Supplies Needed to Begin

PAINTS

White - Titanium or zinc white – large tube
Red - Cadmium Red Medium - small tube
Yellow - Cadmium Yellow Medium - small tube, Yellow Ochre - large tube
Blue - Thalo Blue - small to medium tupe or Cobalt Blue - small to medium tube
Brown - Raw Umber - large tube, Burnt Sienna - small to medium tube

BRUSHES

Bristle or stiff brushes

You will need 2 or 3 flat brushes. To begin with I suggest the larges be around 1 to 1 ½ inches.

Buy 1 or 2 more that are also stiff and flat, but in smaller sizes at about 1 inch and ¾ in. You will not need a bristle brush that is smaller than that except on rare occasions.

Soft or Sable Brushes

You will need 3-5 of this type brush to get started.

One ¾ inch flat brush
One ½ in inch flat brush
One ¼ in brush If money is a concern, buy one 3/8 soft flat brush instead of a ½ inch and ¼ inch.

Soft round brushes

These brushes are used for tiny work, details and for name signing. Buy one if can that is about a number 3 or 4.

PAINT PALATE

The paint palate that I use is one with tear off sheets. I use the top sheet. When it is thoroughly use up I tear it off and go onto the next sheet. A palate lasts me for years.

I preserve my paint from one painting session to the next by simply firmly covering the palate with aluminum tin foil.

THINNER

I use a good quality paint thinner – or mix equal parts of linseed oil and turpentine. I normally mix the thinner into my white paint before I begin working. If I am going to be using a lot of raw umber I will mix my thinner into that pile of paint. I don’t bother with mixing thinner into all the colors.

EASEL

If I am working in a large place I use the easel that my husband built for me from scrap boards. In doors in a small space I just prop my painting up on the counter.

I store my tubes of paint and supplies in a cardboard box.

BRUSH CLEANER

I use brush cleaner, or gasoline, or thorough cleaning with liquid dish soap. Whatever cleaner you choose, you MUST be very careful to clean the brush squeaky clean. You probably will not be able to get all the stain out the brush, but the bristles should be thoroughly clean of any paint. Otherwise, your brush will be ruined.

CANVAS

For paintings of over 8X10 you should purchase stretched canvas. For smaller paintings the canvas covered board is fine.

The size I recommend for beginning artists and that use for most paintings that I do is 14X18 to 24X30. The larger the canvas the more difficult it to maintain control of the canvas.

Ask Barbara Henderson