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Painting Supplies List
For your convenience, I've compiled a list of the recommended painting supplies that I regularly use. I hope this helps save you time and money! Each of these products links to Blick, Michaels, or Amazon, whoever has the lowest price. (Please note that this page contains affiliate links. Click here to see my affiliate link disclosure.)
Supports
$ Best of the affordable canvases
Every teacher and professional artist I know will tell you the same thing: buy the best quality supplies that you can afford. These cotton canvases made by Blick have some texture and are great for acrylic paint, heavier applications of mediums, and abstract pieces. The canvases are back-stapled to the frames, which makes it easy to remove if re-framing is ever needed in the future.
Specs: cotton, 10 oz primed, variety of depths, acid free.
Note: if you are looking for something even sturdier and with a smoother surface ideal for realistic work, check out the Masterpiece Tahoe and Elite Heavyweight canvases also listed here.
Specs: cotton, 10 oz primed, variety of depths, acid free.
Note: if you are looking for something even sturdier and with a smoother surface ideal for realistic work, check out the Masterpiece Tahoe and Elite Heavyweight canvases also listed here.
$$ Best of the middle priced canvases
Masterpiece canvases are built to last. The Tahoe canvases have a supple and smooth finish, which is great for more detailed paintings. The construction of these canvases is extremely sturdy and like the Blick Premier canvases, the Tahoe canvases are back-stapled to the frames.
Specs: cotton, 14.6 oz primed, 1.5 inches deep, archival and acid free.
Note: these canvases are about 2-3 times the price of the Blick Premier canvases. They are definitely worth the money depending on what you are working on and where your painting might end up. If you aren't sure what canvas is the best fit for what you are trying to accomplish, go to a speciality art store and talk to someone there and tell them what you want to do. Take canvases off of the shelves and compare them, see how they are constructed and how the different surfaces feel.
Specs: cotton, 14.6 oz primed, 1.5 inches deep, archival and acid free.
Note: these canvases are about 2-3 times the price of the Blick Premier canvases. They are definitely worth the money depending on what you are working on and where your painting might end up. If you aren't sure what canvas is the best fit for what you are trying to accomplish, go to a speciality art store and talk to someone there and tell them what you want to do. Take canvases off of the shelves and compare them, see how they are constructed and how the different surfaces feel.
$$$ Best of the expensive canvases
Masterpiece Elite Heavyweight Oil Primed Linen canvases are similarly constructed to the Tahoe canvases but are made with linen rather than cotton. Linen - especially Belgian linen - is more expensive than cotton and some artists prefer linen for its greater historical durability. Linen is made from flax fibers, which are longer, stronger, and more flexible than cotton fibers and have more natural oil in them, making them less prone to damage from humidity.
The Elite canvases are about twice the price of the Tahoe canvases. If you are looking for a very smooth linen canvas surface of the highest quality, go with the Masterpiece Elite Portrait Smooth Linen canvases.
Specs: linen, 18.3 oz primed, 1.5 inches deep, archival and acid free. Suitable for oils and water mixable oils.
Note that there is also an acrylic primed version of this canvas, which is suitable for both acrylic and oil paint.
The Elite canvases are about twice the price of the Tahoe canvases. If you are looking for a very smooth linen canvas surface of the highest quality, go with the Masterpiece Elite Portrait Smooth Linen canvases.
Specs: linen, 18.3 oz primed, 1.5 inches deep, archival and acid free. Suitable for oils and water mixable oils.
Note that there is also an acrylic primed version of this canvas, which is suitable for both acrylic and oil paint.
Best Oil Primed Linen Panels - Masterpiece Ventura Hardcore Pro Canvas Panels
These linen canvas panels are smooth with a slightly uneven texture due to the nature of the linen fibers. The linen benefits from the rigid stability of the support and the 1/8th inch thickness makes these panels easily frame-able. Sizes only go up to 20 x 24 inches.
Notes: This linen is alkyd-oil primed, so is only suitable for oil based paints. The linen offers more "tooth" than plain hardwood and hardboard alone.
