Bring everything you normally use for watercolor painting. The following is a list of my preferences you may use as your guide if you are buying or upgrading your supplies. I buy most all of my materials online at the following sites:

aswexpress.com

dickblick.com

myartsupply.com

danielsmith.com

Paints

I use M Graham and Holbein brand paint in the 15ml tube size. The lids are easier to open and they are better value for the amount of paint you get. Other paints that are good are Sennelier, Davinci, and Daniel Smith. The very best is Windsor & Newton.

Van Gogh, Grumbacher and Academy is Student grade and is OK for getting started. You may prefer to get a travel set of paints if you like to paint outdoors.

My Basic Colors

Lemon Yellow, Cadmium yellow medium, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Red,  Hooker’s Green ,

Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Violet

Payne’s Gray ,Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone burnt Scarlet

I recommend a large palette with a good-size mixing area. It should have at least 15 paint wells around the perimeter. I use a Richeson palette as well as a large white melamine dinner plate for extra mixing. You might find it helpful to label the color of paint on the edge of the palette. You can have small pieces of w/c paper for color studies before applying paint to your painting.

Your selection of brushes should include 2 large rounds (#12 & #18), a large flat 3/4" or 1" with a chiseled edge, a large wash brush 1 ½ " or 2" and some smaller brushes for detail work. Don’t buy the hog bristle brushes as they are for oil painting, Synthetic or squirrel hair is fine. Buy a good set of brushes as they will last a long time and they are your best painting friend. I use Windsor & Newton Sceptre and others listed below.

Watercolor Paper

I prefer to use 140 lb or 300 lb Arches cold press. I use the 22 x 30 size but I have also used the 255 lb in the 25 x 40" size. Waterford, Lanaquarelle, and Fabriano Uno are also good brands.

Media

Bring with you some sources of information of the things that you like to paint. These can be photos, your own sketches, or magazine photos. We will work on a group painting but you can work on anything you like.

Miscellaneous

Painting board (3/8" plywood 16" x 21")

Clips to hold your paper (if you prefer)

Spray bottle for water

Small salt shaker

Paper towels or Kleenex

Drawing pencil and eraser

Staple gun (light duty)

Sketchbook or notepad

Natural sponge

Large water container ( at least one quart)

                     Easel if you intend to work outdoors