You don’t need a lot of gear to create stunning paintings – but there may be some items that you don’t already have, and that’s what this page is all about. Here I’ve listed exactly what I use with links to make it easy for you. Some of these are affiliate links where I may receive a small commission however the reason they are on the page is because I use the product and recommend it – and I don’t think you’ll get it cheaper anywhere else. Please scroll down to the bottom where I recommend other various books and websites that have really helped me along the way.
ARTSHED ONLINE
I buy all my materials from the Artshed Online. I get great deals and speedy delivery… and when I need some product info they are more than helpful. Click here for Artshed Online’s Scott Christensen – Paint The Ocean Kit
Product list and links
Preparation
Magic Palette Colour Mixing Guide Large
Reusable Palette
Graphite Pencils Sketch Set
Ruler Small
Coloured Pencils
Ruler Large
Pencil Eraser
Large Pencil For Canvas
A4 Visual Diary Sketch Book Small
A3 Visual Diary Sketch Book Large
Masking Tape
Canvas
Gesso Canvas Primer Or Undercoat
Brushes
Brush Holder
Palette Knife
Taklon Brush Set
Gear You'll Need From Your Local Outlets
Note pads with lines
To create your workflow lists.
Medium grit sandpaper
To sand your canvas.
Low odour turps
A cheaper alternative to artist quality low odour solvents.
Large paint stirrer
To stir your gesso before use.
Blending Brushes
Taklon Blending Brush 50mm
Taklon Blending Brush 75mm
3 Piece General Blending Brushes
(House painting trade brushes are the best to use for your large-size blending brushes, and are a must-have for the techniques that I teach. When sourcing them locally – be sure to select a synthetic filament brush where the bristles are soft and dense)
1 ½ Inch Blending Brush
2 Inch Blending Brush
3 Inch Blending Brush
4 Inch Blending Brush
3 Pack Small Blending Brushes
Mixing Brushes
Hog Bristle Mixing Brush Extra Large Size 16
Hog Bristle Mixing Brush Large Size 10
Hog Bristle Mixing Brush Medium Size 6
Hog Bristle Mixing Brush Small Size 2
Round Brushes
Taklon Round Brush Size 10
Taklon Round Brush Size 6
Taklon Round Brush Size 2
Flats or Chisel Brushes
Taklon Flat Brush Size 16
Taklon Flat Brush Size 6
Taklon Flat Brush Size 2
Taklon Flat Short Brush Size 6
Taklon Flat Short Brush Size 2
Liners or Rigger Brushes
Liner Or Rigger Brush Size 3
Liner Or Rigger Brush Set
Fan Brushes
Fan Brush Size 12
Fan Brush Size 4
Easel
Studio Easel With Crank And Storage
A Frame Pine Easel
Acrylic Paint
Choose which you prefer to work with: A thicker heavy-body paint or a thinner free-flow paint. They both work well and can be mixed together with no problems. The thicker body paint needs more water and medium, but gives you a bit more control when mixing colours. I like to work with both make the choice depending on what I am about to paint
Chroma Atelier Free Flow Fluid Acrylic Paints
Atelier Free Flow is a wonderfully fluid artists’ acrylic that has amazing coverage, spreadability and simply “flies off the brush.” With intense pigment load, vivid colour intensity and drying to a velvet, matte finish, it is ideal for all applications requiring a smooth and/or fluid paint such as acrylic pouring and mixed media. It can be used as a substitute for gouache, watercolour or ink.
Colours:
- Cadmium Yellow Light
- Pyrrol Orange
- Cadmium Red Light (Small)
- Yellow Ochre
- Dioxazine Purple
- French Ultramarine Blue
- Cobalt Turquoise Light
- Pthalo Blue
- Viridian Green
- Permanent Green Light
- Pthalo Green
- Chromium Green Oxide
- Raw Umber
- Burnt Umber
- Paynes Grey
- Titanium White X 2
Chroma Atelier Interactive Heavy Body Acrylic Paints
Atelier Interactive Professional Artists’ Acrylic has the rich, buttery consistency and brilliant colour that artists love. Perfect for impasto, textural and glazing techniques, these lightfast paints offer artists unsurpassed control over the painting process when used with Atelier Painting Mediums.
