Watercolor | Buis

How to Paint in Watercolor | Nancy Buis - Supply List


I order online at www.cheapjoes.com, www.jerrysartarama.com, or www.dickblick.com. It is much cheaper if you don’t need it “now”.


Watercolor Paper

• Use 140 lb or thicker paper specifically made for watercolor; any texture is fine. Hot press (smoother surface and a bit harder to control) or cold press (more texture) watercolor paper.
• Watercolor paper comes in single sheets, bound on one edge as a pad, or bound on all 4 sides in a “block”. Using a watercolor block will eliminate the need for a mounting board and roll of painters tape.
• Our class will be working on “1/4 sheet” size paper, so you can either buy 22x30 sheets and cut them in fourths to give you 4 11x15 pieces, or an 11x14 block, or 15x20 pad and cut them in half for 10x15 pieces. A couple inches either way is fine.
• Note: If you are not using a block, and are using 140 lb paper, you will need to mount it with painters tape to a hard board (gator board or another hard sealed surface) larger than your paper. (at least 14x18”)

Palette

• I use a large white enameled butcher tray for mixing and a palette with 16 wells to separate paints, but I started using a piece of glass and it worked fine for many years. Some palettes have lids that will keep paints moist, although plastic wrap will also work.

Brushes

• Flat -  1/2”, 1”
• Round - #3, #6, #10, #12
• I have Kolinsky sable, squirrel, and synthetic brushes. As long as the rounds come to a good point, they should be fine.

Tube Paints

• If you already have paints and are happy with them, don’t buy new. If you will be buying paints, consider smaller artist or professional grade tubes until you find colors you like.
• These are the colors I use the most, although each artist will settle on their own palette.                                Winsor-Newton (WN), Holbein (H)

• WN Thalo Blue (Winsor Blue)
• WN Cerulean Blue
• WN French Ultramarine Blue
• H Cobalt Blue
• WN Alizarin Crimson
• WN Rose Madder Genuine
• WN Thalo Green (Winsor Green)
• WN Transparent Yellow
• WN Aureolin
• WN Burnt Sienna

Other Watercolor Tools

• *Mounting board (at least 14x18)
• *Roll of blue 1” wide painters tape
• Rag to blot brush
• Paper Towel and/or tissue without aloe or lotion
• Spray bottle
• Water container
• Pencil and pen
• Graphite (wax free) transfer paper (comes in sheets or roll)
• Masking fluid. There are many good brands. I have had good luck with a masking pen. Here’s a link to the one I recently used. https://www.cheapjoes.com/masquepen-art-masking-fluid-and-refill.html. If you do not use a “pen”, you will need an old or inexpensive small brush with a good point to apply the masking fluid.

*If you are using a watercolor paper “block” you will not need mounting board and tape.

If you have any questions, I am happy to help. Nancy’s Cell: 708.261.6705