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Michael's favs
40
items Sections
6
Paint
Painting Mediums
Tools
Equipment
Substrates
Paintbrushes
Paint
This is the only varnish I use, and I usually get it from Michael's!
Gamblin Gamsol
Here are the 37ml oil paints I usually use from Michaels :)
Gamblin Artist Grade Oil Colors, 37mL
I praise this color for its IMMENSE tinting strength for a yellow. A little goes a long way.
Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paint - Indian Yellow, 37 ml tube
These handmade paints are just amazing. I have a few of the tubes and they are some of my favorite professional grade handmade oil paints.
Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints - Set of 13, Basic ...
A decent student grade paint that is faster drying and I use them all the time.
Utrecht Artists' Oil Paint - Set of 9, Portrait Colors, 37 ml
Another tube of paint I actually own and I love it for its muted almost fleshy quality, but it's also great for sand or subduing colors without flattening them too much.
Unbleached Titanium Pale, 150 ml tube
Painting Mediums
I do not ventilate my studio, so if I ever want to paint with more than JUST oil as my medium, I will also use this since it does not contain volatile organic compounds. (I would need to vent my space for that, but I usually just go with oil)
Gamblin Solvent-Free Fluid
I use safflower oil all the time. I don't use this brand, but they don't offer the one I currently have.
Rublev Safflower Oil - 236 ml
This is the exact oil I use to paint most of my paintings and it smells good too :D
Walnut Oil Medium, 4 oz bottle
When I can vent, or when I want to paint outside (and in a hurry) this medium lets my paints dry much faster.
Winsor & Newton® Liquin
I use this when I want my painting to dry faster, but it needs ventilation or to paint outside. It is much thinner than Liquin original, so it is true that it is better for the final detail layers.
Winsor & Newton™ Liquin™ 75mL Fine Detail Medium
Galkyd is a lot like liquin but it is not goopy like liquin. I don't know how to describe it, but you also need to ventilate the area or paint with it outside just like with liquin. I almost prefer galkyd, but I am a creature of habit so I usually us...
Gamblin Galkyd
I don't always paint with impasto medium anymore especially since I don't ventilate, but if I want my painting to be THICK and to dry faster, I will use this and paint outside. I prefer to paint thickly, but my style has evolved lately to be a thinne...
Winsor & Newton Liquin - Impasto Medium, 200 ml tube
This stuff is so interesting to work with. I haven't worked with it in a while, but it also needs ventilation or to be worked with outside. It dries matte and it thickens the paint. It also makes it slightly more transparent. I recommend trying it. I...
Gamblin Cold Wax Medium
Tools
Hands down my favorite palette knife shape and I have had this exact palette knife before my dog ate mine.
LK-3 | Langnickel™ Palette Knife
The exact tube wringer that I use (when I remember! and when my paint is running out…) I should probably upgrade to the metal one, but this one does the trick! AMAZING.
Gill Mechanical Light-Duty Tube-Wringer
When I make my own canvases, this is a MUST-HAVE. It saves my hands!
Art Advantage Canvas Pliers
I have one of these somewhere and I need to find it or buy it again! The cups I currently have do not have lids and I highly recommend lids if you have pets!!
Large Mouth Double Dipper Pallete Cup
I am going to get this soon because I don't trust the plastic as much. It is FINE but some of my tubes of paint are OLD and need the extra help.
Gill Mechanical Heavy-Duty Tube-Wringer
This is a must have if you plan to make your own canvases.
Arrow Fastener DYI Electric Staple Gun
Low budget option to use if you want to make your own canvases. I believe I have used this before and it was a lot easier than using a regular staple gun.
Surebonder Easy Tacker Light-Duty Staple Gun
This is essential if you want to remove paintings or canvas from stretcher bars.
Dritz® Home Heavy Duty Staple Remover
Equipment
I own 2 of this exact palette. I use them when I am painting a LOT. Somehow it still doesn't feel like enough palette, but it is the largest size the company makes. It fits perfectly inside the air tight container that I use which is also in this lis...
New Wave Art Posh Glass Grey 12X16 Table Top Palette
This is the air tight container that I use for my tempered glass palettes. I have 2 of them and they are amazing (when I remember to close them tightly!!! Which is almost never LOL)
Masterson Palette Seal - 16" x 12"
This is either the exact wooden palette I have or very close to it. I use this exact brand, but I know they have a few different designs for their wooden palettes. This is very much like mine, if not the same. Remember to wipe it down right away and ...
20-1/2" x 16" x 1/5", Expressionist Confidant, Left Hand
I have this exact easel in a different finish from YEARS ago. If I ever want to paint on a table without the hassle of a large easel, I use this.
Deluxe Adjustable Box Table Easel by Artist's Loft™
This is not EXACTLY like my easel, but it is very close! It is the same brand, but it only holds one canvas at a time.
Meeden XL Heavy Duty Easel- 26" W x 28" D, 80" - 142" H
Substrates
I usually buy my canvases in bulk from Michael's if I am not making my own! This has saved me a lot of money and time!
Level 3 Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas by Artist's Loft®
This is the best gesso for white canvases :D
Golden Acrylic Gesso - White, 128 oz tub
What would this list be without BLACK gesso?
Liquitex® Black Gesso
Here are some 16x20" canvases in bulk! I have purchased these as well before from Michael's!
Level 3 Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas by Artist's Loft®
I absolutely LOVE painting on wooden panels. I might switch back to doing this sometime soon. Painting just FEELS different and you can get a lot more detailed with less effort. It
Cradled Wood Painting Panel Pack by Artist's Loft ...
Use this if you want to make your own canvas but want to gesso a little less.
Unstretched Canvas Rolls for Painting, Oil & Acrylic, Murals
This stuff is WAY thicker and better than the stuff that is premade. I have a roll of this stuff for stretching my own canvases.
Premium 10 oz Natural Cotton Canvas Fabric by the Yard - 62" Wide | Duke Duck Cloth for Painting, Upholstery & Crafts - Michaels
Paintbrushes
Artify actually sent me these for free to try, and I use them in oil painting. They are nice to work with and affordable.
ARTIFY 12 PCS Watercolor Brushes, Synthetic Nylon Paint ...
Artify also sent me these brushes for free to try, and they are pretty awesome. I use them regularly as well. They are soft.
ARTIFY 25 Pieces Paint Brush Set, Expert Series ...
Artify also sent me these brushes and they are by far my favorite of the sets they sent me to try. They are soft, but they have a bounce to them. They are firmer than the others.
ARTIFY 15 Pieces Paint Brush Set for Acrylic Oil ...
Artify also sent me these brushes to try out. I also use them regularly for my detail work now. They are great!
Artify Extreme Detail Paint Brushes, Miniature ...
You need something to apply gesso to your canvases. I will use these or a house paintbrush.
Gold Taklon Large Area Flat Brush Pack by Craft Smart®
This is for VARNISH only and this is the brush I use.
Gamblin Gamvar Synthetic Varnish Brush - 50 mm