Painting Materials

Remember: You do not need to purchase this entire list, but these items can be acquired slowly and steadily. Beginner students should begin with the less expensive fundamental painting supplies in the Fundamental Painting Supplies Table, and can choose just a few brushes, for example. Advanced Students can slowly acquire the advanced painting supplies, in the Advanced Painting Supplies Table, which is lower on this page. Pacing yourself is key. As a professional artist, I acquired my current painting setup over many years. So don’t feel pressure.

I have bundled the following lists into Amazon Lists. Simply click, and you will have access to the entire bundle.

The list below, Fundamental Painting Supplies, is PARTIALLY available bundled on Amazon, due to the fact that those items not on Amazon (see Source column) must be purchased at their respective sites. All Amazon items are available at this link: Amazon Fundamental Painting List

Fundamental Painting Supplies Type Size Level Note Quality Source Quantity Price (Estimated)
Canvas, New Traditions Linen Assorted All Levels, Beginner to Advanced Canvas is all important- never, ever, ever paint on cotton canvas. There are many linen panels available on this site for you to choose from. They are handmade canvas, and the price is good, especially if you order several at a time. My favorite common sketch canvas is the “C15 – Gatorfoam”; my favorite high end canvas is the “NL219 – Gatorfoam” Excellent new traditions NA Varies based on which canvas type and size selected
Canvas, Oil Paper, 10 sheets Paper Various sizes available All Levels, but particularly convenient for beginners When you want to do a painting, but do not want to shell out money for a canvas, this is an excellent solution Good amazon 1 31
Palette Wood, not tear away Various sizes available Fundamental Remember: You can simply polyurethane a piece of smooth plywood, for a makeshift palette- I want a palette to be a honey, maple color. Or to get started, you can begin with a beginner palette that is inexpensive, such as this one. I do not recommend “tear away” palettes, they are bright and garish and I personally do not find them pleasant to mix on. Good amazon 1 20
Palette Knives Metal, not plastic Various sizes available Fundamental This is a set of palette knives that are fine for mixing in the early stages of painting Good amazon 1 14
Brushes, Rosemary, set of 15 Assorted Assorted Fundamental Brushes really matter! Don’t cut corners, or you will be wasting your time- better to own a few good brushes, than a bunch of low quality brushes. This is a mixed set of good brushes, for the beginner painter. Good rosemary 1 85
Palette Cups Metal, with lid Whichever size Fundamental Don’t ever buy two pallete cups that are connected- when you want to dump one out, you will wear the other when you tilt it. Buy two individual cups. The screw caps are nice, if you think you might transport the cups. Good amazon 2 12
Gamsol Solvent All Levels, Beginner to Advanced For Cleaning brushes, and thinning paints while painting Good amazon 1 19
DeMayerne Medium Painting Medium 4 oz. All Levels, Beginner to Advanced An excellent medium, my favorite out there, and I’ve tried many. Perfect for fusing, glazing, and generally pleasant in handling and extending Excellent blueridge 1 19
Oil Paint Burnt Umber 40 ml All Levels, Beginner to Advanced Blue Ridge paints are beautiful, well priced, and handmade Excellent blueridge 1 8
Oil Paint Ivory Black 40 ml All Levels, Beginner to Advanced Blue Ridge paints are beautiful, well priced, and handmade Excellent blueridge 1 8
Oil Paint Titanium White  40 ml All Levels, Beginner to Advanced Blue Ridge paints are beautiful, well priced, and handmade Excellent blueridge 1 8
Oil Paint Roman Ochre 40 ml All Levels, Beginner to Advanced Blue Ridge paints are beautiful, well priced, and handmade Excellent blueridge 1 8
Oil Paint Cadmium Red Light 40 ml All Levels, Beginner to Advanced Blue Ridge paints are beautiful, well priced, and handmade Excellent blueridge 1 23
Easel H Frame 92 inches high Fundamental Decent easel that will do fine for basic painting projects Good amazon 1 130
Estimated Cost (Price subject to change) 385

The list below, Advanced Painting Supplies, is PARTIALLY available bundled on Amazon, due to the fact that those items not on Amazon (see Source column) must be purchased at their respective sites. All Amazon items are available at this link: Advanced Painting Supplies Amazon List

