These items are suggested, not mandatory.

If you already have other supplies you like to use, feel free to bring those. All you really need to are the basics- paper, paints, brushes, something to mix on and cups for water. 

·         Watercolor Paper- Paper quality does make a big difference in watercolor. If there is one place not to cut corners it’s on paper.  Some of the cheaper papers just don’t absorb the paint the way the better papers do, so using better paper will give you better results and will be easier to work with. 140lb cold press - Arches brand  preferable. I find the blocks are easy to use .I suggest Arches 12 x 16 or 10 x 14 or 7 x 10. If you prefer to use loose sheets and have a board to attach them to, then that is fine too. 

·         Palette – any plastic palette suitable for watercolors (w/cover) [John Pike or Robert Wood are great options]- if you’re just starting out- a simple white china/plastic plate or inexpensive palette is okay- just make sure it has some room to mix colors on. 

·         Paints – Here are some suggested colors ( Sennelier, Holbein, Daniel Smith or Winsor-Newton  brands preferable, but other brands fine unless noted).  Artist’s quality paints will get you much better results than student grade- but either will work. Again these are just suggestions there’s nothing you absolutely have to have. Also, if just starting out, it’s fine to buy the smaller size tubes to keep the cost down. At an absolute minimum you’ll need a red, yellow, blue and burnt sienna, and thalo or winsor green but if you can get a broader range of paints, these are very useful colors to have: 

o        Lemon Yellow or Aureolin
o        New Gamboge or Indian Yellow*
o        Cadmium Orange
o        Raw Sienna or Yellow Ochre* or Quinacridone Gold
o        Burnt Sienna*
o        Burnt Umber* or Sepia
o        Permanent or Quinacridone Red*
o        Alizarin Crimson*
o  Permanent Rose
o        Sap Green*
o        Winsor or Thalo Green*(preferable to viridian or hookers green)
o        Winsor or Thalo Blue
o        Cerulean Blue( Grumbacher if possible)
o        Ultramarine Blue*
o        Cobalt Blue*
o        Winsor or Dioxizine Violet 

     *Indicates suggested minimum palette

 ·         Sketchbook  or just some blank unlined paper is okay(anything to draw quick sketches on)( 8x 10 or 5 x 7 size okay- don’t need to get anything too large- will use for thumbnail sketches)

·         Brushes – round (size 6, 10 or 12), flat (½”, 1”or 2” for washes), rigger .Synthetics or blends are fine.  No need to spend extra for sable. If you want to start out with just a couple of brushes get a #10 round and an ½ inch flat

 ·         Miscellaneous Tools

o         2 plastic containers for water
o         #2 Pencil, sharpener, eraser
o         Masking tape
o         Tissues/Paper towels
o         A cut up credit card

It is important to bring some photo’s of subjects you’d like to paint as reference.  Keep an envelope with a few favorite photo’s so that you have options to choose from.

 Feel free to contact me before you buy supplies if you are new to watercolor or have any questions. Pat Fiorello(404-531-4160 or patfiorello@aol.com)

Look forward to painting with you soon! 
Pat