Watercolor Painting

Explore a fascinating medium in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere! Learn a range of techniques including basic, variegated, and graded washes. Develop a unique vision as you learn about or strengthen your understanding of color, composition, and building value through successive washes. Through demonstrations and examples from masters, students will paint using photographs as reference. Individualized instruction benefits students of all levels. 

Materials List

Paper
I recommend 140lb. Cold Press watercolor blocks 9”x12“, 10”x14“, or 12”x16.” I demonstrate
using a 9 x 12. Blocks have a gum binding around the edges. This helps to keep the paper flat and
eliminates the need for ‘stretching’ the paper. Pads are OK; with pads, you need to tape or clamp
them to a board to keep them from buckling.
Examples: NY Central from Jerry’s, The Master’s Choice from Blick or Jerry’s, Blick Premier,
Canson/Montval, Fabriano Artistico, and Arches. Arches: expensive, but handles beautifully.
Paint: Winsor & Newton Artist Grade Tubes -5 ml, most of my paint is Schmincke.
COOL YELLOW: Aureolin, Schmincke or Holbein is best. Or use Daniel Smith.
Substitute: W&N Lemon Yellow
WARM YELLOW: Cadmium Yellow Deep or Cadmium Yellow /or
Substitute: W&N Cadmium Free Yellow Deep OR Cadmium free Yellow,
OR W&N Winsor Yellow
COOL RED: W&N Permanent Rose.
Substitute: W&N Permanent Carmine. (Intermediate add: Permanent Alizarin Crimson).
WARM RED: Cadmium Red
Substitute: W&N Cadmium Free Cadmium Red OR W&N Winsor Red
COOL BLUE: Phthalo Blue
Substitute: W&N Winsor Blue Green Shade OR Prussian Blue* (this has some black)
WARM BLUE: Ultramarine Blue, sometimes called French Ultramarine Blue.
NEUTRAL BLUE: Cobalt Blue Deep.
(Beginning students add if you can; Intermediate students: add.)
COOL GREEN: Phthalo Green
Substitute: W&N Winsor Green Blue Shade OR Viridian
BURNT SIENNA, BURNT UMBER, & YELLOW OCHRE ARE GOOD ADDITIONS. (W&N)
INTERMEDIATE: Add other colors as you go along
Brushes
Minimum: one flat: 3?4 or 1 inch. One #8 round. Intermediate: add 1?2 inch flat and/or #10 or 12
round. Optional: a Liner or Rigger #2, a #6 or smaller if your work has details.
Buy synthetic sable. Good brands are: Escoda Versatil, Winsor & Newton Synthetic Sable,
daVinci Colineo, Princeton, or Mimik Kolinsky Synthetic.
Palette
Creative Mark Palette, Holbein Palette, Tom Lynch Palette, Mijello Fusion, or an empty half pan
‘box.’ I use a John Pike Universal palette. John Pike palettes are available at: johnpikeart.com.
Miscellaneous:
Paper Towels • 2 or 3 plastic containers for water • HB or B drawing pencil • Eraser (I prefer a
kneaded eraser) • Sponge • Masking Fluid (W&N or Turner) and disposable brushes (for masking).
Optional: transfer paper to transfer drawings. I do not use this in class.
IF YOU ARE JUST TRYING OUT WATERCOLORS:
Paint: Winsor & Newton Cotman (this is student grade - see colors above) OR a set of tubes.
Palette: old ceramic plate. Inexpensive set of brushes: Robert Simmons Synthetic wallet set of
4 (available locally or Jerry’s). You will also need paper, and the Miscellaneous items above.
Suppliers: Local: Thomsons (ask for student discount). Online: Jerry’s Artarama:
www.jerrysartarama.com Blick: www.dickblick.com.