John Helms Gallery - watercolor painting class supplies
Adult Watercolor Class
Instructor: John Helms
Watercolor Supplies List
You may want to print out this page for reference before buying
your supplies.
( Links to Oil and Acrylic Class Supplies List pages are at
the bottom of this page.)
Paint
Do NOT buy
a cheap “starter paint set” such as "Reeves brand" - cheap paints are contaminated
with sediments and are a waste of money - like anything else, the better quality
paints and brushes may cost more, but are better quality and last longer. I recommend
any size of Winsor and Newton paint.
Sap Green 8Mil Tubes
Cadmium Yellow Pale
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Burnt Umber
French Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue
Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Red Medium
Payne’s Gray
Brushes
1” Flat Watercolor Brush
( Do not buy a cheap set of brushes, because the hair will fall out
).
1/2” Flat Watercolor Brush
1/4 “Flat Watercolor Brush
3” Broad Flat Brush for Painting Sky -
they are generally called "Hake" brushes and can only be found at a few
quality art supply stores.
Numbers 2 - 8, ( a small
one for detail and a medium one) and 10 Round Brushes. There is also
an inexpensive assortment of small brushes wrapped in black canvas
in a round plastic tube. It sells for under $7.99 retail at Michaels and is a good buy for
the money. This is optional - not required.
Number 4 or 5 Rigger / Liner Brush Brush ( a long, thin brush
for painting branches of trees and grass).
Watercolor Paper
11x15” Strathmore
140lb Cold Pressed Watercolor Pad - the yellow one without the spirals.
( on the fine-art isle with all the artist
drawing and watercolor pads, etc. )
Watercolor Painting Surface:
( You can find these items
at Home Depot or Lowe’s Warehouse. )
A piece of ˝ " thick 2x2Ft.Plywood
(smooth on one side) to staple watercolor paper on. .
A cheap screen door handle & screws -
to carry board with –attach it to edge of the longest side in the center of
the board.
Miscellaneous Items:
Ebony drawing pencil.
(on Graphic Arts isle at Hobby Lobby and Michaels).
Pencil sharpener or small mat knife.
Kneaded Eraser ( Gray in color
and flat. )
Large palette with paint wells that has a cover
on it to keep watercolors from drying out
( Sherri’s Discount Art Store is the only art store in Memphis that has this type
of palette.) ( around $10.00 )
Sponges – the flat cellulose kind ( you can
buy a bag of them for $1.00 at Family Dollar Stores).
A
large water container or small bucket. ( $1.00 )
Paper towels –“Viva” is a good
absorbent towel.
Masking tape – sold everywhere.
$2.00ea.
Small Pump or Trigger
spray bottle - make sure it sprays a fine mist. $1.29ea.
Light-Duty Staple Gun
& Staples. ( $5.00ea.and up )
Art, Fishing Tackle, or
Tool Box with carrying handle for paints, brushes and misc. supplies. (
$5.00ea and up )
Small Size Color Wheel – usually
on paint isle in arts and craft stores.
( $3.99ea ).
Art Supplies and Student Discounts:Since art supplies are so expensive buy
them wherever you can find them on sale. My students get a modest discount off their
art supplies at some art supply stores if you show them your art supplies list.
Ask the cashier if there is a student discount. Other sources for buying art supplies is
www.dickblick.com ,
www.cheapjoes.com,
www.jerrysartarama.com, www.hofcraf.com - They will also mail you a free catalogue if
you ask for it.
Recommended Artist Forums
on the Internet:
www.wetcanvas.comThis is by
far the largest international forum on the internet for artists. There are many
channels on many categories to choose from
and in each
of these channels are many, many forums chock full with good information and
good artists to learn from. Any artist on any level
of experience can benefit from these forums.