Oil Painting for Absolute Beginners

Instructors: Zen Browne, Anthony DiPaola, Chris Wright, Shima Rabiee

Please Note:

• Gamsol will be provided by the Art Center for in-person classes (the cost is included in the cost of the class). It is the safest and only solvent permitted in our studios, though it can still be harmful. Please always follow the posted instructions for safe Gamsol use and recycling:
  • At no reason should Gamsol be poured down sink drains. It is extremely toxic to our water system and environment.
• In order to maintain healthy, safe, and environmentally conscious studios the following materials ARE NOT PERMITTED in the 92NY Art Center: Lavender Oil; Turpentine; Liquin, Neo-Meglip, Galkyd, or any other petroleum based medium; varnish or retouch varnish; any other solvent beside Gamsol.

General Supply List (please see additions for specific teachers below):

• 3-4 pre-stretched canvases sized 16”x 20” or 18” x 24” * only 1 is needed for the first class
• 5 -7 bore bristle or synthetic brushes - a combination of bristle and synthetic brushes is recommended, but students should feel free to buy one or the other, as their tastes see fit. (Do not purchase nylon brushes or brushes designated for acrylic paint.)
  • Select a range of sizes, small and large (from #2 to #10) for: Flats, Rounds & Filberts.
  • Recommended selection to start: Rounds: #2, #8, #10; Filberts: #6; Flats: #10
• 1 metal palette knife (approximately the length of your thumb or longer)
• 1 drawing pencil (HB)
• 1 eraser (Kneaded)
• 1 box of latex gloves
• 1 small glass or metal jar with lid
• Small bottle of Stand or Linseed oil
• Cotton rags or Bounty paper towels
• Apron or overshirt to protect your clothes
• Disposable paper palette
• Student grade oil paints (small tubes)
• Ex: Gamblin 1980, Utrecht, Winton (you can invest in artist grade if you would like)
  • Alizarin crimson
  • Cadmium red medium
  • Cadmium Yellow
  • Cerulean
  • Lemon Yellow
  • Cadmium Orange
  • Permanent green light
  • Raw umber
  • Titanium White (large tube)
  • Ultramarine Blue
  • Additional colors are encouraged but not required

Additional Supplies for Anthony DiPaola:

• 1 roll of blue painter’s tape (optional)
• 1 box of latex gloves (optional)

Additional Supplies for Zen Browne:

• A sketchbook (for notes and sketches), preferably pocket size
• General’s Charcoal Drawing Assortment Set, which includes:
  • 2 charcoal pencils with premium incense Cedar wood barrels
  • 3 compressed charcoal sticks
  • 4 willow charcoal sticks
• Chunky Charcoal  1 large stick
• Strathmore 300 Series Newsprint Pads Rough 18” x 24”
• Natural Artist Chamois
• Artist grade oil paints (Small tubes):
  • Burnt umber
  • Viridian

Supplies for Shima Rabiee

• Brushes (recommended): Assortment of flat and round synthetic bristle brushes:
  • Royal Langnickel Soft Grip Golden Taklon Brush Set - Starter, Short Handle, Set of 5
  • Royal Langnickel Soft Grip Golden Taklon Brush Set - Flat, Short Handle, Set of 5
  • Robert Simmons Signet Brush - Flat, Long Handle, Size 2
• Canvas (recommended): 4 Blick Studio Cotton Canvas Panels - 9” x 12”, Pkg of 5
• (optional) Palette: Masterson Sta-Wet Palette Seal 12”x16”
• (optional) New Wave Posh Glass Tabletop Palette-12”x16”, White
• (optional) Excel Blades K11 Hand-Held Scraper With Blades
• (optional) Blick Painting Knife - Small Spade 46