Paint for Landscape Painting

I use paint in large tubes, Utrect is an inexpensive very good paint. It is what I use if I can't afford Gamblin which I feel is the best.What is more expensive than Gamblin is usually in small tubes and one really has to know what it is that one feels is best. So I wouldn't splurge.

If you use small tubes you might want to have at least 2 tubes of Ultramarine Blue, Green Oxide, and Yellow Ochre , Black and White or the 150ml large tubes, if you plan on painting continuously .

Gamblin is more expensive and are good for landscape. One can only slightly tell the difference from Utrect, I can't really tell any difference. Some colors are more saturated meaning they don't disappear into a stronger color when mixing. This is the main way of telling if it is "better".

The below are just guidelines. I might disagree myself if questioned on some of these things. One needs to decide for ones self.

I try to use the most basic colors. These are arranged in an order on my pallette.






1. Utrect White,  is Titanium/ Zinc mixed

Titanium yellows by itself, and zinc is too transparent and cool by itself, a mixture is good.


2. Burnt Sienna, and Burnt Umber, must have both colors.

3. Yellow Ochre, these are simple earth colors pretty basic.


4. Alizarin Crimson

You only need a small tube goes a long way you will never use a whole tube before it dries up.


5. Cadmium Red "Hue" (not real cadmium), or Permanent Red, sometimes Napthol Red. A red red like Cad Rd Lt. I've tried not to use real Cadmium as it is expensive and poisonous. I use real cadmium if I am making something really red, as it is very saturated. But in small use I use a replacement, hue meaning it is made of other less expensive and less poisonous pigments. If you buy pure Cadmium use the Red Light. Cadmium is very poisonous so keep it off your bare skin.





6. Cerulean Blue Hue, a mixture of modern phthalocyanine pigment and white. Here the phthalocyanine is ok, but question any other tube of paint with this pigment. The pure Cerulean is expensive and greyer.

7. Ultramarine Blue You will use alot of this. The Ochre and Green Oxide also so have large tubes of these or at least two small.

( Pure phthalocyanine is a modern dye in alot of other blues and greens and is very powerful so it is cut with white in most cases, as it is in some blues like Prussian Blue, I would stay away from it in a pure state it is too strong on its own but nice in the Cerulean the Hue mix. Hue means that this is mixed to simulate the Real pigment usually very expensive or a poisonous pigment. I use the Hues in most cases.

8. Utrect Chromium Oxide Green, a greyish Green. I use this as a main green that I change with yellows and blues. It should be a grey green, sometimes called Green Earth, or Terra Verte.

(Watch out for the phthalocyanine in Permanent Green and Viridian, these colors easily make a beginners painting have a over green cast as it bleeds strongly into other colors.)

9. Permanent Green or Utrect Green, very bright green, small tube. No way to mix these intense colors but hardly used. This has phthalocyanine and why it is so strong-- can over take other colors in mixing.

10. Viridian, blue green like tropical ocean wave, small tube.

These last two greens can be mixed but are hard to get the intensity of Permanent green like sun on a lawn, or Viridian the sun on a transparent ocean wave.

Watch again these two greens have  phthalocyanine, Viridian and Permanent Green, it is very strong pigment which overwhelms other colors if one does not know how to use it. Why I use mainly  Utrect Chromium Oxide Green.

11. Cadmium Yellow Hue, or Hansa Yellow medium, is a modern yellow substitute for Cadmium Yellow Pure, one can use white to get the Lt Yellow.Hue means substitute for Pure Cadmium.

12. I use Pure Cadmium Yellow Medium, as that color is not as good in any substitute, and it is the strongest yellow. This is the one cadmium you might want to have.

Strong or saturated meaning it doesn't disappear into the other color as one mixes it. Can be small tube.


13. Mars/ Ivory mix Black Mars is very blue black and heavy.  Ivory Black, is warm and light weight. Like the white above it is best mixed I feel.

14. also Dioxazine Purple I hardly use it but sometimes-- small tube.

Two hints, these most popular colors below can be mixed better, I would not buy them.

Sap Green is transparent and not permanent, One can mix black and yellow to get this color.

Paynes Grey is Black and White and Ultramarine. Funny that these are the novice's favorite colors.


One always has a color here or there which one adds,

Or maybe you might have a whole different idea, it's possible, but take my advice above if you don't have a better idea for yourself you will evolve your own materials in time.

Landscape Painting Materials

Artist Easel



1.Testrite 100. Most Art Stores, Utrect has them. $60/ 70.
Best easel I've found. I see now called 3x3 in some catalogs.

(this easel has been discontinued I would get one at Utrecht Art Supplies On line)
Something like the above. Although there are easels supplied it is good to have your own.


2. Canvases. Most are too cheap for me to make a painting on and are not substantial for a finished product. I'd use the linen primed pre-made canvases to make sure you have best quality. Of course I suppose cost is a factor.

Have a bunch I'd say at least 6 small, around 15 x 20 ". Larger canvases 20 x 30 is a good size, some smaller some larger, 6 more. At least 10 total. (If they are the "same sizes" they are easier to travel with as we staple two wet canvases together holding them apart with cardboard strips.)

Try a longer more horizonal size like two squares together make 20 x 40" or 10 x 20. Square canvases are a bit static.

Usually in my classes we  try to make two paintings a day. Two to three hours a sitting.



My own canvases are made by myself. These are made of 1/8" plywood birch or luan. With 1 x 2" wood supports. I glue wood strips and nail with brads until glue dries. I use remnants of #10 or 12 canvas used for my larger paintings. It makes the finished painting more substantial physically.