Masterpiece offers canvas panel options. The Malibu, Ventura, Poiters Artfix, and Pau Artfix panels all have a lovely smooth finish. If you would like a medium texture, try the Santa Cruz panels. Be sure to choose the correct ground (i.e. acrylic primed or oil primed) based on the medium or mediums that you intend to use.
A note on grounds: Virgil Elliott, author of Traditional Oil Painting, remarked, "The alkyd-based grounds show every indication of outperforming even the highly permanent traditional ground of white lead in linseed oil." Read more here: https://artrenewal.org/Article/Title/technical-column-virgil-elliott
Notes: This linen is alkyd-oil primed, so is only suitable for oil based paints. The linen offers more "tooth" than plain hardwood and hardboard alone.
Masterpiece offers canvas panel options. The Malibu, Ventura, Poiters Artfix, and Pau Artfix panels all have a lovely smooth finish. If you would like a medium texture, try the Santa Cruz panels. Be sure to choose the correct ground (i.e. acrylic primed or oil primed) based on the medium or mediums that you intend to use.
A note on grounds: Virgil Elliott, author of Traditional Oil Painting, remarked, "The alkyd-based grounds show every indication of outperforming even the highly permanent traditional ground of white lead in linseed oil." Read more here: https://artrenewal.org/Article/Title/technical-column-virgil-elliott
Golden Gesso
I use additional layers of gesso on canvases when I'm looking for a smoother surface to paint on and to prime hardwoods and hardboards prior to painting. I'm a big fan of Golden products and especially recommend their gesso and heavy body acrylic paint. If you're going to buy this you will also want to buy the assorted sandpaper pack to ensure an even surface after gessoing.
Note for those using unprimed hardwood or hardboard panels, apply sealer (Golden Gloss Medium) prior to applying gesso. Learn more here: https://ampersandart.com/full/priming-wood-panels-with-acrylic-gesso-or-oil-grounds
Note for those planning to paint with oils on top of acrylic gesso: over time oil paint becomes more brittle and less flexible than acrylic paint. If you are painting on a non-rigid support like a canvas the difference in flexibility may cause the oil paint layer to separate. This tends to be less of an issue with rigid supports such as hardboard. Golden maintains that their acrylic gesso is a perfectly fine foundation for oil painting and suggests applying at least three coats of gesso to control the penetration of oil paint.
Learn more here:
https://education.goldenpaints.com/technicalinfo_oil_over_acrylic
And here:
https://www.goldenpaints.com/technicalinfo/technicalinfo_gesso
Golden Gesso does not contain Zinc White, only Titanium White: https://goldenartistcolors.com/resources/black-and-white-gesso
Note for those using unprimed hardwood or hardboard panels, apply sealer (Golden Gloss Medium) prior to applying gesso. Learn more here: https://ampersandart.com/full/priming-wood-panels-with-acrylic-gesso-or-oil-grounds
Note for those planning to paint with oils on top of acrylic gesso: over time oil paint becomes more brittle and less flexible than acrylic paint. If you are painting on a non-rigid support like a canvas the difference in flexibility may cause the oil paint layer to separate. This tends to be less of an issue with rigid supports such as hardboard. Golden maintains that their acrylic gesso is a perfectly fine foundation for oil painting and suggests applying at least three coats of gesso to control the penetration of oil paint.
Learn more here:
https://education.goldenpaints.com/technicalinfo_oil_over_acrylic
And here:
https://www.goldenpaints.com/technicalinfo/technicalinfo_gesso
Golden Gesso does not contain Zinc White, only Titanium White: https://goldenartistcolors.com/resources/black-and-white-gesso
3M Assorted Sandpaper
Buy this assorted sandpaper pack to smooth painting surfaces after applying additional coats of gesso. I would recommend using a medium grit first and then a fine or very grit after that, gently rubbing the painting surface in a circular motion to remove any ridges or bumps.
Strathmore Bristol Vellum Paper 300 Series
This is a lovely smooth paper that works well for any kind of illustration involving pencil or ink mediums. I use it primarily for gouache and pastel paintings. This paper is acid free.
