I received my BFA in 2022 and the products recommended on this list are a mix of what I received in collage and what I have experimented with that have worked for me and my style of painting
Sections
9
Cleaning
Furniture & Storage
Supplies
Mediums
Essentials
Accessories
Cleaning
You need a good cleaner if you are using oil paint. Dawn dish soap is a good alternative but it does wear your brushes down faster than a high quality grade oil brush cleaner.
The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver | BLICK Art Materials
This will help separate your bristles when cleaning your brushes with a cleaner. If you decide to use dish dawn soap, you could fill with water and soap and begin “brushing” your brushes against the coils.
Silicoil Brush Cleaning Tank | BLICK Art Materials
Furniture & Storage
With out a doubt you have to invest in a quality easel
MEEDEN Versatile Studio H-Frame Artist Easel-W14
Only for table top use. I only and highly reccomend this size for small prints. You will have better control of your surface area.
Daylight Smart Go LED Travel Lamp | BLICK Art Materials
You do not need anything fancy if you’re starting out. This will make do until you need more storage as your supplies grow. You cannot paint without proper storage and organization
Blick 3 Tier Cart | BLICK Art Materials
Storage for your roller carts
artPOP! Stackable Storage Caddy Set | BLICK Art Materials
OttLite Capture Clip-On LED Ring Light | BLICK Art Materials
Supplies
If you aren’t wrapping your paint around then you need tape around the border of your canvas. It will not look clean and professional if you dont.
Scotch Painter's Tape - 1.41" x 60 yards
Mediums
If you are working with oil, seed oil is your best friend. Learn to work with it because it will help move your paint around better if your oil paint has been sitting for a couple of days.
Gamblin Refined Linseed Oil | BLICK Art Materials
Walnut oil and seed oil can be used interchangeably but walnut oil drys slower and leaves less yellow tint over time.
M. Graham Walnut Oil | BLICK Art Materials
Oil painting takes a very long time to dry. Only use this if you are looking to speed up the process. I personally will use this when I first start my painting to have that first layer “draft” dry faster and then I can begin layering my paint.
Winsor & Newton Liquin Original Medium | BLICK Art Materials
Essentials
Absolutely do not get plastic knifes. They WILL break or be too flimsy to mix a lot of paint at once.
Blick Palette Knives and Sets by RGM | BLICK Art Materials
You have to have a scraper. You cannot paint in oil without one or you will be scraping off paint forever or will never get it fully off.
Excel Blades K11 Hand-Held Scraper With Blades | BLICK Art Materials
Everyone needs a mixing pallet but I highly recommend a reusable glass one. Your paints will last longer and won’t be soaked up by any plastic paper pallets. It will also be easier to scrape off any dried paint and leave less scratch marks over time.
Posh Glass Tabletop Palette, Clear - 16" x 20"
Accessories
Plastic mesh bags are necessary for paint storage. It will get messy and paint on it. It’s easier to clean in my opinion because it doesn’t stain. And see through bags will allow you to see what you are carrying and organize better.
Itoya I-Series Art Profolio - 8 1/2" x 11", Black, Portrait, 90 Pages
For larger scale paintings and drawings
Itoya Profolio Poster Binder | BLICK Art Materaials
Get a mesh bag for your art work so you can see what you are carrying. If you are in class or need to pull out work quickly, you do not want to rummage through your bags.
Blick Mesh Zipper Bag - 24" x 32"
Notebooks & Sketch Pads
Mixed media sketchbook is usually my go too. It’s thicker and easier to sketch and shade in. You can easily put paint in these pages as well so you aren’t limited to pencil etc.
Canson Mix Media ArtBooks | BLICK Art Materials
Canvases
Unrolled canvas for stretching. This also needs to be primed. I reccomend this for more advanced students
Blick Unprimed Cotton Canvas By the Yard | BLICK Art Materials
Heavy weight canvas is going to be a good option for larger scale paintings and heavier paintings that are being layered with oil paint.
Blick Premier Heavyweight Stretched Cotton Canvas | BLICK Art Materials
Paint
Basic primary colors you will need to start with.
Winsor & Newton Artists' Oil Paints and Sets | BLICK Art Materials
