Watercolor Jumpstart Preclass

Before we start…a little housekeeping

I retain the copyright to the content you are learning in class. That means…

1. Do not sell or give away the concepts from my classes – you may not re-teach my instruction contained or created within these lessons.
2. Do not post a video tutorial or step by step photo tutorial of your own redraw of class content.
3. Do not repost any handouts you receive in class.

However…I love to see students making strides and taking this teaching and personalizing it with your own skills.

1. DO make your own designs and develop your own style! I love that!
2. DO gift your creations made with these techniques, of course!

At the bottom of each lesson you’ll see some ways to share your homework and ask questions, so that’ll be handy for you.

Supplies

In the following video is a discussion of class supplies that will be needed, and some optional items as well. The full supply list with links is at the end of this lesson page as well as in the PDF in the Resources section.

Create your sketchbook (one or the other of these)

This folding method is NOT my design for a sketchbook, but is certainly a dream for a class like this! See the downloadable pdf in the Resources section below if written instructions would help as well.

You may alternatively make one of Pearfleur’s sketchbooks from a 9×12 pad, see her gorgeous video below.

Quick tip to set up another kind of palette:

Downloadable supply list

Download and print to take to your local art store (includes directions to fold the sketchbook) 

Watercolor Jumpstart Supplies

Brushes:

Silver Brush Black Velvet Brushes: I recommend both sizes, but if only getting one, get the 8:

1. Silver Brush Black Velvet Round #8 BLICK or AMZ
2. Silver Brush Black Velvet Round #12 BLICK or AMZ
3. Da Vinci Cosmotop Spin BrushMottler 30 flat wash  BLICK — or AMZ

Watercolor Paper:

One sheet of any of these four; if you want a really white paper, the Saunders Waterford High White is the whitest.

1. Arches Cold Press 22×30 sheet Bright White: BLICK or Natural White: BLICK
2. Saunders Waterford 22×30 sheet High White: BLICK or White BLICK

You may instead wish to have pads to paint on, though class lessons focus on the sketchbook.

1. Arches Cold Press Paper Pad 9×12 BLICK
2. Arches Rough Paper Pad 9×12 BLICK has more texture to it

Watercolor Paints:

Daniel Smith, Essentials 5ml Set of 6 BLICK or AMZ

1. 1. Includes: Hansa Yellow Light, Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Blue – Green Shade, New Gamboge, Pyrrol Scarlet, French Ultramarine.
   2. You can use other brands of these colors; please get artist grade, not student grade (ie not Cotman).
   3. Note that if your yellow is called “sunshine” and red is “candy apple,” your paints are likely not artist grade; please do get the Essentials set. For other experimenting in class you are welcome to use whatever paints and colors you wish.

Instructor’s palette is NOT necessary for this course! Use the colors you have; many students have completed this course just mixing from the 6 essentials. Colors on her palette at the time of shooting this course:

1. Nickel Azo BLICK
2. New Gamboge BLICK 
3. Aussie Red Gold BLICK
4. Yellow Ochre BLICK
5. Burnt Umber BLICK
6. Burnt Sienna BLICK
7. Perylene Maroon BLICK
8. Anthraquinoid Scarlet BLICK
9. Pyrrol Scarlet BLICK
10. Quinacridone Rose BLICK
11. Imperial Purple BLICK
12. Moonglow BLICK
13. Cobalt Teal Blue BLICK
14. Iridescent Electric Blue BLICK
15. Cobalt Blue BLICK
16. French Ultramarine BLICK
17. Phthalo Blue GS BLICK
18. Indanthrone Blue BLICK
19. Serpentine Genuine BLICK
20. Sap Green BLICK
21. Green Apatite Genuine BLICK
22. Perylene Green BLICK
23.  Paynes Blue Gray  BLICK
24. Neutral Tint BLICK

A palette is not required (you can squeeze blobs of paint on a plate or tile). Instructor uses metal palettes but a plastic one is okay too; be sure you have at least 3 decently sized mixing wells. Half pans are smaller so if you hope to paint large you might opt for full pans, which could mean a larger palette….but I don’t recommend getting all the colors at the start of your watercolor journey!

1. 1. 1. Schmincke Palette for 12 full or 24 half pans BLICK
      2. Whiskey Painters Palette for 12 full or 24 half pans AMZ
      3. Whiskey Painters Mini Palette AMZ
      4. Full pans BLICK
      5. Half pans BLICK

Tools and more:

1. 1. Holbein Spray Bottle BLICK (or use an empty household spray bottle – make sure it’s clean!)
   2. Compass and protractor set BLICK (imperative for creating the color wheels)
   3. Faber Castell  Kneaded Eraser BLICK or AMZ
   4. Ruler – any kind.
   5. ScorTape — AMZ or any strong doublestick tape for assembly of the sketchbook if not making the folded-only kind.
   6. Xacto knife AMZ
   7. Ampersand Hardbord BLICK optional (if not painting in the sketchbook this is a good surface to tape your papr onto)
   8. Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Marker BLICK or AMZ

Shown in the supply video but not used in class:

1. Artist Color Wheel BLICK
2. Pocket Mixing Guide BLICK