Arches Cover Paper
Made from 100% cotton, acid free, and ph neutral, arches cover paper is a wonderful surface for gouache, ink, and pencil. You can even run the paper through some printers and use it for bookmaking.
Note: this paper has a slight texture. If you want a super smooth surface, go with the Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper.
Note: this paper has a slight texture. If you want a super smooth surface, go with the Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper.
Brushes & Mediums
In the video above, I discuss the 12 staple colors currently on my palette. You can view and download these colors as a PDF or click on the individual paints below:
- Transparent Oxide Yellow (PY42)
If you're new to oil painting and feel overwhelmed, try the limited palette example below, which has just 6 colors - PDF:
I have also created a list of what I consider to be the best pigments available if you'd like to create your own unique color palette. You can access that chart and download it as a PDF here.
Below are the brushes, oil paints, and mediums that I recommend:
Silverwhite brushes
Some artists prefer to use natural animal hair or bristle brushes, however, I find that while those may hold more paint they don't maintain their tips especially in the smaller sizes. They also tend to shed more hairs into my work. I prefer synthetic brushes because of this and Silverwhite is the brand that I find myself coming back to. These brushes are not very expensive and have lasted me a long time. The smaller angular shader brushes in particular are superior to other brands. Short handled brushes are my preference - I find them easier to manipulate than long handle ones, which I find myself having to maneuver around.
Michael Harding Artists Oil Paint
Between Michael Harding's Artists Oil Paints and Rublev, I find that I am able to create a complete and wonderfully vivid palette. Both of these brands use linseed oil as their binder and neither uses fillers, extenders, or dryers. They also have a more "buttery" consistency than other brands, which can be stiffer out of the tube.
Formulas vary between manufacturers and you may prefer working with one over another or notice different results with the same pigments. It's worth it to research different brands of artist's oil paint to figure out what you like and which lines suit the way that you paint.
Other brands to look at include:
- Gamblin (Linseed oil)
- Grumbacher (Linseed oil)
- M. Graham (Walnut oil)
- Old Holland (Linseed oil)
- Vasari (Linseed oil)
Formulas vary between manufacturers and you may prefer working with one over another or notice different results with the same pigments. It's worth it to research different brands of artist's oil paint to figure out what you like and which lines suit the way that you paint.
Other brands to look at include:
- Gamblin (Linseed oil)
- Grumbacher (Linseed oil)
- M. Graham (Walnut oil)
- Old Holland (Linseed oil)
- Vasari (Linseed oil)
Rublev Oil Paint
Rublev oil paints are unique. Like Michael Harding's, they contain just pigment and linseed oil, no fillers, extenders, or driers. Some of the colors are incredibly vivid and so luscious to paint with. The Cadmium Yellow Light and Cadmium Orange are now staples on my palette.
Gamblin Refined Linseed Oil
I am moving towards solvent-free painting and have found Refined Linseed Oil to be an excellent choice for thinning paint. For hundreds of years, linseed oil has been the primary binder for oil paint. If you check out the ingredient list on the tubes of most oil paints, you will see it there along with safflower oil sometimes.
Notes: safflower oil and linseed oil both slow down drying times, which can be good or a pain depending on what you are trying to accomplish. It’s generally not recommended to mix very much stand alone oil or any other medium in with oil paint. Also be sure to follow the fat-over-lean principle for best long-term results (i.e. the thinnest and least oily layer of paint should be on the bottom and the thickest and/or oiliest layer of paint should be on the top).
It’s also a good idea to get a designated oily metal trash can to dispose of rags or paper towels that are saturated with oil and oil paint. I have a good option listed below.
Notes: safflower oil and linseed oil both slow down drying times, which can be good or a pain depending on what you are trying to accomplish. It’s generally not recommended to mix very much stand alone oil or any other medium in with oil paint. Also be sure to follow the fat-over-lean principle for best long-term results (i.e. the thinnest and least oily layer of paint should be on the bottom and the thickest and/or oiliest layer of paint should be on the top).
