The Limited Palette: A Good Place to Start

BRUSHES

The ones marked * are must-haves for this class.

A variety of brushes, some or all of the following:

•   bristle rounds sizes 2*, 4*

•   bristle filberts and/or bristle flats sizes 4, 6*, 8

•   soft sable or synthetic sable rounds sizes 0, 1, 2

•   soft synthetic sable filberts sizes 6, 8,10

•   economy White Bristle Brush size 2-inch* (these are sold as inexpensive gesso brushes at Blick)

SOLVENT

solvent both for cleaning brushes and for mixing painting mediums (see below) 

•   odorless mineral spirits, such as Gamblin “Gamsol”

SOAP

•   plain white bar soap such as Ivory 

OIL

linseed oil (refined)

PALETTE

•   paper or wood or plexiglass

PALETTE/PAINTING KNIFE

These come in many shapes. For this class the best shape available at Blick: 

•   “Painting Knife - Small Long Spade 50”

PAPER TOWELS

We use these as a painting tool as well as for cleaning up. Bounty brand paper towels are best.

OIL PAINTS

Prismatic colors

•   quinacridone red

•   cadmium yellow medium

•   ultramarine blue (note: not a phthalocyanine blue)

 Earth colors

•   earth red (PR 102): the best choices are Old Holland red ochre or Williamsburg “Italian Rosso Veneto” (note: notIndian red and not Venetian red because those colors are too strong) 

•   yellow ochre (PY 43): Old Holland yellow ochre light is best

•   ivory black

White

•   titanium white or titanium zinc white

PAINTING MEDIUMS

In a small glass jar, mix odorless mineral spirits and refined linseed oil for each day as follows:

•   Day one—2 parts odorless mineral spirits plus 1 part refined linseed oil

•   Day two—refined linseed oil

•   Day three—2 parts odorless mineral spirits plus 1 part refined linseed oil

•   Day four—1 part odorless mineral spirits plus 1 part refined linseed oil

•   Day five—refined linseed oil

WHAT TO PAINT ON?

Not smaller than 9 x 12 inches. Here are a few options:

•   stretched and primed canvas

•   primed panel

•   Arches “Huile” oil paper pad (an excellent product)

•   Fredrix canvas pad (these are not sold at Blick in Seattle, but they can be ordered online. This brand is far superior to Blick canvas pads)

•   gessoed mat board or museum board—Use a minimum of 3 coats of Golden white acrylic gesso. Change the direction of the brushstrokes for each layer. 

Note: Avoid “canvas panels” which are inferior grade primed canvas wrapped around cardboard.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS…

From the above list, the only these supplies are needed:

•   brushes—bristle rounds sizes 2, 4

•   a jar of odorless mineral spirits for cleaning brushes

•   a bar of soap

•   a small jar of medium—2 parts odorless mineral spirits plus 1 part refined linseed oil

•   palette

•   palette/painting knife

•   paper towels

•   oil paints—ultramarine blue and titanium or titanium zinc white

•   a surface upon which to paint

We will go over the complete list of materials on the first day of class, and I will display a variety of brushes. I will also demonstrate how to clean up, for those who are new to oil painting.