Acrylic Painting for Absolute Beginners

Instructor(s): Shima Rabiee, Susan Rowe Harrison, Verdiana Patacchini, Zach Seeger

Supply list for Shima Rabiee

  • Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
  • Titanium White
  •  Cadmium Yellow Light
  •  Cadmium Red Light
  • Quinacridone Red (OR Alizarin Crimson)
  •  Cerulean Blue
  •  Ultramarine Blue
  •  Permanent Green Light
  •  Burnt Sienna
  • Raw Umber
  • (Optional) Medium Magenta
  • (Optional) Cadmium yellow Dark
  •  (Optional) Yellow Ochre
  • (Optional) Mars Black
  • Masterson Sta-Wet Premier Palette 1¾” x16" x 12”  https://www.dickblick.com/products/masterson-sta-wetpremier-palette/
  • Blick Palette Paper Pad - 12" x 16", 50 Sheets https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-palettepaper-pad-12-x-16-50-sheets/
  • 4 Blick Studio Cotton Canvas Panels - 9"x 12", Pkg of 5  https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-canvaspanel-9-x-12-pkg-of-5/
  • Uline Cylinder Spray Bottle - 4 oz, https://www.dickblick.com/items/ulinecylinder-spray-bottle-4-oz/
  •  Golden Open Acrylic Medium - Gloss, 8oz bottle, https://www.dickblick.com/items/golden-openacrylic-medium-gloss-8-oz-bottle/
  • Blick Painting Knife - Small Spade 46, Item #:03117-1046, https://www.dickblick.com/items/blickpainting-knife-style-46/
  • Sakura Pigma Micron Pen - Sepia, 08 https://www.dickblick.com/items/sakurapigma-micron-sepia-08/
  • Assortment of flat and round synthetic bristle brushes:
  • Winsor & Newton Monarch Mongoose Brush-Flat, Long Handle, Size 4, Item #:05276-1004
  • Winsor & Newton Monarch Mongoose Brush-Flat, Long Handle, Size 10, Item #:05276-1010
  •  Winsor & Newton Monarch Mongoose Brush-Round, Long Handle, Size 2, Item #:05277-1002
  • Robert Simmons Signet Brush - Flat, Long Handle, Size 6, Item #:06646-1006
  • Robert Simmons Signet Brush - Flat, Long Handle, Size 2, Item #:06646-1002• Paper towels
  • One container or jar for water
  • One drawing pad (9”x12”) and a soft pencil for the initial drawings

Optional Materials

Blick Classic Black Apron, Item #: 04526-2020

Suggested Art Supply Stores

Blick Art Materials, 1-5 Bond St. (East of Broadway), 212.533.2444 and additional locations https://www.dickblick.com/stores/newyork

Supply list for Susan Rowe Harrison

Paints: (Required) 2 oz Tubes

My favorite brand for Acrylic Paint is Golden, but if you're looking to save money, Liquitex and Blick student-grade paints are also good options. Look for “Hue” versions to save money.

  • Cadmium Yellow Light Hue (Warm Yellow)
  • Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue or Hansa Yellow (Cool Yellow)
  • Cadmium Red Hue (Warm Red)
  • Quinacridone Magenta (Cool Red)
  • French Ultramarine Blue (Warm Blue)
  • Phthalo Blue or Cobalt Blue Hue (Cool Blue)
  • Titanium White (Large tube if possible)
  • Raw Umber (Earth tone, mixes black with Ultramarine)

Or, a value set Blick Studio Acrylics - Set of 6 colors, 120 ml tubes (22.67) including one each of Titanium White, Mars Black, Cadmium Red Medium Hue, Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue, Ultramarine Blue, and Phthalo Green. If your budget allows, also buy Quinacridone Magenta and Raw Umber.

