This is a mixed media workshop, with Acrylic being the primary media.  So bring whatever supplies you have.  I will have many NEW tools for you to try out.  For the color exercise, I usually use watercolors, but if you are an acrylic painter only, just bring your acrylics.  No need to buy new things.  We WILL be using acrylics lots in this workshop so, my advice if you are new to this media, get the primary colors and black and white.  We will mix whatever colors you need. Below are my colors that I like.  It's up to you if you want to invest in them or not.  Email me if you have any questions. 

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1. Acrylics:  The 3 heavy body acrylics (in tubes) that you will need are Titanium White and Carbon Black.  You may bring whatever heavy body acrylics you already have.  (They are Optional)

2. The other acrylics are liquid acrylics. If you are investing in acrylics for the first time, my advice is to get these 5 liquid acrylics:  cobalt blue, pyrole red, quinacridone magenta, raw umber, and hansa yellow.  Then go to Michaels and get whatever little bottled acrylics that you like (Craftsmart and Americana are the brand names.)  They are really cheap and will be fun to play around with.  I enjoy the turquoise colored little bottles. My favorite brand is Golden and my favorite colors are: 

 

1. • Nickel Azo Yellow

   • Carbon Black

   • Acra Magenta or Quinacridone Magenta

   • Cobalt Blue

   • Pyrrole Red

   • Yellow Ochre

   • Phthalo Blue (Red Shade) 

   • Cerulean Blue Chromium

   • Hansa Yellow Medium

   • Raw Umber

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1. Brushes.  If you already have oil painting brushes or acrylic brushes, bring those.  I use mainly 3 brushes:  1” flat, ½” flat, and #6 round.  Otherwise, I use a big 2 or 3” cheap brush for preparing the paper at the beginning.  ( I have lots of extra 2” cheap brushes for you to use.)

2. One sheet Strathmore Aquarius watercolor 80 lb. paper. and one sheet Arches 140 pound cold press watercolor paper. (I will bring the Strathmore paper with me, if you’d rather not get it from the art supply store. It can be hard to find.) Bring approximately 12” x 16” foam core or gator board for support. (I usually cover it with plastic.) We’ll probably be working on quarter sheet sizes (size 11” x 15” .or 15" x 15" sizes.)

3. Plastic sheet for covering the table and extra plastic sheet for placing works in progress. 

4. Watercolors and watercolor brushes. (If you are only an acrylic painter, don't bring watercolors)

5. Wax paper for your palette or you can buy a disposable palette at the art store.  

6. One bottle of Rubbing Alcohol (make sure it is 91% isopropyl alcohol, available at Walgreens)

7. Optional:  Face mask if you are sensitive to rubbing alcohol smell.

8. Jumbo Cotton balls and Q-tips

9. Water container (I use big Parkay tubs.  Some people use big ice cream buckets) 

10. Windex bottle (push button top) for spraying water.  Empty Windex out and put water in the bottle.  (You can usually find these at Holiday Gas Stations or convenience stores.)  

11. One full roll of Paper towels and/or Kleenex.  (I prefer Viva that is a full sheet, but bring whatever.)

12. Acrylic matte medium (Liquitex is my favorite) and (an old brush for applying it.  I use a 2” cheap brush.)

13. White chalk or white Charcoal white pencil or Caran d’Ache crayons for initial drawing.

14. Tracing paper (Get at Dick Blick or Michaels)  and carbon paper (get at office supply store)

15. Notebook, pencil, and eraser

16. Scissors and/or exacto knife

17. Collect a few pictures of color combinations that you like.  (Look at interior decorator magazines) Or sometimes, I get color ideas from napkins!

18. Black permanent markers (fine and ultra fine tips). I prefer Sharpie Twin Top black markers.

19. Any gold or metallic acrylic paints that you already have.  Again, I have some to share with you.

20. Clear small ruler (mine is 18”) 

21. Pebeo gold Porcelaine outliner paint (in tube)  I got mine through the Cheap Joes catalog.  

22. Double stick tape (I use ATG tape). You get it in the scrapbook section of Michaels in small tape rolls. 

These next items, I will be bringing along to share with you for a small fee.  If you want to buy your own, that's fine too.  I'm just trying to keep the cost down for you you all.  :) 

1. iCraft Gold Deco Foil and/or copper Deco foil.  You can buy your own at www.scrapbook.com.Also available at Hobby Lobby or JoAnne Fabrics (it’s called gold reactive foil there and comes in 12” rolls and 6” rolls.

2. Any markers that you would like to embellish your paintings with.  I use gold, black and white mainly for the finishing touches. 

3. Old magazines to use for color samples.

4. Reference photos of your choice.  If you are doing people, Please have your subject expanded to about 11 or 12 “ tall.  I use W magazine for people references. Bring whatever other reference photos expanded to about 11 or 12” tall.  Flowers, animals, birds are all good ideas too.

5. Optional:  Molotow Acrylic markers- Neon Colors, Sets of 6 — These sets include one each of Neon Green Fluorescent, Neon Orange Fluorescent, Neon Pink Fluorescent, Neon Yellow Fluorescent, Signal Black, and Signal White. I use the 2 mm.tips. https://www.dickblick.com/products/molotow-one4all-acrylic-markers/  

6. Elegant Writer pens (these are available at Michaels Craft Store.) (These are calligraphy markers that smear with water.)

7. Optional:  Caran d’Ache neocolor II water- soluble crayons.  Bring your favorite colors.  (I use neon lilac, lime green, bright orange, and bright sky blue.)

8. Wear layers, since sometimes it gets too hot for some or too cool for others.  Also, bring a protective apron, or wear old clothes.  Acrylic is hard to get out of clothing. 

 

**Please feel free to email me if you have any questions: karen@karenknutson.com