Watercolor Supply List
This is a complete list of all the art supplies that I presently use. I am in no way suggesting that you need all of the below items. Many times students sign up for a workshop and then get the supply list and panic because they look at all of these items and think that they will have to sell off their first born. Please understand that I don’t want this to be the case with my supply list. I tell students all the time to bring the paints and brushes that you are comfortable with and see how I am using mine and then decide if it is an item that you would like to have.
I still have students always asking me for my complete supply list, This is it. I only order my supplies through the 1-800 numbers that I have provided or I order online from the following websites listed below.
These three companies that I order most of my supplies from:
(CJ) Cheap Joe’s Art Supplies 1-800-227-2788 www.cheapjoes.com
Rosemary & Company This is for brushes only www.rosemaryandco.com
(DB) Dick Blick 1-800-723-2787 www.dickblick.com
PALETTE
My palette guide is based on the Masterson Aqua Pro Palette product #1014. Not the one with the blue lid. This palette has 32 wells and is a very strong plastic and will last you for years to come. You can order them on line with any of the above suppliers.
Currently I have been using small porcelain dishes that are square with 4 wells in them. I purchase them at World Market. I use these when I want to use fresh paint directly from the tubes. Usually I use 4 to 6 of them. Basically any palette will do.
BRUSHES
There has been a lot of changes in the art world in the last few years. Some colors I can no longer get and brushes are the same way. I have used a Kolinsky Sable brush for the past 30 years…..they are my favorite but sadly they are no longer being imported to the USA. Several years ago I started ordering my brushes from Rosemary & Company. For years I hesitated to order from them because they are located in the UK. I thought the shipping would be very expensive…….boy was I wrong. Their shipping is cheaper than if you were to order from one of the companies in the US. You cannot beat the quality or the prices of their brushes and art tools. Please allow at least 3 weeks for their delivery.
The following brushes are from Rosemary & Company remember when ordering watercolor brushes please order the short handles not the long handles.
Red Dot Designers Collection Short Handle sizes #1 #6 #8 #10
Red Dot Angular/Side Loader size 3/8” short handle
Red Dot Beaver Tail Short Flats wash brush size 2” short handle
Snowdrop Pointed Round Short handle Size #10
The Eradicator Brushes Sizes Small & Large (These are a must have for removing mistakes within your painting and softening edges.)
Series 38 Squirrel Mix Oval Mops sizes ½” & ¾” Must have brushes for Wildlife
The Rubber Tip Tool Set used to apply frisket or maskoid. You can get all 3 of these for $8 if you were to buy them at Dick Blick or Cheap Joes you would pay that for each one of them. .
PAINTS
Paints are a very personal thing and over the years I have used hundreds. It has taken me many years to find the ones that I love and that give me the most transparency and granulation. This is a large list of paints and I do not suggest that students order all of these colors. I always tell students to bring the colors that you are used to using and watch and see how I am using my colors to see if they are a color that you would like to use. But please pay attention to the particular Brand that I use for certain colors, because color properties and temperatures vary between manufacturers.
Note: Codes for which company I use is beside the paint color DS = Daniel Smith SENN = Sennelier DV = Da Vinci. Schmincke AJ=American Journey by Cheap Joe’s W&N = Winsor & Newton MG = M. Graham
♡ Denotes that this color is on my actual palette.
☂Denotes that these are colors that I tend to use a lot with my wildlife & landscapes
☆ Denotes colors that I use when I am painting still life’s with colored glass
♡☂ Cobalt Teal Blue DS
♡☂ Burnt Sienna W&N
♡☂ Cadmium Orange SENN
☂ Coastal Fog AJ
♡☂ Cobalt Blue SENN
☂ Coffee w/Cream AJ
♡☆ Phthalo Green BS any company
☂☆ Manganese Blue Hue W&N
☂ Periwinkle AJ or lavender by DV
♡☂ Quin. Rose W&N or DS
☂ Sepia Senn
☂ Sky Blue AJ
☂ Taylor’s Flamingo Pink AJ
☆ Viridian W&N
♡☂ Yellow Ochre SENN
☂ Raw Umber Violet SENN
♡ Carbazole Violet DS
♡☂ Cobalt Blue Violet DS
♡☂ Green Gold DS
☆ Indanthrone Blue W&N
♡ Perylene Scarlet DS
♡☂ Quinacridone Sienna DS
♡ Quinacridone Coral DS
♡☂ Sap Green DS…..only use the Daniel Smith brand of this color
♡☂ Ultramarine Turq. DS
☂ Undersea Green DS
☂ Deep Sap Green DS
♡☂ Quinacridone Gold DS
♡☂ Perylene Maroon DS
♡☂ Quinacridone Burnt Orange DS
♡☂ Aureolin W&N
♡☂ Lemon Yellow Schmincke
♡☂ Cobalt Violet Deep SENN
♡☂ Cobalt Violet Light SENN
♡☂ Indian Yellow SENN
♡☂ Carmine or Alizarin Crimson SENN or W&N
♡☂ French Vermillion SENN
♡☂ Ultramarine Blue SENN
♡☂ Cerulean Blue SENN
☂ Translucent Brown Oxide DS
☂ Translucent Brown SENN
☂ Translucent Orange Schmincke
☂ Vandyke Brown Schmincke
☂ Sepia SENN
☂ Neutral Tint DS
Watercolor Paper
Paper is also a very personal thing. As you become more experienced with painting you may find different papers that you like better. Watercolor paper comes in many different sizes, weights and surfaces. Some papers come on blocks which I rarely use but are great for traveling with, and some paper comes in sheets that need to be stretched so that it doesn’t buckle as you paint on it. My personal theory is I would rather spend my time painting and not stretching paper, so with that said I suggest the following papers that are handmade 100% cotton rag and do not need to be stretched.
I mostly use Winsor & Newton Watercolor Sheets in 140 lb. Cold press paper. I also suggest that as a beginner you start with this also. This paper is sold in packages of 5-sheets per pack or individual sheets depending on what art supplier you buy them from. I would suggest that you purchase at least 5 sheets for your first few months of classes.
Other great papers that I use are Arches 300lb CP this is heavy paper and doesn’t need to be stretched where their 140lb paper will buckle and need to be stretched. I love using Twinrocker for some of my wildlife images depending on the subject matter I am painting. Fabriano Artistico is also a great paper.
Other Things To Make Your Life Easier & Things You Might Need In Class
A pencil. I like the Bic or Pental disposable mechanical pencils with a white tip eraser. Walmart is the best place to purchase this item. They come in packages of 5 or 6.
A Uni-Ball roller pen. I use black and the fine tip.
A roll of tracing paper. I usually get the 18 x 24 size at Dick Blick.
Factis White Eraser please be sure it is a white eraser
White Artist Tape. Either black or whiter but please do not use the green or blue
Two large clear or white water containers. I find them at the Dollar Store.
Pebo Drawing Gum Get the smaller bottle.
Ugly Brushes. You will need a few of these to apply the drawing gum. I usually get the #6 Round and about 3-4 at a time. You can get these at Cheap Joe’s
A spray bottle. I use a small travel one that I purchase at Walmart in the travel sample section.
If you are taking a landscape class I like to use the small 3” diameter white porcelain dishes that you can get at World Market. You need at least 4 of these but 6 would be best.
Please bring a roll of plain white paper towels. Plain with no designs on them. Viva is my favorite to use.
I hope this covers everything. If I forgot something please accept my apology. Please remember this is my complete list of everything that I use all the time and beginners do not need this whole list just the list you were provided.
Questions? Please email me at Rebecca@rebeccakahrs.com