Oil Painting Supply List for Mary Grayson Segars' Workshop
Notes from Mary:
Paint:
I use only primary colors. I’d like everyone to try mixing from these three colors, but everyone is welcome to buy other, pre-mixed colors as well if they’d like to. Please come to class with a warm and cool version of each primary color. I use
---Ultramarine Blue (or French Ultramarine)—a dark, cool blue
---Cerulean Blue—a lighter, warm blue
---Alizarin Crimson—a dark, cool red
---Cadmium Red Medium---a warm red (can be omitted if necessary)
---Cadmium Yellow Deep---a warm yellow
---Cadmium Yellow Pale---a cool yellow (I rarely use this, so it can be omitted)
---Titanium White (large tube)
If you’re using acrylic paint, please purchase a black in addition to the above.
Palette:
Whatever you already have is fine, but if you have no palette, you can make one like mine. Cut a piece of ½” masonite into any size you’d like (mine is about 16 X 20). On top of the masonite, lay a piece of neutral-colored paper of the same size, like a gray that’s not too cool and not too warm. Place a piece of glass cut the same size on top and tape the whole thing around the edges. It’s inexpensive and works great.
Acrylic painters probably should purchase a stay-wet palette to avoid the frustration of quickly-drying paint.
Brushes:
Bring whatever you have. If you need to buy new ones, I suggest you get several oil/acrylic brushes---a round, at least one flat, and a filbert. Please don’t get anything smaller than 1/4 inch in width. All in the range of 1/4 “ to 1” is a good way to start.
Canvas:
Again, bring what you have. I prefer stretched canvas, but you can use canvas boards (inexpensive and easy to find) or canvas-covered masonite if you’d like. Size doesn’t matter, but I think 9 X 12 or 11 X 14 is a good, basic size.
I’d also like you to have some inexpensive surface to do exercises on. Try to find some 4 X 6 canvas boards; they’re very inexpensive, come in a pack, and are easy to find (try Wal-Mart).
Cleanser:
Turpentine is awfully expensive, so I use paint thinner, which I buy in gallon jugs. Try to get the no-odor or low-odor kind. Bring it in some sort of container with a lid. I keep my cleanser in a large can (like bulk bean cans you can buy in the store). At the bottom, it’s nice to have something to scrape the brushes against. In the bottom of my can, I have inverted two empty tuna cans with holes in them; the holes allow the paint sludge to fall through. Again, you don’t need anything fancy.
If you’re painting in acrylic, all you will need is a container for water.
Paper Towels
Lots of photos
Look through them in advance to get an idea what you might like to paint.
Colored Pencil
Any color will do, but I usually use white.
Palette Knife
Choose whatever shape you’d like; the blade of mine is about 2 ½ inches long and wedge-shaped.
Portable easel, if you have one.
Please don’t hesitate to call me at 843 838-3299 or email me at
amlmg@embarqmail.com if you have any questions. See you in class!
-Mary
