Canvas Panels

• *Four 6" x 8" canvases or canvas panels, *4 or more in other sizes up to 11x14."  Pintura or PANELLI canvas panels are a good quality, and inexpensive.  Fredrix panels, while not "archival quality" are fine for class.

Suggested Brushes

• You do not need many brushes.  I tend to paint with a few large flats, 2 or 3 small filberts and one #1 script brush.  Be sure to buy "Hog Bristle" brushes, and avoid both the soft brushes used by watercolorists and the synthetic brushes. Brush size and quality do not really matter, as long as the artist paints mainly with a large brush of some kind).The "Signet" line by Robert Simmons available at University Art and Aaron Brothers is a good quality (click here to order from Jerry's). Some examples:
  • *1 small brush, such as a # 1 script, # 2 round
  • * 2 large brushes, such as # 8 flat or # 10 flat (or Filbert)
  • * 1 medium-sized palette knife or large paint shaper.

Required Colors (oil paints)

• *Carbon or Mars Black (50 ml small tube for this one, a little black goes a long way),
• *Cadmium Yellow Medium (150 or 250 ml)
• *Cadmium Red Dark (150 or 250 ml)
• *Ultramarine Blue (150 or 250 ml)
• * Titanium White (buy large tube, at least 250 ml)
  

These really are all you need! but you need a fair amount of paint for the kind of painting that Ed and I do, so 150 or 250 ml tubes are a good idea, cheaper paint is fine, but don't buy paint labeled "student grade"---it is too cheap.  You can order Windor & Newton Artists Colors at Jerry's Online, or they are available at University Art or Aaron Brothers.

Unnecessary, but Fun Colors (small tubes- 50 ml)

• Cadmium Yellow Light
• Yellow Ochre
• Phthalo Blue
• Cobalt Blue
  
• Permanent Carmine

*Easel and Palette [easel overview]

Drawing Supplies

• *Small sketch book, at least 4"x6" or larger.  Here's one at Jerry's.
  
• *Pencils, either regular lead or charcoal.  Or, you can use black markers
  

Additional Supplies

• * Odorless Turpentine (Turpenoid brand, DO NOT buy the "Turpinoid Natural" type, it's really ineffective).
• * Paper Towels
• * Paper grocery bags for trash.
• *A folding chair, to sit and enjoy the lecture and demonstrations.
• *Clothing for Outdoors (temperatures vary from cold to hot), Wear Darker Clothing (does not reflect light onto your canvas).
• * Water to drink.
• *Sunscreen and Hat
• * Lunch and snacks-- we will be painting in places where food it hard to obtain, so bring some.

• View Finder.  This small device really helps you restrict your view in the outdoors and focus on one area.  It also has a small punched whole to help you isolate color.  You can buy this one from ViewCatcher.com for $10.50 , or make one yourself out of cardboard.
• A small (make-up sized) mirror (optional)
  
• Rubber/Latex Gloves, to protect your skin from pigments/solvents
  
• Umbrella (Sun or Rain)
• As my college professor said-- to do work outside, you must be comfy!

Places to purchase art supplies

Online sources:

• Jerry's Artarama
• ASW
• Cheap Joes
• Dick Blick
• RayMart
• SourceTek
• Utrect
  

Local Art Stores:

• Aaron Brothers, 1680 El Camino Real, Redwood City CA (650)366-4266
• Accent Arts, 392 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 424-1044
• University Art, University Art - Palo Alto,267 Hamilton Ave.
  Palo Alto, CA 94301 (650) 328-3500
  

Easel Overview

There are many, many brands of outdoor easels out there. We've represented a few here that we have experience with. Also, if you are starting out and don't want to invest in a new easel, Ed has four French easels for rent for $10/day.  Easels come in a wide range of price points:

	Studio RTA Steel Multi-Media Field Easel - $29.95 at Jerry's This is a decent, very inexpensive outdoor easel. It doesn't come with a palette, but you can buy a small wooden palette and attach (Ed can show you how).  There's a link above to buy at Jerry's, but we've also seen this easel at University Art and some Aaron Brother's stores.  Another alternative to this basic is the more fully featured model by SunEden for $98, comes with self, etc).
	JULLIAN PLEIN AIRE FRENCH EASEL -  $99.99 at Jerry's A very traditional, sturdy (albeit heavier) easel.  There are many other brands of this traditional French Easel available at University Art, Aaron Brothers, etc.  It is crafted out of elm wood that finished with a light oil varnish. The sketch box drawer is chrome lined with 4 adjustable sections to adapt to your supplies. It is slightly off-set from the box allowing you to stand the box perfectly flat when folded down. The bottom carriage of the box is finished with a chrome center section allowing you to use this area to store brushes and other gear adding to the utility of the box..  This easel will take finished canvases or paper from 1" - 34-1/4" high and any reasonable width, is adaptable to any painting angle as well as flat, has a built in wet canvas carrier, assembles and disassembles in a couple of minutes without any tools and has shoulder strap loops for easy carrying. Measuring 17-3/4" x 7-3/4" x 24-1/2" and weighing 13 lbs.
	Pochode Boxes -  (Open Box M, Pochade.com, ) These are a very popular alternative to a full (and heavy) easel. You can carry these anywhere.  There are a variety of brands (Open Box M pictured, as well as x, y, z).  They range in price quite a bit.  Open Box M has a nice Student Starter kit $109-$209).  These are very high quality boxes that should last a long time.
	SOLTEK EASELS -  $449.00 at Jerry's This is the "Cadillac" of plein air easels, used by many professionals (including your instructors).  They are not without their quirks (sometimes temperamental), but they are very light, easy to set up, and quite versatile.  This easel comes with a palette, so no need to order separately.