Christina Weaver
Painting in the Garden
Materials List

Below are the materials I use and recommend. You may have similar supplies that are suitable.

NOTE: This is an all-day outdoor painting class, so plan accordingly with practical, layered clothing, sun protection, and plenty of snacks and water. Students will provide their own packed lunches and must carry/set up their own equipment and supplies. In the event of stormy weather, we will paint plants inside at either the Botanical Gardens or at Alia Fine Art Studios.

EASEL
You will need a solidly built, portable easel. Whatever style you are comfortable with is fine.  I use a wooden French landscaping easel. It folds up, has a carrying strap, and stores some supplies.

UMBRELLA
I suggest an umbrella for shading your painting and palette. Purchase a sturdy, neutral-colored (white/gray/black) one that clamps firmly onto your easel. Search “plein air umbrella” to see what is available.

OIL PAINTS & MEDIUM
Gamblin Artist Grade Oil Colors or Winsor & Newton Artist’s Oil Colors (not water mixable)

37 ml tubes:
Titanium White
Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Red Light
India Yellow
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Cadmium Lemon
Phthalo Turquoise
Ultramarine Blue / French Ultramarine

Gamblin Solvent-Free Medium (gel or liquid)

BRUSHES & KNIVES
3” trowel–shaped palette knife, metal
Princeton Aspen Series 6500 synthetic bristle brushes:
4 Flat, sizes 2, 4, 6, 8
4 Filbert,sizes 2, 4, 6, 8

PALETTE
My plein air palette is an 11×14” piece of glass on top of white mat board, backed by the wooden palette that came with and fits into the French easel. The layers are wrapped together around the edges with duct tape. Consider some sort of palette stand if there is no place to rest it on your easel. Reinforce and bubble wrap palette before transport.

PAINTING SURFACE
Bring 3 prepared canvases or panels:
1 square or rectangular, no smaller than 9” and no larger than 18” in either direction
2 small, any size (backup for indoor painting/ change of weather).

I encourage you to make your own painting substrates. Oil-primed linen, oil-primed canvas, and oil-primed wood are ideal. Size your fabric or surface with PVA or acrylic gesso. Then apply 2 or 3 thin coats of Gamblin oil ground with a disposable bristle brush. Sand lightly after each application, and allow to dry for a week before oil painting. If acrylic primer is used, I recommend Golden Gesso.

SOLVENT
Gamsol

2 containers with tight-fitting lids (jam jars work well, but consider taping entire surface with packaging tape, incase of breakage, this will contain most glass shards).

*DO NOT TAKE SOLVENT ON AN AIRPLANE*
Alia Fine Art Studios will provide Gamsol for those students who are flying.

OTHER SUPPLIES
Ruler
Razor scraper (for cleaning glass palette)
Paper towels or cotton rags (bring plenty)
Trash bags
Folding stool or chair if needed
Brimmed Hat

questions?
Contact info@alia-fineart.com