Materials List – Oil Painting

Oil Painting Materials

We will be discussing materials in the first class, but this will give you some ideas. Anything you don’t have you will be able to borrow until you get your own. You will be able to use any materials you already have- they don’t need to be exactly the same as on my list.

If you’re looking for a SENSIBLE STARTER SELECTION of colours, try just those listed in bold from the list below.

For anyone interested, below is the full range I use. Transparent colours (for glazing techniques) are marked (T).

Winton brand are fine for most colours, whereas Cadmium colours (Yellows, Reds and Oranges) are much stronger in artist’s quality if you can afford them and you’re not painting very thickly. I don’t use water-mixable oils but many people do and they are great.

  • Titanium White – Large tube(200ml) 
  • Chromatic Colours
    • Cadmium Yellow Light,
    • Winsor Yellow (T) or Lemon Yellow (T) or Indian Yellow (T)
    • Cadmium Yellow
    • Cadmium Orange
    • Cadmium Red or Cadmium Scarlet
    • Permanent Rose (T) or Permanent Alizarin Crimson (T)
    • Magenta or Quinacridone Purple (T)
    • Phthalo Blue (T)
    • Ultramarine Blue (T)
    • Viridian Hue (T)
    • Permanent Green Light

Earth Colours

  • Yellow Ochre
  • Indian Red or Mars Violet Deep
  • Burnt Sienna (T) or Transparent Oxide Red (T)
  • Raw Umber or Van Dyck Brown
  • Ivory Black

SUITABLE SUPPORTS

Hardboard primed with Acrylic Primer (Gesso). I use white – faced hardboard primed twice on the brown side.

Stretched Canvas / Canvas Board

Heavy Watercolour paper primed with Acrylic Gesso

NOTE: Many cheaper canvases and canvas boards are very absorbent and would benefit from an additional coat of gesso.

Linen is nice to try at least once in your life.

BRUSHES

BRUSHES

You need at least 12 brushes, long handles preferred. You can of course use any brand. I sell packs of Rosemary Brushes in class.

Hog hair sizes 2 – 10 (e.g. Rosemary and Co, Chungking Bristle)

Synthetic hair sizes 0 – 2 (e.g Rosemary and Co, Ivory Range)

PALETTE KNIFE with cranked handle. I like Winsor and Newton Number 21.

PALETTE (any smooth, non absorbent surface, preferably 12” x 16” or larger)

DIPPER (container for holding solvent)

Low Odour Thinners / Zest It / Low Odour Turpentine

LINSEED OIL (You may also want to try LIQUIN)

RAGS / Good quality kitchen tissue (such as “Plenty”)

SCRAP PAPER to wipe palette knife on

SQUEEGEE – could be an old credit card or piece of card