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Option 1:
If you prefer, you can order a “Beginner’s Kit” from me for $55 (about 15% off the cost of buying it all yourself), which includes:
12 sheets (about 9x12”) of Arches or Fabriano top-quality paper
half a tube of each of ten watercolor paints
a portable folding palette
six good-quality Princeton brand brushes
Be sure to order a kit if you need one. You can pay for the kit along with the class, via PayPal (see the Sign-Up page) or you can pay for it in cash at the first class.
PLEASE NOTE that you can't run out of paint during class -- refills are included. (Other necessary supplies, which you doubtless already own, are listed below.)
If you prefer to buy your own materials, please refer to the list below. It may look overwhelming at first, but one visit to an art store (or half an hour online) will take care of everything you need. Detailed information about materials and art stores follow.
| SHOPPING
LIST: If you buy your own supplies, copy this list, print it out, and
show it to
the clerk. 1. One PAD of Arches paper 9x12” or larger. It has a black and green cover. Be sure to get COLD PRESSED paper. Available online, and at Utrecht and New York Central Art Supply, for about $16-17; highly recommended. You can always buy a pad from me in the studio for $14. 2. OR: 3 sheets of ARCHES or FABRIANO brand watercolor paper, each 30 x 22” or larger (about $5 to $7 per sheet). Ask for sheets of "140-pound, cold press paper" 3. OR: one BLOCK of Arches paper, at least 8x10” (beware: blocks are WAY more expensive than pads, hard to use, and not recommended). **ABSOLUTELY DO NOT** buy "student" or "studio" Strathmore,
Canson, Montvale, or Fabriano pads, or any other cheaper pad that says “ideal
for
students” -- they're not! You'll be wasting your money and buying
a lot
of grief. Trust me -- quality is a must here, and worth the
price.
BRUSHES:Ask the
art store clerk to pick two decent
synthetic brushes for you. Utrecht and Princeton are good, inexpensive
brands.
OPTIONAL USEFUL BRUSHES, $3 to $6 each:
TUBE PAINTS: These student-grade paints are inexpensive, mostly $3-$4 per tube, but very good quality: Van Gogh - sold at Dick Blick stores, Bond St. and 6th Ave. Cotman (Winsor & Newton student grade) - most stores Grumbacher Academy - check online first If you care to spend more, the professional-grade paints offer similar colors and characteristics, but with improved lightfastness, intensity, and overall quality. Recommeded brands are:
PALETTE: Buy a small plastic palette with a hinged cover to hold your paints (mixing dishes are provided in class, but it’s handy to have a covered palette). Small is fine; most art stores have them for $4 to $6. If you have lots of room to work at home, you might want a larger, flat palette (many tupes available at all art stores, but not essential). At home you'll need these “NECESSARY ITEMS” on the list below. You can always borrow them from me in class as well. They are: Paper towels and Kleenex, a pencil, a ruler, a small plastic spray bottle for water (available in the studio to borrow, or buy for $2), a few ordinary plastic supermarket bags, a "kneaded eraser," available for $1 in the studio or in any art/stationery store. And of course, your own brushes, paints, and paper. If you get more seriously into watercolor, you may want these for later on; no need to buy them now, though. A piece of lightweight corrugated plastic, or a piece of foamcore, or heavy-cardboard mat covered with Contac paper, cut to about 10"x13", available at art supply stores. You can tape or clip your paper to this, which will make it easier to work on wet paper later in the class. If you can't find this, you can buy a plastic board from me for $2. Otherwise, you can just borrow mine in class. |
No need to read further. But if you're interested, here are some useful details about watercolor supplies...
1. PAPER:
This is your single most important item. Please buy ARCHES brand only! (properly pronounced “Arsh”, but everone says "arches") Buy the "140-pound, cold-press sheets". One 30" x 22" sheet can be cut into quarters or sixths or eighths.
Please bring at least one full sheet, cut into smaller pieces like eighths or sixths, to the first class. Protect them flat in a stiff folder, or carry them in a large magazine.
OR, you can buy Arches paper in pads or blocks if you prefer, at least 9”x12”. Note that PADS are much less expensive than BLOCKS.
