Class Supply List

 

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Students are free to work in the medium of their choice. I will be focusing on drawing for the first half of the term and painting for the second half, but the concepts are the same.

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Bring any supplies you're comfortable using. Yes, you may use watercolors or pastels. The following suggested supply list is for anyone who needs help.

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You may purchase the supplies individually or in pre-packaged kits. The kits are obviously less expensive than buying the same supplies piecemeal, and Plaza Artists' Materials in Bethesda will ship them to you or package them for you to pick up.

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To Purchase Instructor Kits:

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My Jack Richeson & Co. Instructor Kits are available through Plaza Artist Materials in Bethesda. These are the supplies that I use in my personal work because they're the best, the easiest and offer the most control. They will really help you improve your painting and have a much easier time with all of it.

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Kits:

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Workshop Set - this is the full set of paints and brushes that I use to paint portraits in class and in my studio. It also includes a large pad of newsprint paper: https://www.plazaart.com/gavin-glakas-oil-paint-workshop-kit

 

Cityscape (and Landscape) Set - these are the supplies I use to paint landscapes and cityscapes. If you are taking my summer Landscape, Figure and Studio class, this set will do, but you will also need drawing supplies as they are not included here. A pencil and sketchbook will suffice or you may opt for the Drawing Set (below):   https://www.plazaart.com/gavin-glakas-cityscape-class-kit

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Drawing Set -  https://www.plazaart.com/yellow-barn-gavin-glakas-drawing-complete-kit

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To purchase individually:

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Drawing supplies:

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Hard and soft compressed charcoal pencils by Derwent or General's, a stick of white charcoal, General’s compressed charcoal sticks, a kneaded eraser, a large, old paintbrush to blend strokes, newsprint paper (I like the 18 x 24 size), and clips to fasten the paper to a drawing board (the Yellow Barn has drawing boards.)

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Painting:

 

Paints:

 

Burnt Umber

Alizarin Crimson

Cadmium Red Light

Cadmium Yellow Light

Veridian

Cerulean Blue

Ultramarine Blue

Dioxazine Purple

Mars Black

Titanium White -  Do not use the brand Georgian for white!

 

There are two types of paint - Artist Grade and Student Grade. The Artist Grade is MUCH easier to control. If you’re a beginner and money is an issue, just buy a few colors - Cad Red Medium, Cad Yellow Medium, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber and Titanium White. Then, as you continue along you can work your way up to expensive paint.

 

I use Jack Richeson brand paint. Order them over the internet or buy them in Plaza under the Plaza brand.

 

Canvas: 

Any kind of canvas or board that has been coated with gesso and toned some neutral color like grey. I use hardboard (masonite) that I buy at Home Depot and coat with 3 coats of gesso front and back. Get them to cut it for you at Home Depot.

 

Brushes: 

I use the Grey Matter series of flat synthetic bristle brushes by Jack Richeson, and Richeson Signature Series filbert and flat brushes, series 9822, 9628 and 9626.

 

Palette:

Bring a palette if you’re going to paint. I use a glass palette and keep it in a plastic palette box.

 

Mineral Spirits: 

If you’re going to bring mineral spirits, and you don’t have to - a lot of artists don’t use thinners while painting - use Gamsol and please bring it in a small container with a lid, like an old jam jar. At home, clean your brushes with Gamsol and then soap and water after class. The soap and water makes them last 10 times as long as they would otherwise.