Tom Hohn Watercolor Supply List

Watercolor Supply List for “Beginning Watercolor”

For a printable copy of this list click here.

Brushes: See photograph below.

Colors: “Cotman” brand (tubes preferred). One tube of each to start. (Cotman is sold at American Frame and Gallery, and at Michael’s:

1.Alizarin Crimson - a cool red.
2.Lemon Yellow Hue- a cool yellow. Make sure it does not read “Nickel Tartanate” on the label. AzoYellow Light may substitute
3.Burnt Sienna- an earthy, warm burnt-orange.
4.Ultramarine Blue- a warm, powerful blue.
5.Indigo Hue- Cotman or Grumbacher “Academy” brand preferred
6.Sap Green- a warm, natural green.

Paper: Arches 140lb Watercolor Paper- Green Label. You’ll need one sheet to start. Sold at American Frame. Cut sheet in four equal segments. We’ll use one segment (about 11”x15”) per class. Instructor will be using mostly Arches Cold-Pressed or Rough surface for demonstrations.

Water container: large cottage cheese container or similar, well washed out.

Palette: Either a large plastic tray, or white butcher’s tray, or commercial palette (Madden, Schewee, Pike). Whatever your choice, it must be white and large (about 12”x 16”); otherwise you can’t see the color you’re mixing or have room to mix it. American Frame has a selection of commercial watercolor palettes available. Ben’s in Belleville sells butcher’s trays, as does Dick Blick’s in St. Louis.

Miscellaneous:
1.Old gift or credit card cut in half, for scraping out lights.
2.Two bulldog or “chip clips” to hold paper steady (not needed if using a watercolor block—see “paper”).
3.One or two paint rags for spill control. I use Turkish washcloths.
4.Large cellulose sponge for wiping brushes on. (Essential!!)
5.No. 2B pencil for sketching and taking notes.
6.Sketchbook- any size (essential for sketching, notes, and trying brush strokes out). Notebook paper will do in a pinch.
7.Box of tissues (bargain brand are best) for lifting out color and for resting your pad at an angle.

Please Email me with any questions at:
Thos1art@aol.com. Put the words “AF Class” in the subject line of the Email
as I routinely delete any unknown screen name or domain to avoid pesky viruses.
Please do not call American Frame and Gallery with questions about this supply sheet. Call me instead, at 233-3169. Thanks!

Color Substitution List: (from colors available in this area) Cotman Watercolor paints are sold here at American Frame and Gallery, and Grumbacher and Cotman at Michael’s at Green Mount Crossing in Shiloh, IL. Van Gogh watercolor paints are sold at Hobby Lobby. Though not as intense, the Van Gogh line is still a bargain and a good beginner’s paint.

Color:	Cotman	Grumbacher	Van Gogh
Alizarin Crimson	Alizarin Crimson Hue	Alizarin Crimson Hue	Quinacridone Rose
Lemon Yellow	Lemon Yellow Hue	Lemon Yellow Hue	Azo Yellow, Light
Burnt Sienna	Burnt Sienna	Burnt Sienna	Burnt Sienna
Ultramarine	Same	Same	Ultramarine Blue Deep
Indigo	Indigo Hue	Indigo Hue	Indigo
Sap Green	Same	Same	Same

Papers: Any good, textured watercolor paper will do. Sketching paper won’t. Good papers are: Arches, Bockingford, Cotman, Langton, Strathmore 300, Waterford, and Kilimanjaro. Please do not bring Canson paper to class, as the surface is too slick. The paper must have some texture to hold onto the paint.

Brushes (see photo): Watercolor brushes have soft hair or bristles. The new synthetics are fine and are easier on the wallet than the more-expensive sables. Robert Simmons (dark maroon handle with gold tip; soft, white bristles) is an excellent brand as are Princeton brushes (sold at American Frame). Oil painting brushes are too coarse and do not perform properly. Cotman and Winsor & Newton synthetic brushes are excellent too, although a bit more costly. Remember that the rigger brush has long hairs, not short hairs. Short-haired, small brushes require constant paint reloading because they don’t hold as much as the rigger will.

From left to right: 1” Hake; 1” flat (Winsor & Newton brand), medium bamboo brush, #4 rigger (Lowe-Cornell Brand). Note the LONG hairs on the rigger.

Sponge: This is absolutely essential for painting in watercolor as it controls the amount of water in your brush and prevents the color from running all over the place. Any synthetic sponge will do; the cellulose household sponges work best as they have a wide, flat surface to absorb more water and also to help shape your brush.