Watercolor Workshop Materials & Equipment List. I have very few items that I consider important. I feel you should work with the materials you are most comfortable with. I have a studio full of brushes, palettes, gadgets, etc which I hardly ever use. Most of my paintings are completed with two or three brushes and two, three or four colors. Especially for travel workshops I like to travel very light! PAPER SIZE: A full sheet watercolor takes time. I would rather do several 1/8, 1/4 or half sheets and use these for studies for larger paintings in the studio. To do all the exercised you will need at least 13 painting sheets. (Again 1/2 sheet, 1/4 or 1/8 sheet size are fine. Many of the exercises can be done on the 1/8 or 1/4 size sheet). 1/4 sheet = 10 x 14 inch. PAINTING BOARD: You will need three to four lightweight boards. Foam Core or Cardboard are fine. Just slightly larger than your paper. Or 3 or 4 Watercolor Blocks. PAPER TYPES: Each artist has favorites. You will not know which you like best unless you try several. I will be using DArches 140 lb. or 300 lb. "rough" surface paper. BRUSHES: Again brushes are very personal so use the brushes you prefer or already own. I prefer the Robert Simmons Water Color Rounds RS785 in sizes 10 & 12. I also use a Robert Simmons Skyflow, sizes 1 1/2 & 2 inch. PALETTES: I use a Zoltan Szabo palette but again use the one you already own. I put my paints out in the palette several days before the trip and let them dry. This makes for easier traveling and I do not bring any additional tubes along. I put out 6 wells of the same yellow and 5 of the same red so I can hope to find one clean one when working. PIGMENT: Permanence is my main concern. I enjoy painting a Grisaille Method of working which requires stain colors. If you want to try this method you will need to have at least one red, one yellow and one blue stain pigment. I use Professional Grade Winsor & Newton Permanent Rose, Winsor Blue (Green Shade) and Winsor Lemon or Winsor Yellow. Any other pigment you like will be fine but for new painters or painters wanting to learn to travel light, these three will be all you will actually need. Winsor & Newton Titanium White is great for mixing opaque pigments and I occasionally use it as well. SKETCHBOOK: I will be using a Komtrak Inspiral Refillable Watercolor Sketch Book, size 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". Available from Komtrak.com or many art stores but you may use any sketchbook that you enjoy. To this book I will be adding sketch/journaling paper also available from Komtrak. MISC.: Additional supplies you might need: Sketchbook (any size) Tracing Paper (11 x 15 inch pad) Scotch Tape & White Artist Tape Pencil (I use a mechanical with a .5 hb lead) Pilot Medium Point Silver Marker (OK to use mine) Eraser (White soft or kneaded) Sanford Sharpie marker "Fine" Black or Brown Small Exacto knife or a razor blade. (Use mine) Architect Ruling Pen (You may use mine) Water Container & Roll of Toilet Tissue REFERENCE MATERIAL: (Studio Class) ***** Very Important Photos, back lit and back side lit subjects will work best for most challenges. These can be any subject, but not taken on a gray day or with a flash. Best if figures aren’t looking right at the camera and are busy. Back lit means the subjects are not in light but rather the light is coming from behind them or behind them and from the side slightly. 3/4 of the figure or object need to be in Shade or Shadow. Bring a digital camera and we can have a lesson in photographing this way and possible printing some material to work from. EASELS: (Travel Workshop) I use a small, lightweight photo tripod to support my painting board when I need an easel. I attach it to the tripod with a Valpod. The Valpod attaches to my painting board with Velcro and allows me to stand while painting. It also has a palette & water holder. www.artisteasel.comor (208)522 8677 for info. HAT OR VISOR & SUNGLASSES: (Travel Workshop) A hat or visor and sunglasses for sketching outdoors. CAMERA: (Travel Workshop) A camera is a very handy second sketchbook. Bring enough film. Put new batteries in your camera or have a back up set with you. I have now started using a digital camera—the Nikon 100 and am very pleased with the results. I usually have my lap top computer with me so I can see all my photos each night back at the hotel. FINISHED PAINTINGS (Photos of the paintings OK) If time permits, an individual critique/discussion of completed paintings from your home/studio will be scheduled. Other items you may need: (Travel Workshop) small flashlight, alarm clock, electric converter, sun tan lotion & bug repellent.