NOTE: Never, NEVER, NEVER buy cheaper Canson, Strathmore, Fabriano, or Montvale “ideal for students” pads—they will doom you to failure and frustration. Trust me on this. Top-quality paper is your top priority, and well worth the cost.
We will use about 2 sheets per class session. For homework, you can paint on paper as large as you like -- but at least 5x7”.
Please Note: DO NOT use acrylic or oil brushes -- they are too stiff and not suitable for watercolor.
Try to buy your brushes in person. Ask a knowledgeable art store clerk to pick two decent quality student grade watercolor brushes for you. Expect to spend $8 to $19 tops per brush. Princeton brand flat brushes have been disappointing, but the Utrecht brand (only at Utrecht stores) is very good. Loew-Cornell flat brushes are also good. Utrecht also sells Dynasty "Faux Squirrel" brushes, which are excellent quality at a low price.
Do not invest in costly sable brushes, even if money is no object. They are actually much more difficult for a beginner to use.
3. TUBE PAINTS
Please DO NOT
buy
or use a set of dry cakes of color. I’ve chosen the ten
colors above for best quality and price (mostly under $4/tube). You
will
probably want to add a few more colors later, but these have been
chosen for
their superior transparency and non-staining attributes (which means
you won’t
end up with “mud”).
I will refill your paints if you run out during the 6-week class.
Good-quality student-grade
paints include:
Van Gogh,
Winsor & Newton Cotman,
Grumbacher Academy.
Top-quality artist-grade paints include:
Winsor
& Newton Professional, more
expensive, but the very
finest.
Utrecht Brand (available only at Utrecht
Art
Supplies and online) are inexpensive but highly rated, a real
bargain.
M. Graham brand
is excellent quality and value, with intense color.
Daniel Smith paints
(available at Utrecht and online at www.danielsmith.com)
are highly rated overall, and less expensive than W&N...although
shipping is extra.
Please
be
SURE you have all your supplies before class begins. Fill the wells in
your palette completely with paint a few days before class, and let
them
dry out. NOTE: DO NOT leave
your palette in a place your cat or dog can
walk through it or lick it...paints are toxic to animals.
4.
NECESSARY ITEMS
Note:
I’ll supply you with plastic containers for holding water,
plus plastic plates for mixing colors. You can also borrow all the
things below. But for painting at home, it's good to have the following
on hand:
Your paints, paper, and brushes, plus...
Kleenex
(generic is fine; don't use paper towels to blot your painting)
Paper
towels or a household sponge
to use as a 'mop pad' to control the water in your brush. Bounty’s
good, and Viva works best—it has no texture, just in case you
need to blot your entire too-wet painting.
Ruler
or straightedge
Ordinary pencil, preferably one marked "H" or "HB" instead of "B"
Kneaded eraser, available
in any art store and most stationery stores, is much better than
others, as it
leaves no eraser-bits and won't damage the paper.
A
small empty spray bottle for
water, available at most drugstores. If you can't find one, I have them
for $2.
Plastic
bags -- Several
ordinary clean ones from the supermarket, to safeguard your paints and
paper enroute.
You
probably have most of these around the house, or hit
your 99-Cent store.
WHERE TO SHOP for
watercolor supplies:
1-5 Bond Street, off Broadway just above Bleecker St.
Phone: (212) 533-2444
Monday - Friday:
Dick Blick is also on Sixth Ave between 19th and 20th Street.
13th St. between University and
Fifth Aves. 212-777-5353
Open daily 10-7, Sundays 10-6.
Another branch
is at 237 W 23rd Street, between
7th and
8th Aves. 212-675-8699
Open daily 9-8, Saturday 10-7, Sunday 11-6.
AI
Friedman on 44 W. 18 Street; tel 243-9000
excellent brush selection here, with great sales from time to time,
esp. on full sheets of Arches paper.
BUYING
ONLINE:
If you'd rather shop online, try these:
www.aswexpress.com
Of course, note that shipping is extra, so savings may
vary. Get on their email
list, and you get further discounts and
sometimes free shipping.
Daniel
Smith paints are available
online at www.danielsmith.com
Their online "Triads" of 3 tubes are a great buy for $18-19 and
free shipping.
Any
questions? Email me at watercolorclass@gmail.com