Advanced Painting Supplies Type Size Level Note Quality Source Quantity Price (Estimated)
Palette Be sure to order the correct palette- for right handed or left handed. One Size Advanced Located in Florence, Itlay, Zecchi is considered to be one of the best art supply stores in the world, and you can call them, they speak perfect English. Balanced Palettes are very important. This one is balanced so that it easily rests on your thumb. If a palette is not designed well, it can cause nerve damage to hand. Excellent zecchi 1 85
Palette Knife Wood Handle, high quality metal that is somewhere between stiff and springy Purchase a few different knives, at a few different sizes, and see how they feel for you. Advanced Nice spring is important in a good palette knife, especially when you not only mix paint with a palette knife, but also apply paint to the canvas with a palette knife. Excellent amazon 3 7
Rosemary Brushes, Bristle Flat Shape. Different sizes, ranging from size 0 to size 16 Advanced I use these brushes for my decisive moments in painting- from crisp lines in the beginning Excellent rosemary A serious painter may use anywhere from five brushes, to fifty, to a hundred, and this collection is typically gathered over the years. 200
Rosemary Brushes, Sable Filbert Shape. Different sizes, ranging from size 0 to size 12 Advanced These brushes are superb and springy, but soft and responsive as well. They last forever. Excellent rosemary A serious painter may use anywhere from five brushes, to fifty, to a hundred, and this collection is typically gathered over the years. 200
Cornelissen Brushes, Hog Bristle Filbert Shape Different sizes, ranging from size 0 to size 12 Advanced These brushes have a perfect snap for both applying the paint, and manipulating the paint on the canvas. I use these heavily in portrait painting. Excellent cornelissen A serious painter may use anywhere from five brushes, to fifty, to a hundred, and this collection is typically gathered over the years. 200
Easel This is a strong easel, and capable of handling heavier canvases, and accommodating fairly large canvases Mid Sized Studio Easel Advanced I like this easel, and have one in my studio. Though I own another much bigger and more versatile, this easel is perfect for small to mid sized projects, even some larger projects. Important: this is a ratcheting easel, in that the pegs in the center mast act as notches to hold the canvas- this is an excellent feature, and does not require hand tightening knobs. The knobs of other types of easels wear out in time, and require hand strength that younger and older students may not have. Excellent amazon 1 240
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Flake White 150 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 42
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Ivory Black 150 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 19
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Yellow Ochre 150 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 19
Oil paint, Michael Harding Naples Yellow. An essential color on my palette, which I cannot do without when painting flesh tones. 40 ml Advanced Michael Harding makes an excellent Naples Yellow Dark, that has a rich pigment load. This is an important color in my flesh tone palette. Excellent amazon 1 70
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Cadmium Red Light 40 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 23
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Cadmium Red Medium 40 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 23
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Raw Umber 150 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 19
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Cadmium Yellow Light 40 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 21
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Cadmium Yellow Medium 40 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 21
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Cadmium Orange Medium 40 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 21
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Cerulean Blue 40 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 23
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Cobalt Blue 40 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 23
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Ultramarine Blue 40 ml Advanced Blue Ridge handmade paints have a balanced body that is neither too stiff nor too runny, and are well priced. Excellent blueridge 1 8
Oil Paint, Blue Ridge Ultramarine Blue Deep 40 ml Advanced Old Holland paint. This is a color introduced to me by a friend who is a professional plein air painter. He regarded it as being an essential color, owing to its ability to be mixed with Cadmium Yellow Medium and Cadmium Red Medium, for resonant, deep shadows. I’ve come to agree. Excellent blueridge 1 17
Oil Paint, Michael Harding Genine Chinese Vermimillion. Important: though a favorite color of mine, I would regard this not as being essential for students, but as a color that can be replaced with Blue Ridge Cadmium Red Light, which is less expensive. 40 ml Advanced Michael Harding makes an excellent Naples Yellow Dark, that has a rich pigment load. This is an important color in my flesh tone palette. Excellent dick blick 1 81
Oil Paint, Old Holland Light Red. Not essential, but a paint that I do like for a very specific task, in laying in. 40 ml Advanced Old Holland has this sleepy, brick like red that I use in early stages of painting. It’s not loud, but it is important for the early “dead colors” that I like to lay in quickly with. Excellent https://www.amazon.com/Old-Holland-Classic-Colours-light/dp/B001PTCTXQ/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=Light+Red+old+holland&qid=1600304639&s=arts-crafts&sr=1-10 1 13
Estimated Cost (prices subject to change) 1423

Showing all 4 results