Basic: suitable for people on a budget or beginners who are not sure if they will continue oil painting.
Recommended: when cost is not a consideration, you know you will be painting for a while and you want the best materials you can get.
Note that this list should be seen as a good starting point rather than precise requirements. Due to the nature of still life painting, we can’t predict which colours you will use (for example, a blue set up will need more blue pigments, and so on).
If you are an intermediate painter, then treat the following list as a guideline – feel free to bring along different brands or additional materials. The more we have to work with, the better!
Objects to paint:
Please bring as many objects as you’d like to paint. Bear in mind that simple, organic shapes are easier to paint than complex, patterned or symmetrical objects.
Brushes:
I generally recommend Rosemary & co as a place to buy brushes as they are economical and of good quality. (https://www.rosemaryandco.com/)
Basic:
A set of synthetic brushes with long handles,, for instance these.
Recommended:
Long flat hog brushes 2 small, 2 medium, 2 big.
Series 47 hog filbert, size 2, 4,8 and 12. Two of each.
Series 305 Filbert cats tongue size 2.
Ebony Filbert size 1 and 2. Two of each.
Optional : Silverline flat tipped brush set. (https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Silverline-633927-5024763024993-Artists-Paint-Brush-Set-12Pce-Flat-Tipped)
Oil Paints:
A nice basic palette that will paint most still life (feel free to bring more!)
- Raw Umber
- Ivory Black
- Yellow Light
- Bright Red
- Titanium White
- Ultramarine Blue
- Alizarin Crimson (optional)
Other Materials:
• a palette for your paints
• Flexible steel palette knife
• Sansodor or other low odour solvent (odourless turpentine substitute for painting)
NO TURPENTINE PLEASE.
• Metal dipper for medium
• A good supply of kitchen roll for cleaning brushes
•something to carry your wet canvas or board home in
Boards or canvases:
• 2 Small (about the size of your object) panels or canvases – It is advisable to bring 2 canvases of the same size to help transport your painting safely home.
• Some interesting objects to paint: nothing too big (max 30 cm). I advise against patterns and symmetrical forms and spheres for beginners, as they take a while to draw. Organic or soft forms (ie plush toy, fruit) are more forgiving to draw. A range of materials is preferred (ie fur, glass, metal, wood, fabric, plastic, etc)