Participants to bring a 9" x 12" Sketchbook, black China Marker (greased pencil) and a dozen photo subjects to paint for class projects. The black grease pencil is for creating thumbnail value sketches of the subjects you paint.
Watercolor Pigments :
American Journey, Da Vinci, Daniel Smith, or Winsor & Newton pro grade colors are recommended. Most other brands do not give the same results. Grumbacher watercolor pigments are NOT recommended, as most of their colors are "stainers"
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Sky Blue (AJ)
Gamboge Yellow
Cad Orange
Cad Red
Viridian
Getz Grey (AJ)
Olive Green
Naples Yellow
Skips Green (AJ)
Titanium White
Permanent Magenta
Copper Kettle (AJ)
Harvest Wheat (AJ)
Apricot (AJ)
Periwinkle Blue (AJ)
Ultramarine Violet (AJ)
Earthen Green (AJ)
(AJ) refers to American Journey colors.
Equipment and Palette:
Robert E.Wood, John Pike or similar white, Plastic Palette with an airtight cover, the 9" x 12" sketchbook.
Large soft lead (6-9B) Sketch Pencils (woodless are perfect or the mechanical Creatacolor pencil).
Kneaded Eraser
Paper Towels
Plastic "Throat Spray" Bottle (not trigger-type)
A sturdy 1/4" thick 17" x 24" Gatorboard panel to support your half-sheet 15" x 22" 80# Strathmore Aqaius II paper.
Four Bulldog Clamps to secure the paper on the board ( no stretching, stapling or taping of paper please)
Water Bucket
Plastic Jar
Easel ( if you have one, I paint watercolors up on an easel, approximately at a 70 degree angle.
Brushes:
Most any brush of Synthetic NYLON brushes work well, as the gesso surface destroys sable brushes. BIG brushes are most important: I use the "Golden Fleece" 1/2", 1", 11/2". Flats, 1/2", 1" flat white nylons which are stiffer; No. 6 & 14 Rounds, a No.4 to six Rigger, for drawing with pigment and a 1/2" flat bristle brush, to wash out highlights. Also a cheap, flat 1" household brush to apply on the gesso.
Acrylic Gesso
Liquitex, Golden, or Daniel Smith Gesso The listed pigments, paper and gesso are all essential. Note: Aquarius II paper is inexpensive and lays flat. No stapling
Paper:
Strathmore Aquarius II paper (one weight, 80lb. will not buckle) or Grumbacher's HYPRO synthetic paper. Watercolor board or illustration board will also work but costs more. (140# & 300# watercolor paper is ok; 90# will curl (when covered with Gesso). I also use D'Arches 300# rough, sealing the surface with one coat of acrylic matte medium. Yupo synthetic paper also works similar to the gesso surface.
