Suggested Materials
You’ll see below a suggested list of materials for this course. I do emphasise the word suggested because although you will need to have some basic painting equipment and something to work on, it’s more important to bring a creative attitude and willingness to experiment than to have exactly the same materials as I’m using. Please have a careful read of the information below.
In the tutorial videos you’ll see me working with the things outlined here but if you have favourite paints or media, I am more than happy for you to use them.
SOURCE MATERIAL
In the demos I’m producing a collection of my own photos and sketchbook work.
Anyone who’s been on my previous courses will be familiar with this but if you haven’t DON’T PANIC. I will make available all the photos, images, sketches and any finished paintings that I’m using as reference for you to use also.
I am equally as happy for you to follow along with what I’m doing in the demos to make your own version of my paintings or for you to work from your own ideas and sketches to make something completely different to what I’m doing.
SOMETHING TO WORK ON
I think it’s important that you decide for yourself what surface you want to work on. If you prefer working on board, canvas or paper, that’s fine with me. If you don’t like square formats and prefer a landscape or portrait format this is also fine with me.
Whatever you choose, having several surfaces to work on is important. They don’t have to be the same size or format but you need to have more that one to work with.
PAINT
I use a very limited palette of acrylic paints in addition to various drawing tools in this workshop. If you are a regular painter I think you’ll probably have these to hand or if not they are readily available.
COLOURS: Black, White, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre
Cadmium Orange (optional), Burnt Sienna, Prussian/Ultramarine Blue
BRUSHES
I’m using mostly decorating brushes in this workshop and as long as you have some kind of stiff (not watercolour) brushes and a big decorating brush
OTHER TOOLS
I use a variety of tools which you may already have. Don’t rush out and spend a fortune if you don’t have exactly what I’m using, a bit of imagination will supply an alternative!
eg. Painting knife, scrapers, rollers (small spongy decorating type), squeegees (the kind you’d use for cleaning your shower)
DRAWING TOOLS
eg. Pencils, Soft Pastels, Oil Pastels, Charcoal etc
COLLAGE MATERIAL
I like to collage onto the paintings to keep the surface lively and exciting. You could experiment with plain/coloured tissue or drawing paper. Anything else you fancy adding to your painting can be great for texture such as found natural materials like grasses, seaweed or sand. This sort of thing you can collect along the way.
GLUE
I use a strong waterproof adhesive for collage (also partly as a medium) If you have a good quality non-washable glue or any acrylic painting medium, you will be fine.
TUBS
Tubs or paint kettles, old soup tins etc
SPRAY BOTTLE
I use an old window cleaning spray bottle that’s rinsed out and filled with water.
LINKS
Here’s some links to the materials and tools above.
This is for reference only and I don’t expect you to buy everything linked below.
Have look and you’ll see that you can probably make do with what you have already.
A lot of the links are for Jackson’s Art here in the UK. I have no affiliation with them and the links are just examples of where I get my own materials.
COURSE STRUCTURE
As in my previous workshops, this course is based around pre-recorded tutorial videos. The format is that you watch these and make work in response at your own pace.
You can upload work as often as you like to the private community group so I can see it and provide feedback and advice. You’ll also be able to see everyone else’s work, chat to the others on the course and read my comments. The groups are always lively and supportive.
ZOOM Q&As
NOTE: these are not teaching or demo Zooms. You can post your questions on the Facebook group for the course. Recordings are added to the workshop for you to view if you can’t make the live times.