Supply List

Supply List for DEMYSTIFYING PORTRAITS IN WATERCOLOR – with Janine Helton

Watercolors (Artist Grade Watercolors in tubes)
Use whatever colors you have, but your palette should include at least one warm and one cool version of each primary color … transparent, non-staining, single pigment colors if possible (colors followed by an * are exceptions to my single pigment rule). My current colors are listed, but don't feel you have to buy them if you have something comparable.

Maimeri Blu Permanent Yellow Lemon PY175 (any brand is fine - cool yellows lean toward green)
Winsor Newton (WN) Winsor Yellow Deep PY65 (warm yellows lean toward orange)
Daniel Smith (DS) Quinacridone Gold PY50 (any brand is fine)
DS Quinacridone Burnt Orange PO48 or Holbein Burnt Sienna Pbr7
Mijello: Mission Red Brown Pbr25 or DS Permanent Brown Pbr25 (virtually identical)
Holbein Brilliant Orange PO73
WN Scarlet Lake PR188 (warm reds lean toward orange)
DS Quinacridone Coral PR209
DS Quinacridone Rose PV19 (cool reds lean toward purple)
DS Quinacridone Magenta PR202
WN Perylene Maroon PR179
WN Indigo PBk6, PV19, PB15 *
M.Graham Ultramarine Blue PB29 (warm blues lean toward purple)
Holbein Peacock Blue PG7, PB15 * (cool blues lean toward yellow)
WN Hooker's Green PY110, PG36 *
Pthalo Blue Green Shade PB15:3 (any brand is fine– I mix this with Perylene Maroon in a separate container for a pre-mixed black)

Optional colors:

Holbein Mineral Violet PB29, PR122, PBR25 *
M.Graham Azo Green PY129 (this is my fun color!)
DaVinci Cobalt Blue PB28 (any brand is fine)

Paper – I strongly recommend Arches 300 lb (640 gsm) natural white hot press paper. It is a little pricey, but the results are worth it. I'll be working on a quarter sheet (15” x 11”) for my demonstration. DO NOT use 140 lb hot press paper or student grade paper.

Palette – Your palette should hold at least 16 colors and have large mixing areas. Additional shallow bowls or small jars would be helpful if your palette isn't adequate.

Brushes – I prefer natural hair round brushes for this technique. Round brushes that have a combination of natural and synthetic hair would be a good substitute at a lower cost, and I'd like you to work with larger brushes which will help you stay loose as you paint. I use the following:

Series 8404 #16 Raphael Kolinsky Sable Round (unfortunately my supplier no longer carries this size).
Rosemary & Co. Series 33 sizes 9 and 12 Pure Kolinsky Pointed Rounds. Wind River Arts in the U.S. also carries Rosemary & Co. products.
Trekell Protégé Plus Round - 7600 Series - sizes 8 and 12 (A great synthetic with a sharp point that I sometimes use for fine details.)
Rosemary & Co. The Eradicator Brush, sizes small and medium.

Support board – I mount my paper (and reference photo) to a lightweight Helix wood drawing board using push pins (you can also use bulldog clips).

Easel – We will be working upright on an easel. Any sturdy, stable table easel or standing easel will suffice.

Towels – I use a large kitchen sponge and a roll of blue shop towels, but any absorbent cloth or paper towels will work.

Subject matter – Please prepare a careful drawing prior to class so we can focus on painting right from the start. Use the reference photograph provided to project or trace. Feel free to bring a second prepared drawing of your choice if you are a fast painter.

Miscellaneous – 2B pencil (a mechanical pencil is good), kneaded eraser, two water containers, masking fluid (I like Incredible White Mask).

DEMYSTIFYING PORTRAITS IN WATERCOLOR – About Your Drawing

It's best if you paint someone you don't know for your first painting.
Do not use a photograph taken with a flash. It's important to have a photograph with good light and dark value contrast.
Try to enlarge your photo reference so that it is close to the size of your painting, preferably in black and white.
Avoid using copyrighted photographs for your reference. It's good to get in the habit of taking your own photos. A good source for free photos is Unsplash.
I recommend you use a quarter sheet of Arches 300lb (640gsm) watercolor paper. Please read through all the steps below before you begin to draw.

Do a careful, detailed drawing. Draw lightly and include important shapes, such as shadows and value changes. (An image will be provided for you prior to class.) It takes time to put in this much detail, but it will provide a good foundation and give you more freedom as you begin painting.
Avoid drawing anything in the background, unless you think it is important to your concept. The subject's head/shoulders should take up the majority of space.
Transfer your drawing onto the watercolor paper prior to the workshop so you will be ready to paint. You may choose to trace and transfer with graphite paper (which is tricky because it will be difficult to erase), or use a lightbox or projector. I currently use an AuKing Projector — see image below for my setup. If you choose to draw freehand directly onto the watercolor paper, be sure you don't disturb the paper's surface with too much erasing.