Art Supplies Information

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Age 6 through grade 10 students should have a spiral bound, 9" x 12" (or similar) sketchbook and pencils (regular #2's are fine).  We stock high quality sketchbooks for $14.  We provide all other materials including tempera and watercolor paint, chalk and oil pastel, colored pencils, special papers for water color and pastel.  Students may bring their own acrylic paint, stretched canvas, markers, and anything else that we don't offer.  Students may also bring laptops and or tablets.

Grade 11, 12 and Adults work with a variety of mediums.  If you want to learn about basic sketching, you will only need sketching supplies, if you want to paint, review below.  This page is to give you a general idea of what you might need.  If you aren't sure, I would recommend sketching, then progressing from there.  Purchase supplies from Plaza Art  (in Kenwood).  Most paints come in "student" and "professional" grades.  You will probably won't need professional grade to start but, we do not recommend cheapest supplies found in many hobby and craft stores.

Not sure what you should bring to class?  Click here to watch our video.

Click here for a printable list.

Here are my recommendations. Call me with any questions 513/403-6255.

Drawing: the basics: 

9 x 12 spiral bound sketchbook 

pencils  

also nice to have: vine charcoal 

kneaded eraser 

newsprint (paper) 18 x 24 or larger

optional drawing and sketching supplies: 

round graphite sticks 

black (compressed) charcoal 

compressed white charcoal 

conte 

a drawing board (18 x 24) 

quality drawing papers and pads

When you buy paint, you will notice some manufacturers offer student grade and professional grade paint.  Student grade paints are less expensive than the professional grade because the pigment used to make the color has been reduced or replaced with other fillers.  Beginning painters usually buy student grade.  I would avoid the super cheap sets like Artist Loft.

A good option for beginning painting is to start monochromatic (one color).  Black and white would be one option.  Naples yellow and burnt umber (resulting in a sepia tone) would also work.

We have had good luck with Liquitex brand acrylics, and Gamblin or Winsor Newton "Student Grade" oils (for our beginners).  Most 6-8 color starter sets are great.

For colors, here are 2 options:

basic primary pallet (you can mix most colors with just these 5)
phthalo blue
cad yellow med
alizarin crimson
burnt umber
titanium white

extended primary palette (a warm and cool for each primary color)
ultra marine blue
phthalo blue
cad lemon
cad yellow med
cad red light
alizarin crimson
burnt umber
titanium white
ivory black

Earth colors, like naples yellow, burnt and raw sienna, burnt and raw umber, yellow ochre, terre rosa, transparent red oxide, to name a few are nice to have on your palette. You could mix any of them from primary and secondary colors but it would be slower and more expensive.

paper towels (Bounty are the best)
a silicoil brush cleaning tank
Gamsol mineral spirits, (NO SUBSTITUTES)
a palette (disposable or wood)
pallet knife
brushes,flats, filberts and rounds.  Made from bristle or synthetic.  Sizes 2, 4, 6 for smaller paintings, 6, 8 10, 12, for larger. (I do not recommend brushes that feel very soft or that are shorter than 8 inches), we have had good luck with Robert Simmons brand.

gessoed stretched canvas, canvas boards, or canvas paper
brush soap

oil supplies optional:

a small container for clean mineral spirits
galkyd or liquin (will add flow to paint and speed drying time)
stand oil  (ads flow but slows drying time)
sand paper

brush shaper

paper towels (Bounty are the best)

brushes,flats, filberts and rounds made from bristle or synthetic.  Sizes 2, 4, 6 for smaller paintings, 6, 8 10, 12, for larger.   (I do not recommend brushes that feel very soft or that are shorter than 8 inches)

gessoed stretched canvas, canvas boards, or canvas paper

brush soap

acrylic supplies optional:
sand paper

brush shaper