It’s also a good idea to get a designated oily metal trash can to dispose of rags or paper towels that are saturated with oil and oil paint. I have a good option listed below.
Turpenoid Natural
I use Turpenoid Natural as a non-toxic turpentine substitute for cleaning my palette and excess oil paint off of brushes before using the Masters Brush Cleaner to get any remaining paint off the brushes.
Masters Brush Cleaner
Every artist I know has a big tub of this soap. It is great for cleaning water mixable oil paint (even regular oil paint), acrylic, gouache, and watercolors. A 24 oz tub can last years.
Gamblin Gamvar Varnish
This is a great varnish that can be removed with Gamsol if needed. It is available in Matte, Satin (aka semi-gloss), and Gloss. Some artists prefer Gloss to deepen colors and if a less glossy look is desired will use additional dry brushes to "paint" over the varnish once it's applied, which will absorb excess varnish. I personally prefer using the gloss varnish mixed with a bit of satin.
Note: do not use this varnish for works with unfixed mediums (i.e. charcoal, colored pencil). Instead, use spray varnish. Winsor & Newton make a professional spray can varnish that I've also listed here.
Note: do not use this varnish for works with unfixed mediums (i.e. charcoal, colored pencil). Instead, use spray varnish. Winsor & Newton make a professional spray can varnish that I've also listed here.
Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
Golden Heavy Body Acrylics are my favorite acrylic paint. Personally, I'd rather have a thick paint like this that I have to dilute than a lower quality paint that I would have to do multiple coats of to get the same effect. The colors are wonderfully rich and blend well together.
Winsor and Newton Designers Gouache Paint
If you've never used gouache, it's like an opaque watercolor paint. The vivid colors lend themselves to all kinds of applications, such as dry brushing, though I use them mainly for smaller illustrations on the Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper.
Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Water Soluble Wax Pastel Artists' Crayons
These are my absolute favorite pastels. They are not oily and work similarly as watercolor pencils do. You can use water to blend and spread the color or you can use them as you would normal pastels.
The Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper works very well with these crayons and is also listed here. Have a good pencil sharpener on hand to keep the tips pointy.
You can also use these crayons on canvases. A rep from Caran d'Ache told me:
"Neocolor II works very well on both cotton and linen canvases. You
can easily set it if you have applied it with a brush.
If you dissolve the Neocolor II like a watercolor or gouache and paint
it onto the canvas, the best thing to do is to let it dry. Then you can
heat set it with an iron, which makes it permanent.
Remember to place a piece of scrap cloth on the painting as to not stain your iron. You also want to put something under the piece itself, so
that any your ironing board doesn't get stained. This techniques works extremely well.
However, always do a test first with a piece of scrap canvas, to insure
that you are happy with the results.
There are 2 fixatives that you can use to coat it afterwards, if you
desire. Lascaux is probably the best one of the two that are available
in the US. Again, test it on a piece of scrap to insure that you are
happy with the finish. Make sure to always do very light coats and allow
them to dry completely before adding another one. If the fist coat was
applied going right to left, do the next going up and down... Three
coats seem to be the magic number."
The Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper works very well with these crayons and is also listed here. Have a good pencil sharpener on hand to keep the tips pointy.
You can also use these crayons on canvases. A rep from Caran d'Ache told me:
"Neocolor II works very well on both cotton and linen canvases. You
can easily set it if you have applied it with a brush.
If you dissolve the Neocolor II like a watercolor or gouache and paint
it onto the canvas, the best thing to do is to let it dry. Then you can
heat set it with an iron, which makes it permanent.
Remember to place a piece of scrap cloth on the painting as to not stain your iron. You also want to put something under the piece itself, so
that any your ironing board doesn't get stained. This techniques works extremely well.
However, always do a test first with a piece of scrap canvas, to insure
that you are happy with the results.
There are 2 fixatives that you can use to coat it afterwards, if you
desire. Lascaux is probably the best one of the two that are available
in the US. Again, test it on a piece of scrap to insure that you are
happy with the finish. Make sure to always do very light coats and allow
them to dry completely before adding another one. If the fist coat was
applied going right to left, do the next going up and down... Three
coats seem to be the magic number."
