Learn everything you need to get started painting outdoors. From the equipment needed to the ‘how to’ paint outdoors. We will paint a landscape one day and a figure the next. We will probably do two paintings each day as the light changes in a few hours. Step by step instructions for design, paint mixing and completing a plein air painting will be given.
Materials list workshop:
Please bring the following items. I will bring some extra panels and brushes for the class.
Painting Panels
Please bring either an 8x10 or 9x12 panel to paint on. I’ll carry a 5x7 or similar size for you to try. I use these panels a lot:
- Centurion oil primed linen panel. https://www.jerrysartarama.com/centurion-deluxe-oil-primed-linen-canvas
- Amazon carries a limited set of sizes of the Centurion panels. Please don’t buy the cheapest surface – try to get a double primed (oil or acrylic) medium or fine tooth (weave) panel. Cheap surfaces are not well primed with good (and very little) gesso and they are hard to paint on (and take more paint).
Paints
For the class please have the following colors (or close to it). I use mainly Gamblin Artist Colors and some Grumbacher Pre-Tested Artist Series. You can buy a cheaper line, such as Gamblins 1980 series or any other brand you’d like. The important thing is to avoid ‘hues’ which approximate the actual pigment.
Gamblin Artist Colors
- Titanium White
- Quick Dry White
- Naples Yellow
- Cadmium Yellow
- Cadmium Red Light
- Alizarin Crimson Permanent
- Yellow Ochre
- Gold Ochre
- Transparent Red Oxide (Grumbacher)
- Viridian
- Cobalt Blue
- Ultramarine Blue
- Ivory Black
- Additional colors on my palette (optional) for the class:
- Replacement Flake White
- Naples Yellow
- Cadmium Yellow Light
- Cadmium Yellow Deep
- Cadmium Red Medium
- Napthol Red
- Quinacridone Red
- Sap Green
- Cerulean Blue
Brushes
- For the workshop please bring a variety of brushes that you would normally use. Hard, soft, small and big brushes. I typically use hog hair bristle brushes, soft natural and synthetic brushes. These come in filberts, rounds and other types. Here’s the list of most of the brushes I use:
Rosemary Brushes (https://www.rosemaryandco.com or https://windriverarts.com in the US)
- ** Ivory Series Long Flat and Filbert – 2-12
- ** Shiraz (short handle) – 0,1
- ** Eclipse – 2,4,5,6,8
- Masters Series 278 Long Filbert – 2,4,5,6,8
- Masters Series 279 Long Flat – 2,4,5,6
** These are my go to brushes! I would get a few of these to start with especially if your brushes are more than a few years old. Old brushes tend to dry up here and are very stiff – they will not work well unless taken care off.
- Robert Simmons Signet Brushes
- Filberts in Sizes 2,4,6,8,10
- Egbert – 6
- Robert Simmons Titanium Brushes — Rounds - 0,1
- DaVinci Brushes (short handle) – Rounds – 0,1
Princeton
- Misc (small) Round brushes such as the one below:
- ** Princeton Select Artiste Paintbrush 10-5 Brush set (on Amazon)
- I’ll carry a few extra Princeton brushes for you to try in the workshop.
Paint Solvent
- Gamblin Gamsol (turpentine substitute) for paint thinning
Palette
Typically a portable easel will have a palette to mix paint with. If you are bringing your portable easel (see easel’s section for more) and it has a palette, that will work for the workshop. Otherwise please bring a palette that you like. Here’s a good one, you will need to add a thin piece of glass to it to make the use of it and cleaning easier. In my studio, I use a big surface of glass (here’s a palette from Jerry’s that’s good). I would suggest putting some thin (1/4” or 1/8” glass inside it and use a window scraper to keep it clean.
- https://www.jerrysartarama.com/masterson-air-tight-palettes-and-accessories
Brush Washer
For the studio, I use a larger size (but not too big). I prefer to replace the gamsol more regularly. For my travel (portable) setup I have a smaller one similar to this one shown below:
- https://www.dickblick.com/items/anderson-sons-stainless-steel-airtight-brush-washer-8-oz/
Buy the size you want – there are many choices for brush washers but get an air tight one.
- https://www.jerrysartarama.com/silicoil-brush-cleaner
Brush Tray
After painting each day, I clean my brushes in solvent or use turpeniod natural (which is no longer available for sale in Colorado) or wash them in a sink with a good soap. I leave my brushes soaked in Safflower Oil (non-drying oil). My good friend and artist, Robin Cole has designed a wonderful brush tray that I use in my studio … here’s the link. You can also use a cheap tray from a hardware store.
- https://www.robincole.art/store/savvy-brush-tray
Portable Easels
Here’s a list of some of the easels I am familiar with. You will need a portable easel for this class as we are painting outdoors for both days.
- Prolific Painter Easel (Daytripper model, Salida, CO)
- Z Box (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Belly River Pochade
Please search for any of these and their websites will come up. It becomes a matter of personal preference as they are all great boxes. You will need a tripod as well, which some of them offer, or look at B and H Photo Video (in NY). Please keep in mind to check the weight of the easel and get the tripod that is able to hold it (and not much heavier as the tripod itself can get very heavy if you are planning on doing Plein air work).
Panel Carrier for Wet Paintings
- I use several Raymar Panel Carriers. They are wonderful! Please be sure to carry panels that fit in the panel carrier. For outdoor painting I usually use 8x10 and 8x16 panels. The 9x12 is a good option too, but if you are new to painting and and want to start small, an 8x10 panel carrier will be just fine. Here’s their website: https://www.raymar.com/collections/wet-painting-carriers