Canvas Stretcher

3. Gesso



Golden Gesso is the best. Beware of inexpensive gesso, it is too absorbent.

Urecht's Pro Grade OK, but I give a final coat of Golden, though expensive, it has the nicest finish.

2' House paint for latex brush

sandpaper


4. A gallon of Gamsol. The school will keep a supply if we need more.



I keep a second empty can with lid, to recycle the Gamsol it is expensive but is relatively non toxic and can be used over and over, the paint settling out.

A word about the medium. Turpentine is not used anymore in group situations. It evaporates and is toxic over a time. Gamsol is a great substitute it is different than paint thinner as it is further refined. Turpenoid is not as good and also makes some ill, so we don't use it either.

Galkyd is a painting medium. It is a alkyd substitute for linseed oil and damar varnish. Gamsol is not strong enough to dissolve Damar and so is not used with Gamsol.

5. A quart of Galkyd paint medium.

A can for Galkyd I use a Italian Tomato sauce larger or Campbells size soup can.



6. For Gamsol I use a Pizza sauce large size can. A funnel is handy to recycle in another can.

One doesn't want to be stingy with either of these mediums. Glass Jars to carry smaller amounts.




7. Brushes-- I use 6 of each white bristle filberts of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. Utrect has a good inexpensive brush. Simmons, Grumbacher become expensive. You can get away with 2 of each, as many as you want, I have 6 of each so I don't clean my brushes as I paint which takes up time.



8. These are 1 1/2" brushes from commercial Paint store to cover larger areas.




9. A large palette



16x 24" is a good size make a thumb hole with a jigsaw. Use 1/4 inch ply birch or mahoganey luan.

There are no good Palettes like mine above, which is 15 years old-- that I've found. I used to cut them into that shape with a jigsaw? Its up to you.

Can be just a rectangular piece. I hardly ever hold my pallette anyway. If you rub it with a little Galkyd, let it dry, it will not be absorbent.



10. Cotton Rags, I get terry cloth Bath towels, from thrift store, cut up.

11. Paper towels The  main thing is to get any wayward paint before it travels.

12. Baby wipes are great to clean up face and hands.

13. Clips large hardware store type are always handy to secure things from the wind.



14. Saran wrap
or plastic bags to seal up galkyd and put over paint if one doesnt use each day.

15. Plyers, sometimes handy, screw driver? and utility knife, measuring tape, and pencil.

16. Staple gun, Arrow Brand heavy duty, 5/16 size staple .






17. A scraper to clean pallette each day. This is a necessary item to clean palette.



Bring Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and drinking water.

18. I use the blue gloves from Home Depot now they are comfortable and easy.




Then,

a milk crate or cardboard Box or Knapsack that carries supplies or chair. Make sure you can concisely throw it all into someones car or walk a little distance with it, like camping. Have glass jars for  Gamsol and Galkyd with lids.

The idea is to travel as light as possible. I have alot of stuff and I am pretty much stuck with my car, because I tend to paint larger.

The wind is a big problem and one doesnt want stuff to blow away as one paints so "clips"above are good.

Here's the whole list:

Landscape Painting Supplies

I recommend ordering from Utrecht  online.

I recommend Utrect, Gamblin paint.

Oil Paint:

Titanium/ Zinc mix White. At least 2 tubes large

37ml. Small tubes are ok but buy large, 150ml if you plan to continue on your own. 

One each:

Burnt Umber

Burnt Sienna

Yellow Ochre

Alizarin Crimson

Napthol or Cadmium red Light Hue, or Permanent Red

Cerulean Blue

Ultramarine Blue 

Chromium Oxide Green (this is a grey green and goes by different names)

small Viridian we dont use much of this

Cadmium Yellow hue light and 

Cadmium Yellow Medium, or 

or Hansa Yellow and Hansa Yellow Deep

( these yellows one Lt and one deep, real cadmium oil is expensive and poisonous but covers best, up to you, see my blog for more discussion)

Mars/ Ivory Black mix

Easel--Testright 100-- discontinued, so something similar, pictured above. Or any other is fine, some may have a French style box easel outfitted with small tubes of paint. I myself use larger quantities of everything and they dont fit in box drawers so I dont use one, but it is a good solution if you like to make smaller paintings.

Canvases around 15 x 20 ", 20 x 30" some smaller some larger, horizonal for landscape.

We will probably make 10 paintings. Buy these or make yourself. (see blog)

Utrecht Studio Series stretched canvas, 3/4 or 5/8" inch profile would be my preference.

Cheaper not to be precious, more expensive if you know what you are doing.

I myself make my own as above.

Gamsol gallons and Painting medium Galkyd Qts  (I will order and supply for class)

Filbert brushes as many as you wish 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12  You can do with 2 of each, I use more.

Blick Masterstroke is what I use.

2 @ 1 1/2" brush for large areas, for larger paintings .

Palette 16 x 24 " I will  supply. 1/4 " Luan Plywood.

3"paint scraper to clean palette  or large palette knife

Cotton Rags towels from thrift store.

Paper towels, and Baby wipes (good for hands)

Clips from Hardware store see blog- to keep things from blowing away in wind.

Saran Wrap

also maybe:

pliers, screw driver, utility knife, measuring tape, pencil

Must:

Hat sunscreen and water

Knap sack or crate to carry materials

please email me at gregorybotts (at) gmail.com if you have questions, that is @. I write so, as not to get spam here.

also see my blog here:

http://bottspaumanok.blogspot.com

See Painting Blog

See Painting Blog:

http://gregorybotts.blogspot.com/