Supply List
Texture Exploration
I have listed the items that I used in this exploration. However, you can use whatever you have on hand for your explorations.
6 or so thick pieces of cardboard, card stock, scrap mat board, or heavy paper - approx 5x7 to 8x10 inches, just a reasonable size to play on
A wedge, scraper, blade, palette knife, card, or similar for spreading heavy gesso
Heavy white gesso
Clear gesso or fluid matte medium
Thin white gesso
Mark making tools such as corrugated cardboard, knotched spreaders, old credit cards with cut notches, stencils, sequin waste, skewer, comb, plastic rings or other shapes for pressing into the gesso
Small amount of tissue paper (anything you have lying around of tissue weight, even facial tissue would work)
3/4" or 1" paintbrush (can be old or craft quality)
Sand or grit
A dark acrylic paint, any color or brand will do
Water-soluble graphite -OR- water-soluble pastels -OR- charcoal
Spray bottle with water
Color Exploration
White paper, whatever you have. I use 80 lb. mixed media paper.
Acrylic paints - Titanium White and an opaque Black (I use Mars Black) For other colors, use what you have because this is an exploration of your own paints, their character, and how they can work together. Choose 3 different pairs with a warm color and a cool color for each pair. I use Golden Light Turquoise (Phthalo) and Golden Quinacridone Magenta for the first exploration; Golden Phthalo Green (Blue Shade) and Golden Chromium Oxide Green Dark for the second; and Golden Phthalo Blue (Green Shade) and Liquitex Cadmium-Free Orange for the third.
Palette knife
1/2" flat paintbrush (optional)
Palette
Wax pastels, like Caran D'Ache Neocolor ii or Stabilo Woodys, or colored pencils for exploratory pops of color (optional)
Color wheel (optional)
Creative Backgrounds
I have listed the items that I used in this exploration. However, you can use whatever you have on hand for your explorations.
(3) 11x14 inch wood panels, cradled panels, mixed media board, or 300lb.+ paper
Thick white gesso (OR heavy gel medium PLUS thin white gesso)
Mark making tools: I use a skewer, sequin waste, adhesive spreader, plastic rings, comb, corrugated cardboard, and stencils
1 -1/2" or larger wedge or rubbery blade (or you can also use a stiff piece of cardboard or an old credit card)
Tissue paper, or facial tissue, or old sewing patterns...anything of tissue paper weight or lighter
Sand
Fluid matte medium (to adhere sand and/or tissue)
Palette knife
Clear gesso (for sealing exposed wood if you choose that option)
Palette
Acrylic paints in your choice of combos: I use the three pairs from our Color Exploration in Lesson 3. Mars Black and Titanium White for all three; plus for the first background I use Golden Light Turquoise (Phthalo) and Golden Quinacridone Magenta; for the second I use Golden Chromium Oxide Green Dark and Golden Phthalo Green (Blue Shade); and for the third I use Liquitex Cadmium Free Orange and Golden Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)
Caran D'Ache Neocolor ii or Stabilo Woodys, or water-soluble colored pencils or pastels
Colored pencils
Charcoal pencil
Stabilo Marks All or black Stabilo Woody
Graphite pencil
Spray bottle with water
Paintbrushes: 3/4"-1" craft brush for adhering tissue, if used; then large and medium stiff brushes for applying paint on the substrate
Brayer
Large color shaper or rubber wedge
Cosmetic sponges for applying paint through stencils
Paper towels
Warm-Ups14x17 inch mixed media paper (I use this one from Blick)
Acrylic paint - Black and White
Charcoal pencil - soft or extra soft
1/2" paintbrush (I use angled bright, but use what you like)
Spray bottle with water
Caran D'Ache Neocolor ii or Stabilo Woodys water-soluble crayons, or something similar for pops of color (optional)
(4) reference photos of choice
Portrait Exploration 1
One of your backgrounds from our Creative Backgrounds segment
Reference photo of choice
Acrylic paint - Black and White, plus the colors used in your background and any others you want to add in or play with (I use the colors from my third Creative
Background...Liquitex Cadmium Free Orange and Golden Phtalo Blue (Green Shade). I also use Golden Zinc White for some background embellishment with a stamp)
Lyra water-soluble graphite crayon - 9B
Fluid matte medium or glazing medium or airbrush medium to thin paints (optional)
1/2" paintbrush (I use angled bright, but use what you like)
Spreadable gel medium for locking down water-soluble graphite, if you choose to use it
Rubber spreader or color shaper or paddle for applying the gel medium (I use Princeton Catalyst Mini Blade 01)
Palette knife
Palette
Charcoal pencil
Pencil
Skewer (optional)
Caran D'Ache Neocolor ii or Stabilo Woodys or colored pencils or similar to add pops of color
Spray bottle with water
Paper towels
Stamps or stencils for background (optional)
Portrait Exploration 2One of your backgrounds from our Creative Backgrounds segment
Reference photo of choice
Acrylic paint - Black and White, plus the colors you used in your background and any others you want to add in or play with (I use the colors from my second Creative Background...Golden Chromium Green Oxide Dark and Golden Phthalo Green (Blue Shade). I also use Golden Quinacridone Nickle Azo Gold, Golden Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Golden Zinc White, and Amsterdam Naples Yellow Red Light)
Fluid matte medium or glazing medium or airbrush medium to thin paints (optional)
1/2" paintbrush (I use angled bright, but use what you like)
Lyra water-soluble graphite crayon - 9B
Spreadable gel medium for locking down water-soluble graphite, if you choose to use it
Rubber spreader or color shaper or paddle for applying the gel medium (I use Princeton Catalyst Mini Blade 01)
Brayer (optional)
Palette knife
Palette
Charcoal pencil
Pencil
Skewer (optional)
Caran D'Ache Neocolor ii or Stabilo Woodys or colored pencils or similar to add pops of color
Spray bottle with water
Paper towels
Stamps or stencils for background