Preparing for Watercolor Workshops at Sequoia Gallery in Hillsboro

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP

with Angela  Wrahtz  Fall 2015

Basic Supplies List:

PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH YOU!

· 1 Spiral Watercolor Sketchbook. (for experimenting and practice.)

I love the Strathmore “Windpower Watercolor, Cold Press & Acid Free” kind (red cover) and are 9” x 12” in size and contain 15 sheets at 140lbs per sheet weight.  If you go with a different brand, look for “140lb cold press” as the quality of the paper is everything...poor paper quality will compromise your results.

· Watercolor Brushes.  These brushes are the important items to  get and bring!

Come with a few good watercolor brushes in various sizes, including a round #4, a round #6 or #8, and a round #10. Get brushes which use a blend of natural and synthetic fiber. (The brush will say “sable/synthetic” — these load well and have a nice spring. Floppy limp brushes will let you down.) I’ll share more about brushes at the first class and let you try some of mine throughout the workshop so you can decide what other brushes you might want to buy down the road.

· Pens.  

Bring a few black Sharpies (Fine Point and Ultra Fine Point). I will have some for use in class, but you will want your own. If you have other favorite pens to bring, do so. If you are buying new, always choose permanent ink pens. You don’t want your penwork to bleed when we use watercolors! OK to also bring other colors and brands with varying size tips. If you think you will want to embellish your artwork with fine detail and intricate line work, bring a 5-pack of Prismacolor Premier Pens (sizes included: 005, 01,03, 05, and 08) or similar.

· Other.  I will bring most other supplies you’ll want to use, but in your bag, please also bring a pencil, a gummed eraser, and a ruler.

· Watercolor Paints.

I will bring a custom tray of professional grade paints for you to use in the workshop. The tray will include a range of warm, cool, and neutral colors by M. Graham.  If you have good quality paints and would like to bring them, please do so.

 

Expanded Supplies List

PLEASE NOTE:      THE FOLLOWING IS INFORMATIONAL SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT SUPPLIES WE ARE USING IN THE WORKSHOP. THESE ARE MY RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT TO BUY FOR YOURSELF FOR MORE PAINTING AFTER THE WORKSHOP. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY/BRING THESE ITEMS. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO USE IN THE WORKSHOP. If you want your own supplies to work from, then bring as much of this as you want!

Watercolor Paper:

·         Watercolor paper, Arches #140 lb Cold Pressed. It is best to purchase in full sheets and tear down to size for projects and/or to cut down to size because that is most cost effective.  Watercolor Blocks are OK too.

Paint Brushes:

I am advocate of trying all kinds of things whether expensive or not. Get the best you can afford but if you can’t justify an expensive brush then get something that seems similar for less and don’t feel badly about it.

·         Quality  paint brushes, suggested sizes: Round #2, #4, #6, #8 and #10

·         2” Squirrel Hair (or all natural hair) Flat wash brush—all squirrel hair is spendy but worth it; get a 2” flat wash brush that fits your budget if squirrel hair is too much…Put the squirrel hair one on a future xmas list.

·         1” Flat wash brush – natural hair

·         ¾” Connoisseur Risslon Oval Wash—also known as a “Cat’s Tongue” brush. These come in all sizes. ½” or ¾” is great for most work and this will become your favorite brush…also not cheap sad to say. I suggest Connoisseur because I have purchased other brands (same price) and they shed brush hairs which gets annoying.

Professional-Grade Watercolor Paints by M. Graham & Co.:

YELLOWS & GOLDS: ·         Azo Yellow ·         Nickel Quinacridone Gold ·         Gamboge ·         Raw Sienna ·         Burnt Sienna

REDS: ·         Quinacridone Rose ·         Quinacridone Red ·         Naphthol Red ·         Cadmium Red ·         Maroon Perylene

BLUES: ·         Ultramarine Blue ·         Manganese Blue ·         Prussian Blue ·         Cobalt Blue

OTHER HELPFUL COLORS: ·         Hookers Green ·         Pale Green Light ·         Peynes Gray ·         Dioxazine Purple ·         Quinacridone Violet ·         Burnt Umber

Other Useful Items:

·         Watercolor Palette with Lid—20 wells for paint or more will be great foundation to work from

·         Permanent Pens, Pencil, Eraser and Ruler, Graphite Paper for tracing down images

·         Small old wash cloth or towel to dab and dry brushes

·         Roll of paper towel or toilet tissue for blotting

·         Drafting tape or frog tape

·         Small spray bottle

·         Ziplock bag to keep things in.