Oil Painting – Jill Banks
SUPPLY LIST
Choose a full or limited palette, as your budget allows.
Oil Colors (usually 37m tubes except as noted):
Full Palette:
♦Transparent Earth Red* (Gamblin) or Burnt Sienna (W&N –120 or 200m),
♦Permanent Alizarin Crimson* (W&N –large tube)
♦ Venetian Red* (Gamblin)
♦ Quinacridone Red (Gamblin)* or Permanent Rose (W&N)
♦Cadmium Red Light (Gamblin)* or Cadmium Scarlet (W&N)
♦Cadmium Orange (W&N), optional
♦ Yellow Ochre (Gamblin)* or Raw Sienna (W&N)
♦Cadmium Yellow Deep* (W&N)
♦Cadmium Yellow Pale* (W&N)
♦Winsor Lemon* (W&N)
♦Viridian* (W&N or Gamblin)
♦Pthalo Green* (Gamblin)
♦Cobalt Turquoise Light* (W&N)
♦Cerulean Blue (W& N), optional
♦Cobalt Blue* (W& N)
♦French Ultramarine Blue* (W&N) (may want a large tube of that as well)
♦Pthalo Blue (Gamblin), optional
♦Cobalt Violet* (W& N), optional
♦Titanium Zinc White (Gamblin – large 120 0r 200m tube)
In the yellow family, it’s really important to stay within the same manufacturer’s brand since, for example, Gamblin’s Cadmium Yellow Deep looks just like Winsor & Newton’s Cadmium Yellow Medium.
* These colors are almost always on my palette. I’ve made some changes recently in my core palette and so far, I’m pretty pleased. Plus, I’m in the process of making color charts with these exact colors/brands ... so I’m married to them but you can be more flexible.
Or More Limited Palette:
♦Transparent Earth Red (Gamblin) or Burnt Sienna (W&N –120 or 200m),
♦Permanent Alizarin Crimson (W&N –large tube)
♦Cadmium Red (W&N), optional
♦Cadmium Yellow Pale (W&N)
♦Pthalo Green (Gamblin)
♦Cerulean Blue (W& N)
♦French Ultramarine Blue (W&N) (may want a large tube of that as well)
♦TitaniumZinc White (W&N or Gamblin – large 120 0r 200m tube)
W&N stands for Winsor & Newton brand. If you already have high quality paints (not student grade) in these colors, that’s fine … it’s just this is what I use. Winsor & Newton makes a student grade line called Winton. Winton paints are less expensive but the pigments are less intense so it’s tough to get the same effects.
Mediums & Solvents
Gamblin’s Neomegilp
Gamblin Gamsol or Turpenoid. No turpentine!!
I usually paint without either of these ... and just use my paper towels to wipe off the excess paint and a couple of paintbrushes to keep colors clean.
Acrylic Paints (for Toning Acrylic-Primed Canvases only)
Titanium White & Ivory Black (both large tubes) or Neutral Gray #6. Mix white and black evenly or use neutral gray to tone acrylic primed canvases. Do not use acrylics over oil-primed canvases. (Your paint will crack!) See toning a canvas for instruction. (Another option is to buy Senso clear-acrylic gesso primed pre-stretched linen canvases online from Jerry’s Artarama or aswexpress.com. They are gray to start, and ready to accept paint. No toning required.)
Palette
Masterson Palette Box & glass cut to fit (glass sold in size to fit palette at Art League Store) or wooden palette varnished and ready to accept paint. If you’re using the palette box and glass, put a neutral cool color paper underneath (gray or gray/blue pastel paper or blue paper shop towels work). We can also do this when you come to class. Other option: gray cookie sheet and saran wrap to cover/transport.
Brushes/Palette Knives
Bristle Brushes – I use Silverbrush Grand Prix Extra Long Filbert bristle brushes and Escoda’s bristle brushes. Sizes vary by manufacturer, but for the Grand Prix’s, get:
Filberts: #2, #4, #6, #8
Sables: Get at least one or two sables for fine detail work. (Escoda Kolinsky Sable Filbert Long Handle Series 2813, sizes 4 or 6 works – these are cat’s tongue shaped) Also, W& N Series 7 watercolor brushes, rounds – expensive brushes, size 0 or 1.
Sables or Synthetic Hair soft brushes, in Flats are great for paint handling on smooth, oil-primed canvases or panels. Bristles are better for moving paint around on medium to rough tooth canvases (like Senso linen).
2” house painting brush or artist brush for toning canvases(inexpensive but hairs must be secure)
1 Palette knife (for mixing paint) – I’m using palette knives more and more for mixing paint and occasionally to paint with. If you plan to paint with them get several in various sizes and shapes.
Retractable razor/utility knife (for cleaning/scraping palette)
Other
Scott Brand Shop (Paper) Towels (blue colored) or other paper towels, empty glass container with tight lid (for used solvent) – I use one with a coil at the bottom called Silicoil Brush Cleaning Tank. Bring a trash bag for garbage. You’ll get to take your trash home with you each day.
Something to wash your brushes with (to be done at home). Dishwashing soap works but I use a tub of Master’s brush cleaning soap with heavy-duty rubber gloves to protect my hands.
Canvases
4-6 (for the portrait class) or 4-5 (for the still life class) toned acrylic-primed linen or cotton 16 x 20 or smaller canvases for class + 4 various sized small canvases for homework (should you choose to do it). (11” x 14” canvases are an excellent size for quick portrait studies.) Note: I’ve personally switched to using oil-primed panels (either Raphael linen-lined panels from Jerry’s Artarama or Raymar panels from www.raymarart.com). These panels need to be toned with a neutral gray in oils -- well before class day. They do not absorb paint and have a smooth texture so paint slides around but finished paintings show greater translucency of the paint layers. So, your choice between acrylic-primed stretched canvases or oil or acrylic-primed panels.
HOW TO TONE A CANVAS
On pre-stretched, pre-primed acrylic-primed canvas, use the 2” inch brush to apply one coat of acrylic paint. Neutral Gray #6 works or use a 50/50 mix of Titanium White and Ivory Black acrylic paint for tone color. The paint mixture should be watered down. DO NOT TONE IN ACRYLIC IF YOUR CANVAS IS OIL-PRIMED! Cover the entire surface of the canvas with the mixture. The finished canvas should be smooth and free from paint ridges. Brush out any globs or ridges. Do not apply the paint too thickly: that reduces the canvas absorbency. Canvas should be allowed to dry overnight. If toning an oil-primed canvas, paint with neutral gray oil paint and allow it to dry for at least a week.
Sources for materials
Jerry’s Artarama: http://www.jerrysartarama.com (you can get Silver Brushes from them)
Art Supply Warehouse: www.aswexpress.com
Dick Blick: http://www.dickblick.com
Silver Brush http://www.silverbrush.com
Raymar Panels: www.raymarart.com
You can also try: Pla-za (http://www.plazaart.com/) and The Art League Store at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria
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Classes and Workshops
When I brought in fruit and goodies as food for the last day of class, student Nancy Keane remarked: “It’s good to know that food is not always the enemy in this class.” Funny.
Jill Banks fine artist