Additional Supplies (Required)

  • Palette – Blick Paper Palette Pad - 12" x 16", 50 Sheets, or a white plate that you do not use.
  • Palette knife – for mixing paint, Small Spade #46
  • The Master's Brush Cleaner and Preserver - Studio Cake, 2-5/8 oz
  • A few rags
  • One container or jar for water—plastic as glass breaks
  • One drawing pad, sketchbook, or copy paper (9”x12” if possible)
  • Pencil or pencils—no need to purchase a set if you don’t already have them. Any pencil works. [Nice to have 2B and 2H]
  • 6 Brushes – Assortment of flat and round synthetic bristle brushes: Note: If you have these already, bring what you have, otherwise purchase the following: Assorted sizes, synthetic or natural [At blick.com: Princeton Series 6300 Dakota Synthetic Bristle Brush - Set of 4 (37.56) or Blick Scholastic White Hog Bristle Set - Set of 6 (39.66)]
  • 1 Package: Pre-primed 5 Blick Studio Cotton Canvas Panels - 9"x 12”
  • +1 Blick Studio Cotton Canvas Panel- 9 x12
    • *NOTE: For the 7-session Acrylic class purchase +2 Blick Studio Cotton Canvas Panel- 9 x12
  • The Master's Brush Cleaner Soap – for cleaning brushes
  • Rags or Paper Towels – for wiping brushes

Optional Materials

These colors expand your range and help with advanced mixing:

  • Yellow Ochre (Warm, muted yellow – good for portraits)
  • Dioxazine Purple (Deep violet – strong pigment)
  • Phthalo Green (Blue Shade) (Use with Alizarin to mix black)
  • Cerulean Blue Hue (Lighter, sky-like blue)
  • Viridian Green Hue (Easier than Phthalo for beginners)
  • Permanent Rose (Versatile pink/violet mixing color)

Suggested Art Supply Stores

Blick Art Materials, 1-5 Bond St. (East of Broadway), 212.533.2444 and additional locations https://www.dickblick.com/stores/newyork

Helpful Notes

  • Paints labeled "Hue" are student-grade and more affordable. They still perform well for learning!
  • You can mix your own blacks using Raw Umber + Ultramarine Blue or Phthalo Green + Alizarin Crimson.
  • Start small — you can always expand your palette later!

Supply list for Verdiana Patacchini

  • Drawing set https://www.dickblick.com/items/generals-drawing-class-essential-tools-kit/?clicktracking=true&wmcp=pla&wmcid=items&wmckw=20331-
  • 3 pre-stretched canvases sized 16”x 20” or 18” x 24” or 11”x14”
  • Assortment of 6 flat and round synthetic bristle brushes
  • 1 set Blick primary colors acrylic paints https://www.dickblick.com/items/blickrylic-student-acrylics-primary-colors-set-of-6-2-oz-bottles/
  • Acrylic Paint (Liquitex or Golden brands recommended)(suggested set  https://www.dickblick.com/items/liquitex-professional-heavy-body-acrylic-paint-set-of-24-essential-colors-22-ml-tube/ or listed colors below and please add colors you love!
    • Alizarin Crimson
    • Cadmium Yellow Light
    • Cadmium Red Light
    • Cobalt Blue
    • Permanent Green Light
    • Raw Umber
    • Titanium White (large tube)
    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Pink
    • Purple
    • Pyne Gray
    • Mars Black
    • Light blue
    • Orange
    • Naples Yellow or Yellow Ochre
    • Matte Medium 8 oz.
  • Palette knife
  • Disposable Palette paper pad
  • old rags or paper towels and jars or cups

Suggested Art Supply Stores

Blick Art Materials, 1-5 Bond St. (East of Broadway), 212.533.2444 and additional locations https://www.dickblick.com/stores/newyork

Supply list for Zach Seeger

  • Acrylic Paint (Golden colors recommended)
    • Cadmium lemon
    • Permanent green light
    • Alizarin crimson
    • Cadmium red light
    • Cobalt blue
    • Ultramarine blue
    • Titanium white (large tube)
  • Brushes
    • Recommended Bristle brushes are great for acrylic paint- should be synthetic (nylon) not natural bristle. Select a range of sizes, small and large (from #4 to #12) for: Flats, Rounds & Filberts.
  • Canvases
    • 2- 3 pre-stretched canvas boards or pre-stretched canvases size 16”x 20” or 18” x 24”
  • Disposable palette, plastic container or surface to mix paint
  • 2 water containers, can be from recycling bin
  • Paper towels
  • 8 oz. matte medium (liquitex or golden)

Suggested Art Supply Stores

 Blick Art Materials, 1-5 Bond St. (East of Broadway), 212.533.2444 and additional locations https://www.dickblick.com/stores/newyork