Backing Board
Large enough to accommodate your paper size. An 18x24 is good for 1/2 and 1/4 sheet. Clips or special tape to hold paper on board.
Watercolor Paper
Best results obtained from 100% rag paper. Try to buy one 22x30 sheet of 140# Cold Press - can be Arches, Fabriano, Winsor Newton, Kilimanjaro, Waterford, Lanaaquarelle. A full sheet, 22x30 can be sized for two half sheets, 15x22 or four quarter sheets, 11x15. Watercolor blocks are okay. Same brands as above. New Paper Item: Arches Watercolor Pad, 140# cold Press 9x12 or preferably 10x14. Buy Pad OR 22x30 sheet.
Palette
With recesses for pigments and large mixing area. A palette with a lid is helpful for transporting.
Pigments
See below for "Special Pigment Information"
Brushes
Two flats: 1/4 or 1/2 inch and a 1 inch.
Two rounds: #4 or #6 and #10. A small soft (infnat) toothbrush. Later, you'll probably want a large wash brush: 1-1/2 to 2 inch and a rigger or liner brush.
Water Container(s)/Paper Towels
Not Glass. A 2 or 3 cup storage container is good.
Sponges
Natural Sea Sponge - one medium and one small elephant ear.
Sketch book or pad
A size that is easy to carry - 8x10 or so
Pencil(s), small sharpener
2B pencil
Eraser
Magic Rub or Pearl - not abrasive
Misting bottle, small
For keeping paper wet
Miscellaneous Items
Masking fluid, a pick up, detergent, Elmers glue, masking tape, art tape. These are for saving whites, edges, color, etc. Demo on this at a later class.
Graphite Paper
Not regular carbon paper - optional - for tracing images onto watercolor paper
Carry-all, some type of portfolio
For transporting and protecting your work.
Hair Dryer
BRING ANY SUPPLIES YOU NOW HAVE.
WE WILL DISCUSS ALL OF THE SUPPLIES AT THE FIRST CLASS.
I recommend the WALTER FOSTER WATERCOLOR BOOK (AL02) by duane R. Light. It is a small 6- 1/2 by 9-1/2 book loaded with information, exercises, and color examples. Available at Artel, Michaels and Aaron Bros. About $8.95. SEE YOU IN CLASS!
Specific Pigment Info for Nita Gunnarson's Watercolor Class
When you are buying pigments, look for the ASTM or lightfastness rating on the tube. A rating of I is excellent and a rating of II is good. I susually don't buy III or more. Alizarin Crimson, for instance, has been fugitive in the past, but some companies are now making an improved pigment. This is important for the permancy of your artwork. Some color names followed by "hue" may not be permanent. Just look for the lightfastness rating to be sure.
BASIC COLORS: You need at least two yellows - one leaning toward orange and one toward green; at least two reds - one leaning toward orange and one toward blue; and at least two blues - on leaning toward red and one toward green. In addition, you need a few earth tones: Raw Sienna or yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, and Burnt Umber.
Most artists like Cobalt Blue and French Ultramarine blue on their palette. i also use thalo blue (or Winsor Blue) and Thalo Green and viridian Green. I don't use white (I save the white of the paper) or black.
These are some of the professional brands on my palette. Grumbacher, winsor & newton, Holbein, Da Vinci, Rowney (or Daler-Rowney), and American journey. I still check the ratings.
Grumbacher's student grade "Academy" offers the best price and many are with good lightfastness ratings. The following have I or II ratings.
YELLOWS: A 118 Lemon Yellow (toward green) - II rating. for the yellow toward orange, A034 Cadmium yellow Medium, or Cadmium Yellow Deep or Gamboge.
REDS: A204 Thalo Crimson (toward blue) - II. for the red toward orange, buy a professional grade, like Vermillion or Cadmium Red Medium or Deep with a good rating.
BLUES: A039 Cerulean Blue (toward green) - II and A219 Ultramarine Blue (toward red) - I. Other desirable blues: A203 thalo blue - II and A049; Cobalt Blue Hue (This "hue" has a I rating).
GREENS: A205 Thalo Green - I and A232 Viridian - I.
EARTH TONES: A171 Raw Sienna - I OR A244 Yellow Ochre Hue (The "hue" has a I rating).
OPTIONAL: A210 Thalo Yellow Green - II and a Cadmium Orange with a II rating.
Call our office at 575-6063 to make sure the class will be held BEFORE you purchase your supplies.
