Williamsburg Oil Paints:

My favorite brand to use these days! Although I use a variety of paints across various brands, Williamsburg paints provide quality and a reasonable price tag compared to other brands. I like that the texture isn’t sticky and works well with mediums or on its own. I’d recommend starting out with a paint set ($96.45) before moving on to collecting individual colors that you find appealing.

A list of colors I use include: Titanium white, King’s Blue, Indian Yellow, Cadmium Yellow Deep, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Red Deep, Alizarin Crimson, Transparent Oxide Red, Phthalo Green, Ivory Black, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue Deep

Buy here on DickBlick: Williamsburg Oil Paints 7 tube set - $87

PEBEO OIL PAINTS:

The most bang for your buck. I recommend this brand for beginners and students who are trying to watch how much they spend. I often have large tubes of this in select colors from which I can add more potent paints. This is great for covering large areas of a canvas like base coats, or large open areas. It’s great for using as a base color to then add various colors from other brands that are of higher pigmentation to alter the color to your liking. I painted exclusively with this brand of paint for 3 years until I started dabbling with other brands. I still have a soft spot for this company and use various colors every single day. A large tube may cost around 8-10$. The price is more affordable due to the company using filler and artificial colors for pigmentation but honestly, I still endorse them due to the quality and color being more than solid..

Buy the set on Amazon here: PEBEO Studio XL Fine Oil Paints Set of 10 Assorted 20ml Tubes $15

Buy individual colors on DickBlick: PEBEO Studio XL individual Colors - Bright Blue, Chartreuse Yellow, Neutral Gray, Zinc White starting at $8

Disposable Paper Palettes:

I’ve been using these palettes for the last 5 years and have not been convinced to switch over to glass or other brands of paper palettes. I usually have a paper palette for each separate painting I’m working on to be able to rotate palettes while I work on multiple paintings at once. I cover up the palettes with Saran Wrap to slow down the drying of paints to be able to work on a piece over the course of several days without having to remix colors or add on fresh paint.

Buy here on DickBlick: New Wave 11x16" Neutral Grey Ergonomic Handheld Disposable Paper Palette Pad $11

ROSEMARY BRUSHES:

The highest quality of brushes I’ve used that dramatically helped me improve my painting. These are $$$ but worth every penny. If you’re a beginner artist I may suggest using more affordable brushes, but if you are interested in investing in brushes from the very start, these are the ones I would jump on!

IVORY LONG FLAT: size 2, 4, 6, 12.

The flat edge is great for cutting straight lines and edges. I usually recommend ordering 2 of each size, one brush used for lights and the other for darks.

Buy the brushes on Rosemaryandco website here: https://www.rosemaryandco.com/ivory-long-flats?u=beaufrank

SERIES 99. POINTED PURE SABLE: size 5, 7

I like the pointed sable for detail work and creating dynamic brushstrokes. I can use just the tip for details or apply pressure at an angle to fill in areas and vary my brush work. I usually recommend ordering 2 of each size, one brush for lights and one for darks.

total cost to buy 8 Ivory long flats in sizes listed above and 4 series 99 pointed pure sable is approximately $110

Buy the brushes on Rosemaryandco website here: https://www.rosemaryandco.com/pointed-pure-red-sable?u=beaufrank

USE CODE: BEAUFRANK

WINSOR & NEWTON LIQUIN ORIGINAL MEDIUM

I recommend the 8.4 oz bottle size because the large bottles can yellow and harden around the cap over time making it difficult to open. The smaller sizes can be used up too quickly. Only place as much liquin as you need on your palette per use. Wipe away unused liquin after each paint session and toss in covered trash can lid. Liquin can smell and is toxic so I recommend wearing gloves while painting. This product helps to speed up drying time dramatically which is my #1 reason for using it. It’s a gel-like substance that dries like concrete so be sure to clean brushes thoroughly after each session when using this product. Liquin is integral to my painting style but finding the right medium that works for you is up to you decide and experiment trying other ones.

Buy here on Dickblick: Liquin Original Medium $15

GAMBLIN STAND OIL

A type of refined linseed oil that is the consistency of honey. I do a 50/50 blend of standoil to gamsol to create my own blended medium. Standoil takes longer to dry but adding the gamsol dilutes and speeds drying time while helping the flow of brushwork so that it fell more liquid-like. This blend is useful for covering more ground on the canvas when painting. I usually mix together and keep it in a covered and sealed container (example would be a “Talenti” ice cream plastic jar or a “Bonne Maman” jam glass jar.

