This class is about color, and applies equally to oil, watercolor, and acrylic.  Bring to class the medium you are familiar and comfortable with, and/or bring the medium you wish to learn more about.

You may use any brand, it's the particular pigment that the color is made of that matters, not the brand or the brand name.

Our Taos gallery recently sponsored a show with the Taos National Watercolor Society, in which M. Graham watercolors were supplied by the manufacturer. These fine watercolors are made with the addition of honey, which keeps them moist longer. At first, I was reluctant, because I like to squeeze watercolor into my palette and let it dry, forming a cake, which I re-wet as needed. These paints took several days to dry sufficiently to travel. However, when I used them, I found them to be a genuine pleasure to paint with, and have been using them exclusively ever since.

I  recently started using M. Graham oils, as well,  because they are made using Walnut Oil instead of Linseed Oil, and are therefore solvent free. This means they can travel under current restrictions, and do not pose the health hazards inherent in solvent based oils.

M. Graham oils are also less prone to yellowing with age than those  containing linseed oil.  I have used them with Liquin, my preferred medium, and am currently experimenting with M. Graham walnut oil as both medium and brush cleaner, as well as their faster drying Walnut Oil Alkyd, which dries faster.

So far, I have been very satisfied with this combination.

I find I'm also appreciating the fact that I can find all three of my preferred primaries, in all media, under one brand name. This makes shopping for paint much simpler and faster. That way, I can spend a lot more time looking at brushes, pochade boxes, etc.

Check them out at: http://mgraham.com

Whatever brand and medium you choose, you should bring:

Thalo (Phthalocyanine) Blue

Cadmium Yellow Light

Napthol PR 112 Red

These are the ONLY colors you'll need.

( Read the fine print on the tube. There are other Napthol Reds. They won't work. This is the one that is a true red, and does not lean toward the orange or purple side of the spectrum.)

Bring the brushes and other equipment you are familiar with.

If you're just getting started, here are some suggestions:

For oils:

I recommend you start with M. Graham. We'll all breathe better in class!!!

For oils, I've used glass, paper, wood, plastic, and other palettes over the years, and have come to prefer a small, wooden, hand held palette.

Here's the way I lay out my colors:

Oil Palette and  Brushes

I use just about every kind and size of brush, and have lately been painting oils almost exclusively with round synthetic brushes, sizes  20 and 10, Artisans brand available at: http://www.artisan-santafe.com/.

I also occasionally use a size 10 flat, but not often.

For acrylics, I would suggest the same.

Watercolor Palette and Brushes

For Watercolor, I currently favor using Artisans' round synthetics, sizes 26, 12, and 8.

I have some very expensive brushes, which I almost never use

Use the brushes you're most comfortable/familiar with.

Beyond this, you will need tissues, water container for watercolors, comfortable clothes and all the usual travel necessities.

Be sure to check back, as I'll be adding to this list as I think of more info to add.

Note: I just realized that I have reversed the order of the layout on the watercolor palette since this photo was taken to match the layout on my oil palette.