PLEIN AIR PREP FOR SUCCESS

I’ll be working in acrylics.

Please visit my You Tube videos on working with acrylics and brushes etc: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaQaygYrBeLq- ywDaSLdIrA

Painting Surfaces

• A selection of 9×12 ,11×14 or 12×16
• I generally demo on less expensive canvas boards  pre-gessoed, (but I usually add a second coat) or ones I make myself sealed (shellac) MDF

Drawing – to make planning/value sketches

• Straight edge or ruler – best is a T square
• Water-soluble coloured pencils – one light colour (white or yellow) one dark colour (black)
• Drawing pad
• Acrylic markers – one light value and one dark value acrylic pen – fine (2 – 4 mm), any brand

Digital Drawing Equipment:

• Don’t buy it but if you have a IPAD with Procreate or Art Rage, or an android (I use Samsung)
• With Art Rage I will be demonstrating its use for plein air

Painting Equipment Acrylic:

• Ideally, I want you to have a holding palette or fishing tackle box in to which you can put out the colours to be used and another surface for mixing – or one large enough to do both
• Palette: ideal for acrylics is Masterson Staywet palette 12×16 with sponge and paper to hold and possibly mix the paint
• I presently am holding my paints in a fishing tackle box – I will demo
• Blue shop towels
• Soap for cleaning brushes – I use Dawn Power Wash spray
• Fine spray water mister paint
• Any artist-grade acrylics or oils
• Your palette should be a split primary (a warm and cool of each primary – red, yellow, blue) plus black and white and the complement of each of those colours – as well any convenience colours you like to use – I add at least a black, white, burnt sienna, hookers or sap green, magenta

Acrylic Palette

As a guide – I do not put all out at one time – but there if I need them.

• Titanium White
• Cad Yellow Light
• Yellow Ochre
• Indian Yellow
• Cad Red Light
• Alizarin Crimson or Quinacradone Violet
• Dioxazine Purple
• Ultramarine blue
• Pthalo Blue – green or red
• Viridian or Pthalo Green or Sap or Hookers
• Neutral Gray value 5
• Burnt Sienna
• Green Gold
• Raw or Burnt Umber
• Ivory or other Black
• Convenience acrylics that I just like to use Liquatex – Light Blue Permanent, Light Blue Violet, Medium Magenta
• Golden Fluids – small bottle – for glazing
• Phthalo Blue – Green or Red Shade and Quinacridone Violet Acrylic Glazing Medium (Golden or Liquitex fine)

Brushes

• I use a mix of synthetics – flats, filberts and brights and a few rounds
• You want a variety of brush types and stiffness for interesting brush strokes and calligraphy
• Have wider and stiffer acrylic brushes for bold blockins –1 ½”
• I particularly like the medium-stiff Opus Legato No 12, 14 and 16
• Opus New Denman brushes are very stiff and designed to move thick acrylic – work well
• Opus Arietta are a softer and a good addition
• Many brands duplicate these – need a mix from stiff to soft and variety of sizes
• Most of mine are flats or brights with a few filberts and rounds
• A favourite of mine is the Princeton series – Catalyst and Aspen ½” and 1″ flats
• I also use watercolour brushes such as Opus Bravara – typical watercolour brush
• I use a variety of riggers or small rounds

Any questions? [email protected]