Colours:
- Cadmium Yellow Light
- Yellow Ochre
- Orange
- Cadmium Red Light (Small)
- Indigo
- Raw Umber
- Raw Sienna Dark
- Jaune Brilliant
- Brilliant Violet
- Brilliant Magenta
- Pacific Blue X 2
- French Ultramarine Blue
- Pthalo Blue
- Cobalt Turquoise Light
- Pthalo Turquoise
- Pthalo Green
- Viridian Green
- Cobalt Green
- Permanent Green Light
- Titanium White X 2
Oil Paint
Art Spectrum Oil Paints
Art Spectrum oil paints are my recommended colours for residents of Australia and the South Pacific Islands. The whole range is available now through the ArtShed Online and the colours are rich, vibrant and enjoyable to work with. I use these paints every day and they all mix well with other brands that you may still be working with.
Colours:
- Lemon Yellow
- Cadmium Orange
- Spectrum Red (Small)
- Flesh Tint Deep
- Permanent Magenta
- Spectrum Violet
- Lilac
- Tasman Blue
- French Ultramarine
- Phthalo Blue
- Indigo Blue
- Saphire
- Turquoise
- Viridian
- Phthalo Green
- Cadmium Green
- Spectrum Green Light
- Burnt Sienna
- Raw Umber
- Paynes Grey
- Titanium White
- Zinc White X 2
Winsor And Newton Oil Paints
Winsor and Newton colours now available to residents of the USA and Canada. These paints are high quality, rich in pigment and all mix well with other brands that you may still be working with. I also recommend and use these paints.
Colours:
- Winsor Yellow
- Cadmium Orange
- Cadmium Red (Small)
- Permanent Magenta
- Winsor Violet
- French Ultramarine
- Winsor Blue (Pthalo Blue)
- Cobalt Turquoise
- Cobalt Turquoise Light
- Cadmium Green Pale
- Oxide Of Chromium
- Winsor Green (Pthalo)
- Jaune Brilliant
- Brown Ochre
- Raw Umber
- Indigo
- Titanium White
- Transparent White X2
Paint Mixing Mediums and Varnish
Odourless Cleaning Solvent
Acrylic Paint Slow Drying Medium
Acrylic Paint Thinning Medium
Oil Paint Thinning Medium
Oil Paint Fast Drying Medium
Water Based Varnish Sealer
Solvent Based Varnish Sealer
Brush Cleaner
Other Helpful Items
Art Prize Planner
A great way to get recognised as an artist is to enter painting competitions and the best way to get organised is with the Art Prize Planner which covers Australian and International art competitions. Australian art prizes alone are worth over $4 million each year! Over 300 prizes are listed on the website. Also available is the handy phone app with monthly updates. Must-have info for artists.
MailChimp
I use and recommend Mailchimp to create and send your email newsletters. It’s free for up to 2000 subscribers and it’s easy to use.
Art Workshop Hub
A great place to list and find art workshops in Australia and around the world. Plan your next holiday to include and bit of learning time.
The Abundant Artist
Here Cory Huff has put together a bank of good information for artists wanting to sell more work. He probes deeper into topics like: How to Build a Better Artist Website, How to Sell Your Art Online, How to Effectively market with social media. I learnt a lot from this website – a great resource for artists.
Arthouse Reproductions
Arthouse Reproductions is Australia’s leading artist service provider for a good reason: Impeccable service and quality products. Art Copy, art scanning, photographing art, giclee printing, inkjet printing and fine art reproductions, and: mounting, laminating, acrylic mounts, custom framing. They shoot my work, produce my Glass Editions and Premium Posters. Why not contact Mark to see if he can help you sell more of your art?
Turning Pro – Steve Pressfield
I really enjoyed this audio book. It tells Steve’s own story of about turning his life and career around as a writer when he decided – to turn pro. Any creative that wants to go full time should read this.
Time Warrior – Steve Chandler
I love this book and most of Steve’s other stuff. This is a great set of ideas for creatives that don’t work nine to five, and can’t stand to feel locked into society’s time driven mundane existence. Really powerful – read this one with an open mind. Steve has plenty of other mind cracking audios to help you break through mental barriers that may be holding you back.
Finding Joe
Still not sure about where you want go with your art… or your life…? This simple movie/documentary sheds some light on how to – and what happens when you follow your dreams.
