Materials list for Intermediate Watercolour Class

Paper

Working on good watercolour paper makes all the difference to your painting experience and success. Please get 100% cotton watercolour paper, cold pressed. Paper must be 300gsm (140lb). 10x14 inches is the ideal size, but a smaller size (eg. 9x12 inches) will also be useful so that you have options. (If working in metric, this means roughly A3 and A4). There are various brands to choose from. It is usually cheaper per page if you buy a larger size and cut it down. The best painting experience is if you buy a “block” that is glued on all sides. If using a block, it’s useful to have two or more, so that while one is drying, you can work on another one.

We will also do lots of warmups, so please also bring cheaper watercolour paper, this doesn’t have to be 100% cotton.

Brushes

  1. Hake Brush. For painting skies and other large areas, you will need a Hake Brush. I recommend this 1 inch (24mm) one from Jacksons Art: https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-artist-hake-white-goat-hair-brush-flat-1in-24mm.
    Please note that when you first open this brush, there is a strong smell, as the bristles are goats’ hair. Please open and take yours for a test drive before the first class, otherwise the smell will be terrible!

  2. Large round. I recommend this one: https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-icon-sable-synthetic-watercolour-brush-quill-no-2

  3. Small size 6 round - any synthetic brush is fine

  4. A rigger brush, like this: https://www.jacksonsart.com/pro-arte-ms-prolon-series-64-synthetic-brush-half-rigger-size-2-0 is good for making very fine lines.

  5. An old oil or acrylic brush (large, round) is useful for lifting techniques, if you have one.

DRAWING BOARD/STRETCHER

Unless you are painting on watercolour blocks, you will need a board to tape your paper onto. It needs to be slightly bigger than your paper.

PAINTS

It’s up to you whether to use pans or tubes. Professional-quality paints will give you a much better painting experience, as professional paints are more highly pigmented and give richer colour than student-grade paints. Winsor and Newton Professional, or Daniel Smith, or Holbein would be an excellent choice. You could start with a few colours and build your collection gradually. Below are some suggestions to get you started:

OTHER esential ITEMS

  • A ceramic palette. I like a flat palette, but it’s fine to get one with sections if you prefer. The bigger the better.

  • Two water jars

  • Kitchen Towel

  • Toilet paper

  • Masking tape: low tack tape works best. Or artist’s washi tape.

  • Some rags (eg an old T-shirt cut up) - these can save on wasting kitchen towel and toilet paper

  • A hard pencil (something in the “H” range)

  • A soft eraser

  • A cutting mat, ruler and craft knife

  • White acrylic or gouache paint

  • Spray bottle of water

USeful but not essential items:

  • Masking Fluid, eg. https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/daler-rowney-art-masking-fluid-75ml/5636061000.html (Please note, you can also get “Permanent Masking Fluid”, which is non-removable… for now, don’t get the permanent one, you want the removable version!)

  • Watercolour pencil crayons are useful for drawing first when painting landscapes

  • Toothpicks or earbuds (for applying masking fluid)

  • Baking paper (for using with masking fluid)

  • Individual ceramic saucers for mixing washes, or a palette that has large wells in it.

  • Palette knife - smaller rather than larger, preferably diamond or oval shaped.

  • Small “mister” bottle of water

  • 3/4 inch flat watercolour brush

  • A natural sponge can be useful for foliage.