YOU WILL NEED
Oil paints!*
Linseed oil
Oil painting varnish
This is the only smelly stuff: either turpentine, or artists’ white spirit, or Sansodor - a brush cleaner - and methylated spirits**
Brushes: brushes are available here: https://www.theperfectbrush.co.uk - the Humours series is suited for oils and older Elemental brushes such as Rocks, Clouds and Water brushes, plus any brushes at all that you already own
Surface: a bespoke copper painting surface we made that doubles up as a beautiful bookmark is available here: https://www.theperfectbrush.co.uk - this comes as a set with a wooden golden section composition guide stencil and a wood palette
Rough paper or old newspapers and kitchen rolls
Old towels or rags
An apron (optional, I teach oil paints in a clean, non-messy way but you never know)
A barrier cream for your hands (optional, you can also rub a dab of olive oil into your hands prior to painting)
Sandpaper (fine grit)
Tracing paper
White chalk
A mind so open it can encompass the whole universe
A clove of garlic
*Oil paints in small tubes: definitely ivory black, titanium white, burnt umber, burnt sienna, raw umber, raw sienna, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, cadmium red and cadmium yellow. You often find many of these as a set.
Then: phthalo green, phthalo blue, phthalo turquoise, magenta, permanent alizarin crimson, dioxazine violet or another cool purple, sap green, cobalt turquoise, cerulean blue, Payne’s grey, lemon yellow, Naples yellow, Mars or Venetian red, indigo, gold and silver and really any colour that takes your fancy!
Lastly, buy an extra titanium white as a large tube. It’s worth it.
**aka meths, aka purple spirits, aka not for children, easily available in pharmacies/chemists/apothecaries. At a push, you could use vodka.
Wear clean white gloves and a mask.