaller when painting in a workshop, if painting plein aire I find 9 x 12 or 11 x 14 a very comfortable "outdoor" size canvas. For finished studio work I would suggest not working larger than 16 x 20 or it may become difficult to get work completed by the end of the workshop. I will usually demonstrate in oils on 9 x 12 and smaller panels. If you are painting in oil or pastel, you need to have a storage means to protect finished/wet work.
For painting plein aire I like oil painting on Frederix Green Label Linen Panels or on gessoed masonite. If you paint on masonite, make sure it is UNTEMPERED MASONITE. This material will have a light brown color and usually is quite rough on the back side. TEMPERED MASONITE has a very dark brown color to it and will not allow paint to permanently bind to it. The masonite, as well as raw canvas needs to be “sized” with two or three coats of acrylic gesso. I like the quality of the surface when I use Kilz acrylic house primer, which I often use in place of gesso.
I think you run into a lot of needless problems when you try to paint on cheap watercolor tablet paper. I recommend buying the best watercolor paper you can afford, your favorite art material supplier will have many good choices.
ALWAYS BRING LOTS OF PAPER TOWELS!!! PLASTIC GROCERY SACKS FOR PORTABLE TRASH BAGS.
DIGITAL CAMERA
I find a digital camera to be of tremendous value when gathering resource “notes” for paintings. Any digital camera will work well. To be of greatest use you should also bring a laptop computer or other means of viewing the digital photo images you have collected.
MISC.
In a plein aire, painting outdoors workshop, think about your personal comfort and health. Bring comfortable clothes that can be layered depending on the weather. A rain jacket is helpful. I wear gore-tex hiking boots when out on location, so my feet don’t get wet depending on circumstances. If at a high altitude or dry climate , bring water bottles/canteens and drink a lot of water to prevent altitude sickness. Also, I suggest long sleeve shirts and pants, and a good wide brimmed hat to prevent sunburn. A folding stool or chair will add to your comfort. In summertime, don’t forget mosquito spray! When painting outdoors it doesn't hurt to keep a roll of toilet paper in your materials!
If most of the workshop painting occurs indoors; tables, chairs, lighting, trash containers, water, restrooms are provided.
ALWAYS BRING LOTS OF RAGS AND/OR PAPER TOWELS
FOR PEOPLE WISHING TO LEARN HOW TO CONSTRUCT A GOLDEN
PROPORTION:
In almost every workshop I teach someone asks for me to show them how to calculate the golden proportion of a canvas or paper. This is a way of dividing up the "pictoral plane" into segments pleasing to the eye. If you wish to be taught this bring a compass, the kind you draw circles with, and a straight edge such as a ruler, a pencil and eraser and sketchbook.