Buy good tools and materials and you will save yourself money and aggravation in the long run!
Palette and Materials I like on Amazon:
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Pastel Paints
Canson Mi-Teintes Multi Colored Pad for Pastels
Julian Easel (for pastels, oils, acrylics and even watercolor)
Uart Paper 400 Grit You can use water on the Uart paper.
Oil Paints:
Sets:
Gamblin Artist Grade Set. (This would be my first choice)
Gamblin Student Grade Paints (Good for beginners and economical)
Winsor & Newton Oil Paint Sets (This is the one I would recommend- it is Artist grade)
Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Paint Set (Good for beginners and more economical)
Odorless Mineral Spirits (do not use Home Depot - it is not the same - or Turpentine)
Oil Oderless Mineral Spirit Holder
Glass palette with gray background 12x16
Fold up brush holder for oil painting brushes
Roll up brush holder for oil painting brushes
Student's favorite stay wet palette and tote bag-the palette fits nicely inside the tote bag
Portable stay wet palette for acrylic, oil, watercolor and gouache. 14.5x9.5x1.6.
Tote bag with Multiple pockets storage art caddy
View finder, color wheel, value scale with lanyard. This is a great portable tool for all artists especially artists who paint outside.
View finder, color wheel, value scale with proportional divider
Centurion linen panels on wood 11x14
Centurion Linen Panels on wood 12x16
Centurion Linen Panels on wood 24 pack assorted sizes
Watercolor and Gouache
Watercolor sketch kit for plein aire painting to start
Pentalic sketchbook - a little pricier but the paper is worth it.
Watercolor/gouache travel brush set
Photographing your artwork:
Canon Camera with attachments and tripod
Tripod for Camera (I use one like this)- Also good for taking photographs to paint from)
Framing Tools
Fiskars Self Healing Dual Sided Cutting Mat
Scotch ATG 700 Tape dispenser for backing your frame
Acid free tape for Scotch Tape Dispenser
Picture hanging wire for framing
Small electric rechargeable screw gun -the best I have found for framing!
Picture Hanging kit with wire and hooks
Wire cutters/staple pullers/nail pullers
Books I Recommend
Color and Light by James Gurney
Successful Drawing by Andrew Loomis
Winsor & Newton:
Flake White
Ivory Black
Raw Sienna
Cad Yellow Medium
Cad Lemon
Permanent Alizarin Crimson (I like Van Gogh brand as well)
Burnt Sienna
Colbalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Viridian
Optional colors for landscape:
Pthalo Blue
Sap Green
Portrait
Naples Yellow ( a really good color to have)
the paper you buy)
Kneaded Eraser

Red Carnations
“Red Carnations” is a favorite painting that was created from a gift of flowers someone gave me. The pink glasses are part of my mother’s antique collection. This would look good on any wall-festive and beautiful.

A Christmas Story (Pastel Painting)
The Christmas Story is one of my favorite movies. My husband gave me a leg lamp one Christmas and I knew I had to paint it. I added the red bar of soap and the broken glasses to go along with the movie theme.
This painting is Pastel framed in black to 11×14 inches with True Vue Glass

Lady in Red
12×16 Oil on Linen
I painted this still life and some how, as if by magic, the flowers painted themselves. Truly one of my favorite paintings. Click on the photo below to see how the painting looks framed.

Peaceful Day on the Margaret Todd, Bar Harbor, Maine
Peaceful Day on the Margaret Todd, Bar Harbor, Maine is a painting I did after having a wonderful experience being on this beautiful ship on a warm summer’s day. This painting comes framed and will give you a peaceful feeling every time you see it.

Joy!
“Joy” is a 10×20 pastel painting. Joy is my mantra for 2024 and nothing brings me more joy than the ocean. I intend to share joy, receive joy, be joy and enjoy and this painting sums that up.

Northern Lights Over the Ocean
“Northern Lights Over the Ocean” 8×10 oil – This painting shows how colorful it was for a moment in time as the Northern Lights graced our presence in May. I was in awe of the beauty and knew I had to try to get it down in paint. A very moving experience … Read More