SUPPLY LIST for my Painting Classes

This is a suggested supply list.  You may use the painting supplies that you are already comfortable with as long as you are not using solvents made from petroleum distillates.
  • 6” X 8” up to 16” X 20” primed painting sheets.  I like Centurion primed linen sheets. They come in a pad of 10 sheets.  More readily available are Canvas Pads.  If you buy the larger size you can half or quarter the sheets into 8" x 10" or  6" x 8" format.
  • Utility box or bag in which to carry painting implements
  • Journal/sketchbook for note taking and thumbnail sketching
  • Soft drawing pencil (2B-6B) for sketching initial ideas
  • White plastic eraser for graphite for sketching initial ideas
  • M. Graham Walnut Oil 8 oz. (for brush cleaning jar)
  • M. Graham Walnut Oil Alkyd Medium 4 oz. with dropper (recommended medium)
  • Soy Solv II (recommended final brush cleaner) or any degreaser such as The Masters Brush Cleaner, Shout or dish soap
  • A brush cleaning jar: can be made with a wide mouth 16 oz. or larger glass jar with lid + tin can with screen cover to fit inside the jar for Walnut oil.  I can supply you with the wire screen cover and tin can if I have the right size for your jar.
  • Assorted brushes (I prefer 3 different size filberts with sable or sable-like bristles, one hog bristle filbert, and one small round, for drawing.) 
  • Other painting implements such as rags (lint-free) and Q-tips
  • Palette knife for painting and mixing.  I prefer the Holbein Series A # 14 palette knife you see pictured here.  It retails for about $50.  It must have a very flexible blade. You can find it on Amazon and at better art stores, like Artisan in Santa Fe.
  • Paint scraper/holder for single-edge razor blade if you use a glass palette
  • Glass palette with gray underlay or gray paper palette.  Use a cover or plastic wrap for transport.
  • Roll paper towel
  • Apron & gloves
  • Oil colors: I prefer M. Graham Walnut Oil colors although you may use any brand of oil colors to which you are accustomed.  The color wheel we are making works best with the colors listed here, but feel free to add the colors that you are accustomed to using in YOUR palette.  Recommendations: Titanium White, Hansa Yellow, Van Dyke Brown, Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Transparent Orange Iron Oxide, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Cadmium Orange, Quinacridone Red, Anthraquinone Red, Quinacridone Violet,  Ultramarine Violet,  Cobalt Blue, and Azo Green.  Colors I avoid due to "sinking in": Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Umber, Raw Umber.  I prefer to mix my own black from dark warm and cool colors like Van Dyke Brown and Ultramarine Violet. You can purchase M. Graham oil colors at Artco on 6th Ave.  Click on the link for directions and coupons.  Artist & Craftsman Supply in downtown Tacoma has lots of other great supplies and offers my students a 10% discount when you tell them you are studying with me.
Click here for a downloadable PDF version of the supply check list.