My Favorite Art Materials...

As an artist, I'm constantly being asked about my favorite art-brands and materials. There are so many wonderful products on the market today that it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming just to search through the many stores, catalogs, and websites, to find what I need. I've found however that doing personal research -and ultimately testing the materials for myself- is just about the most beneficial method of making choices that I can feel good about where my art supplies are concerned. 

Another great way of getting started though is to find out what products other artists are using, and give them a try. So, here I've compiled an updated list of what I use to make my art...

 Please note: I'm not the final authority on the subject of art-materials by any means (nor am I endorsed by any of the companies mentioned here), and my own list has certainly evolved over the years. But, I wanted to share with you a little of what I know, in the hopes that you'll take it -and perhaps adopt parts that you need from it- and expand from there.

Due to the number of emails I receive daily, I'm no longer able to answer them individually. Please read through the list below and contact your local art supply store, or the companies mentioned, with questions regarding the materials listed.

 Enjoy!

~Paints~

Windsor & Newton

~Alizerin Crimson

~Cadmium Red

~Cadmium Yellow Pale

~Permanent Rose

~Terra Rosa

~Yellow Ocher Pale

Rembrandt

~Cadmium Lemon

~Cadmium Yellow Deep

~Cadmium Orange

~Cobalt Blue Light

~Transparent Oxide Red

~Transparent Oxide Brown

~Ultramarine Blue Deep

~Viridian

Holbein

~Cadmium Green Light

Lefranc & Bourgeois 

~Titanium White

Other recommended brands:
Holbein, Gamblin, Old Holland

~Canvas~

 I use canvas made by New Traditions Art Panels www.newtraditionsartpanels.com 

 L600 primed linen is very smooth and is available on birch or gatorfoam boards. It's also available by the roll.

~Brushes~

My favorite brushes come from Rosemary & Co! www.rosemaryandco.com 

 I use the following series' in all available sizes:

 2025 "Chunking" bristle, long flats

 

"Ivory" filberts and flats.

 

"Mongoose" series' 272 (rounds [smaller sizes]), 275 (angular), 278 (filberts), 279 (flats)

~Medium~

I make my own medium using three ingredients and a ratio of 5-1-1: Rectified Turpentine (five parts), Stand Oil (one part), and Damar Varnish (one part). 
Mix all three ingredients in a lidded jar (using the 5-1-1 ratio), and use as needed to thin paints while painting.