Stanrite #500 Aluminum easel
I prefer this type of easel for it’s lightweight quality. I have seen too many artists struggle with their heavy wooden French easels. On windy days, one can tie their painting bag on to this easel for ballast. This easel also folds up easily for traveling anywhere. If you do prefer a French easel, buy a Julian. I have been told that it outlasts other brands, but don’t forget the ½ size is lighter in weight.
Oil Colors
Permalba White Cadmium Yellow Cadmium Lemon
Yellow Ocre Alizarrin Crimson Burnt Sienna
French Ultramarine Pthalo Blue-Rowney Viridian
Cadmium Orange Cadmium Red-Grumbacher
Brushes
Canvas
Additional Items
- Mineral Spirits - the combination of linseed oil plus mineral spirits = medium
- Linseed Oil
- Leak proof container - to carry your medium
- Carpenter’s bag or good canvas bag – for easy access to your materials. This will become your traveling art valet. Be creative on this item. It could even be a rolling suitcase if you find one you like.
- Sunlight dishwashing liquid - for washing brushes
- Plastic box with division spaces to store your paint tubes- You need to store your paint tubes so they won’t bang into each other and become cut open by their sharp ends. There is nothing worse then a new paint tube oozing out from all directions as you try and squeeze it. Make sure it fits inside your paint bag easily.
- 9" x 12” - ¼ inch glass
- 9" x 12”- Two pieces of cardboard - Must be gray, not white
- Masking tape
- Drawing pencil - HB is good
- Sketch book - one that fits into your art bag
- Roll of Brawny paper towels - Believe me, Brawny is the best for oil painting
- Metal Cup - for medium that will slip on to your palette
- Large blue “care nothing about" shirt- denim is good. When painting one should not need to worry about their clothing. It is best that you become totally lost into your painting. This shirt also works beautifully as a rag if necessary because you never know where phthalo blue will show up. Mine is a men’s large.
- Bottle of drinking water - for outdoor painting
- Sun block - for outdoor painting
- Plastic bags for trash - the free ones you get when you shop for food
- Hat with visor or brim - for outdoor painting
- Razor Blade scraper and razor blades - to clean your palette
- Garden gloves with fingers cut out - this helps to keep you warm on cold painting days outdoors
- A piece of twine - to use to tie your art bag to the easel on a windy day
- Comfortable shoes - at times you may stand at your easel for hours, or end up walking to a beautiful painting site