Regardless of the paint colors, brushes or paper type you use, the most important thing to know is what those specific supplies are capable of doing. How? By using them over and over. By learning what they do well vs. what they don’t do well or at all. The only way to learn this is to start with a basic set of supplies, use them continuously, and test them thoroughly. The following recommendations are made based on what has worked well for me over a long period of testing.
Recommended Supplies: (These are basic items that I take when I go on location.)
.5 mm Mechanical Pencil with a LARGE twist-up white eraser and retractable point
Extra leads & erasers for the mechanical pencil
Black fine line water based ink pen (water based ink lines will bleed when water is added)
Permanent Black fine line pen (e.g. Micron Pigma or Sharpie)
Kneaded eraser
Uni-ball Signo Broad White Pigment Ink Pen
Waterbrush, large round
Waterbrush, flat
6” ruler (clear plastic is best so that you can use it to line up edges on doors, windows, etc.)
Small folding palette with a minimum of 20 separate wells with a lid that can be closed
Small washcloth or towel
Paper towels
Travel facial tissues (the inexpensive kind work the best)
Sketchbook with watercolor paper suitable for chosen medium (e.g. 140 lb. CP watercolor paper)
Wax Crayon (for saving whites)
Lightweight Tote Bag big enough for all the supplies
Other Items to Use on Location
Bug spray
Rain poncho or umbrella
Sun screen
Light-Colored Hat
Bottle of drinking water
Extra batteries and memory stick for camera
Remember to ALWAYS wear comfy shoes, dress in layers, and bring a rain poncho!
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Watercolor Pigments
All of the watercolors recommended on the following pages are professional grade and are chosen for their specific properties.
I strongly recommend using professional grade pigments and NOT student grade pigments. Using professional grade paints will increase your chances for a successful, more enjoyable painting experience. Student grade pigments tend to make the learning process more difficult and prolonged.
My second recommendation is that you go by the pigment number on each individual tube rather than by the paint name when purchasing paint from more than one brand/manufacturer. There is NO consistency from paint name to paint name, manufacturer to manufacturer. You must use the pigment number to get a "like" paint and even then the color will sometimes vary due to the different processes used by each manufacturer.
Recommended Pigments by Pigment Number, Brand and Color Names:
Daniel Smith (DS) Hansa Yellow Medium* - PY97 • Substitute: WN Winsor Lemon - PY175
DS Perylene Red - PR178 • Substitute: WN Winsor Red Deep - PR254
DS French Ultramarine Blue* - PB29 • Substitute: WN French Ultramarine Blue - PB29
(*The three pigments above are available at Daniel Smith as a triad at a reduced price - item number 285 250 066.)
DS Raw Sienna - PBr7 • Substitute: WN Raw Sienna - PY42/PR101
DS Burnt Sienna - PBr7 • Substitute: WN Burnt Sienna - PR101
DS Burnt Umber - PBr7 • Substitute: WN Burnt Umber - PBr7/PR101/PY42
DS Indian Red - PR101 • Substitute: WN Indian Red -- PR101
DS Isoindoline Yellow - PY139 • Substitute: WN Indian Yellow - PY153/PO62
DS Pyrrol Orange - PO73 • Substitute: WN Winsor Orange RS - PO73
DS Quinacridone Rose - PV19 • Substitute: WN Permanent Rose - PV19
DS Cobalt Blue - PB28 • Substitute: WN Cobalt Blue - PB28
DS Cobalt Teal Blue - PG50 • Substitute: WN Cobalt Turquoise Light PG 50
DS Sap Green - PO49/PG7 • Substitute: WN Permanent Sap Green - PG36/PY110
DS Shadow Violet - PO73/B29/G18 • Substitute: None available
Holbein Mineral Violet • Substitute: None available
M. Graham Neutral Tint • Substitute: None available
The following colors are also available as a triad from Daniel Smith:
DS Carbazole Violet* - PV23 RS • Substitute: WN Winsor Violet (PV 23)
DS Undersea Green* - PB29/PO49 • Substitute: None available
DS Quinacridone Burnt Orange* - PO48 • Substitute: None available
(*The three pigments above are available at Daniel Smith as a triad at a reduced price - item number 285 250 077.)
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Resources:
There are many art supplies houses online as well as local dealers that may have these supplies. Please note that Imaginary Trips is now an affiliate of Daniel Smith. It is my hope that by building up a presence with them that eventually, you will be able to call up and order an Imaginary Trips' “kit.”
By clicking on the Daniel Smith graphic below, you can enter the DS site, order your supplies and be ready for your next "Imaginary Trip!!
By clicking on the Daniel Smith graphic below, you can enter the DS site, order your supplies and be ready for your next "Imaginary Trip!!
| Click Logo to enter the Daniel Smith web site |
Cheap Joes’s Art Supplies
www.cheapjoes.com
800.227.2788
They carry: M. Graham watercolor paints, Niji waterbrushes
Daniel Smith (Please enter through Imaginary Trips web site! Thank you!!)
www.danielsmith.com
800.426.6740
They carry: Daniel Smith watercolor paints, Niji waterbrushes
Dick Blick Art Materials
www.dickblick.com
800.828.4548
They carry: M. Graham watercolor paints, Niji waterbrushes
Jet Pens
www.JetPens.com
They carry: Uniball White Gel Rollerball
Pentel
www.pentelstore.com
760.200.0547
They carry: Aquash waterbrushes
Opus Framing Supplies (does not ship to the US)
https://store.opusframing.com/sagro/storefront/store.php?mode=browsecategory&category=544
800.663 .6953
Holbein waterbrushes
Jackson Art Supplies
http://www.jacksonsart.co.uk/images/fp_jacksonsuk.php
Jackson’s is located in the UK and now carries Daniel Smith watercolors!
