Materials List

Please note that I have listed specific brands as suggestions – you do not have to get the exact items on this list. Also if you have any questions or any problems finding anything let me know and I will try to help.

Just a word of reassurance regarding purchasing art materials. Whilst it is lovely to have ‘everything’, beautiful art can in fact be created with just a pencil and paper. The list here is just a suggestion of items to get and I have tried to give as many alternatives as I can or highlighted the things that are indulgence items. Whilst the list may seem long and a bit intimidating many of the alternative suggestions are very affordable. Also you may have paint media that you prefer over acrylics – say gouache, watercolour or oils. The primary purpose of this class is in generating IDEAS and a story through your work. So if you already have materials (even ones not on the list) then go with those – watch the videos when the course begins and see what really appeals to you before purchasing materials that you may never need. Remember you have access to the class tutorials for a long time so things can be bought as you go along.

Materials with suggestions for alternatives.

Drawing Materials

100% cotton rag watercolour paper I would recommend 5 to 10 sheets (or whatever you can afford). This watercolour paper is a much cheaper alternative.

Cartridge paper (Drawing Paper) – I love this paper – Japanese Simili Paper – whilst it is actually a printmaking paper it is lovely for all sorts of drawing media and is very good value for 100 sheets of A3 paper. If you are outside the UK then any good drawing paper of weight 90 gsm will be grand such as Fabriano Academia

Or this paper if you did not want as many as 100 sheets. I would say at least 20 sheets is a good number to begin with.

Pencils – in 2b, 4b and 6b (just an example, any good pencil will be fine)

Marks all pencils by stabilo UK – here US – here – black, brown, red and blue (or any other colours you wish – remember this is about finding your aesthetic!)

A sketchbook

(A5 or A4 size – moleskine is nice but any cartridge paper book is fine – you just want something that you are comfortable carrying around with you)

Dream sketchbook – whilst I love this it is not necessary to the course – a real indulgence!

Rubber eraser and putty eraser

Blending sticks

gummed tape – I like to stretch my watercolour paper before painting which means it does not require flattening afterwards (I will show you how to do this). However you can always use masking tape and flatten the painting under a rug after it has dried (I have done this many times in the past!)

masking tape

charcoal – please make sure it is willow charcoal and not vine charcoal which is a lot harder and denser.

scissors or knife, pencil sharpeners, erasers etc

A set of soft pastels (15 or 30)

I like Unison, Jaxell or Rembrandt

for example rembrandt do a set of 30 half pastels so twice the colours for the same size box as the set of 15 full pastels!

If you are on a budget then 5 or so pastels in colours of your choice will be grand as you can buy them singly. (plus white)

oil bars – Sennelier are a good brand – in Medium (transparent) and Antique White

Painting Materials

Gesso or Golden Gesso – but there are also many less expensive brands available.

Matte medium (for transfers etc this is an expense and is not something that we will be using a lot of so if you are on a budget ordinary PVA glue makes a good alternative)

Paper palettes (OR the indulgent stay wet palette OR cardboard and clingfilm or a glass panel will work just fine)

Acrylic paints – (Golden heavy body or fluid, Liquitex or Windsor and newton are brands I suggest)

Suggested palette – this is a basic palette which when colours are mixed together will give you a good foundation in colour mixing. However as we will discover colours are a very personal choice to these are good to start with and they can be added to over time.

titanium white, hansa yellow, cadmium yellow hue

cadmium red, quinacridone crimson, cerulean blue, ultramarine blue, burnt umber

extra colours should you so wish

naples yellow, quinacridone nickel azo gold, paynes grey

Glaze medium

–golden or windsor and newton are good ones to use.

Paint brushes for acrylics in a variety of sizes eg 1-6

I like these by Winsor and Newton

palette knives – these are a good budget version or you can get more expensive metal ones – 2 is a good amount to begin with.