Portrait Painting

Instructor: Nancy Johnson

Students may choose to work with oil paints, acrylic, watercolor or whatever medium is most convenient to use.

Supply List:

• Canvas: 16" x 20" or 18” x 24” (1 canvas per 4 week session)
• Oil Paints: Gamblin is an excellent brand, but depending on what fits your budget, you may choose from a lower professional grade from Blick or a higher end brand like Williamsburg, Rembrandt, Old Holland and Sennelier. Do not purchase any colors that say “hue”.
• Colors:
  • Cadmium Yellow Light (optional)
  • Cadmium Yellow Medium
  • Cadmium Red
  • Venetian Red
  • Alizarin Red
  • Quinacridone magenta (optional)
  • Ultramarine Blue
  • Pthalo Turquoise (optional)
  • Veridian
  • Titanium White
• Oil Paint Brushes: Filberts are good all-purpose brushes.
• For general use, natural bristles sizes 10 & 12
• For detail work, sizes 4, 6, and 10 are recommended (masterstroke by Blick has good synthetic sable brushes)
• Acrylic Paints: Liquitex Heavy Body or Gold Heavy Body are recommended brands. Avoid purchasing “hues”
  • Cadmium Yellow Medium
  • Ultramarine Blue
  • Veridian
  • Venetian Red
  • Alizarin Crimson
  • White
  • Pthalo Turquoise (optional)
  • Quinacridone Magenta (optional)
• Acrylic Paint Brushes: Get a variety of filberts synthetic brushes, sizes: 4, 6, 10, 12 alternatively a variety pack is good for trying out different sizes and styles.
• Golden Retarder – this is an additive that extends the working time of acrylic paints.
• Spray bottle to keep paints wet
• Watercolor: Best choice for the price is tube paints from Van Gogh, in this case there are not many cadmiums, so the hues are fine. You can choose a higher quality brands such as Winsor Newton, Rembrandt, Sennelier. Additionally, you may use pan palettes from Winsor Newton or Van Gogh.
• Colors: Cadmium yellow light, cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red light, venetian red, alizarin crimson, quinacridone magenta, ultramarine blue, viridian, Chinese white.
• Watercolor Brushes: a variety of brushes including a 3/8” angle, 1” flat and some rounds: 6,8, 12
• Watercolor Paper – Hot pressed (smooth) watercolor block at least 14X20, 16X20 or 18X24. Arches is recommended, but Blick also has decent options at more affordable prices.