Winsor and Newton Artists' Fixative Spray
This is a superb fixative for works done with dry and unfixed mediums on paper, such as pastels or charcoal. It will keep these works from being smudged and offer a protective layer as well.
Art Studio Essentials
Art Studio Essentials
John Pike Palette
I use this palette for my oil paints mainly though it can also be used for watercolors. It is made from a durable and sturdy plastic that can handle solvents and doesn't stain. It helps my paints last for several days without drying up.
Paint Tube Wringer
This tube squeezer helps ensure that no paint gets left behind. Works well for tubes up to 3 inches wide.
8 oz Spray Bottle
I keep a little spray bottle on hand for making sure my paints moist and preventing a "skin" from forming on the top of paint in open jars.
2 oz Glass Jars
Perfect for mixing smaller quantities of paint, especially suited for mixing gouache paints. I like this particular brand (Vivaplex) because it's less expensive than the usual glass jars sold at art stores but great quality. The shape makes for easy clean-up as well. I prefer glass jars over plastic containers because paints seem to dry out more quickly in the plastic containers, the colors themselves are not as visible, and the plastic sometimes absorbs color and looks stained. None of these are issues with glass jars.
8 oz Glass Jars
Perfect for mixing larger quantities of paint, especially suited for mixing and diluting acrylic paint. I like this particular brand (Vivaplex) because it's less expensive than the usual glass jars sold at art stores but great quality. The shape makes for easy clean-up as well. I prefer glass jars over plastic containers because paints seem to dry out more quickly in the plastic containers, the colors themselves are not as visible, and the plastic sometimes absorbs color and looks stained. None of these are issues with glass jars.
Foam Tubes
If your hands ever get cramped from gripping paint brushes or you have arthritis, these foam tubes can offer some relief. The tubes come in different sizes and can be cut down for best fit.
No 2 pencils
Another studio essential, Staedtler No 2 pencils are regular everyday pencils that are used for making sketches, outlines, marking measurements, etc.
Prismacolor Kneaded Eraser
These erasers are superior to gum erasers in my experience and are great for removing pencil, charcoal, and pastel from canvas and paper. I like that I am able to mold the eraser into a specific shape or create a tip to allow for precision removal.
Mabef Table Easel M-34
If your paintings are typically 16 x 20 inches or smaller, this is a great easel option.
Mabef Artist Plus Easel M-07
This H-frame easel is one of the best around for the price point. It fits paintings up to about 48 x 48 inches comfortably.
Canvas Drop Cloth
Not much explanation necessary here. Old towels will suffice but if you don't have those this heavy duty canvas drop cloth is a nice choice. If I'm really flinging paint around I'll put a couple of these down.
URBNFit Exercise Ball
A million times better than a chair. Your back will thank you. Be sure to take a look at the size guide to get the right size for your height. I am 5'6" and got the 65 cm ball and it works perfectly.
Honeywell Pivoting Fan
This inexpensive little fan is a studio-must for improving air circulation. I like the fact that I can change the angle of the fan to accommodate whatever height I'm painting at.
Air Duster
You never realize just how much stuff is floating in the air until you start painting and it lands all over your work. An air duster is especially helpful prior to varnishing and just in general when you're tempted to brush your hand across a painting.
Office Dimensions Mobile Metal Desk
This desk is 48 inches wide. It fits a computer and a monitor and still has enough room to be used as a work surface. It has wheels so can be easily moved around your studio or workspace. It is also very easy to clean, assemble and take apart, and it comes in white or black.
Amazon Basics 3-Tier Rolling Utility Cart
This rolling cart is great for holding and moving around whatever art supplies you're currently using. The inner tray dimensions will fit the John Pike Palette also listed here.
Please note that this page contains product affiliate links. As a Michaels Affiliate, Blick Affiliate, Amazon Associate, and referrer to Natural Pigments (Rublev) I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. There is no additional cost to you and your purchase supports the creation of more demos and videos.
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