Buy here on Dickblick: Stand Oil $11

WINSOR & NEWTON LIQUIN IMPASTO

Oil paint hardens as it reacts with air, so if you’ve laid down a thick brushstroke, the outer layer will harden while what’s underneath stays wet. This could cause cracking or wrinkling on the surface as the paint dries. Mixing in no more than a 50/50 ratio of paint to Liquin Impasto can help the paint dry more uniformly and allow you to paint with strong lines and marks that add texture and thickness to the paint application. You can play around with a palette knife and use Liquin Impasto to save money by using less paint.

Buy here on Dickblick: Liquin Impasto $16

Fredrix 569 Dallas Cotton Canvas Roll 64-1/2" x 6 yds:

I often ship my artwork flat and get it restretched so I have leftover stretcher bars in my studio that need canvas. I buy these large rolls and use my stretcher bars to add this acrylic primed canvas. There are lots of tutorials on YouTube on how to properly stretch your canvas and it’s easy enough once you do it a couple times.

Buy here n DickBlick: Fredrix 569 Dallas Canvas Primed Rolls $129

BLICK PREMIER HEAVYWEIGHT STRETCHED COTTON CANVAS 20 oz:

I like the durability of this style of canvas for when I paint with lots of texture and apply paint on thick. I tried painting on thinner canvas styles but found that it buckled easily and did not provide a stable canvas to work from unlike these. I usually buy in bulk! Sizes I like to use vary depending on series and work but some examples of sizes I enjoy working on include: 8 x 10, 9 x 12, 12 x 16, 18 x 24, 24 x 36, 30 x 40, 48 x 60

Buy here on DickBlick: Blick Premier Heavyweight Stretched Canvas Starting at $10

BLICK PREMIER WOOD PANEL:

Smooth wood surface to paint on. Before using, I tape up side with Scotch Delicate Tape and then I apply 3 coats of gesso(sand between each coat). This delivers a unique glass-like texture to paint and add detail on. Wood panels can be heavy so cost of shipping can be more so I typically like to paint on wood panels if they are smaller in size. Don’t go for the thin panels, they will crack and splinter over time, that’s why I go for the premier.

Buy here on DickBlick: Blick Premier Wood Panels Starting at $10

AMPERSAND GESSOBORD:

Pre-gessoed panels that are ready to use. I like the 1/8” panels since they are light and great for framing. If you want a standalone cradled one those are great too!

Buy here on DickBlick: Ampersand Gessobord starting at $10

TREKELL CIRCLE WOOD PANEL:

I sometimes get them unprimed but these are convenient and come ready to paint on. The back of the canvas has a little hanging system built in so that it comes ready to hang and is flush with a wall when hanging from a screw. Great price and great quality.

Buy here on Trekell: https://www.trekell.com/collections/artpanels/products/gesso-primed-round-wood-panel-1-2-thick?rfsn=5795181.667381&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=5795181.667381 Starting at $10

LEVEL FRAMES:

I get all my artworks made on paper framed and protected behind glass for archival and display purposes. I’ve been using Level Frames since 2016 and have found them to be my favorite. I tried ordering frames on etsy or going to target and ikea but the quality was too low for my liking. Level Frames has nice customizable options but I tend to go for the maple frame with a matte border look.

Buy here on LevelFrames: https://www.levelframes.com/?ref=a0fb7b6e6f

GaMVAR VARNISH:

I use Gamblin Gamvar Temporary Varnish once my paintings are touch-dry. Gamvar allows for the painting to continue to cure and “dry” while unifying the sheen of the painting and adding a layer of protection.

Depending on the look I’m going for, I varnish my pieces with gloss, satin, or matte. If you’d like some pointers on how I go about applying a varnish you can check it out on youtube.

Buy here on DickBlick: Gamvar Varnish $16-28

VARNISH BRUSHES:

I use blick essential brushes to varnish my pieces. A value pack of 3 is roughly $5. The quality is low but it’s a soft synthetic brush. I grab the bristles and do my best to gently pull off any loose hairs before varnishing. I love these because they are cheap and do the job quite nicely.

Buy here on DickBlick: Blick Essential Brushes $5

Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits:

I keep my mineral spirits covered when not in use and I would still advise wearing gloves. I use my brush cleaner after each session to get rid of the paints and medium trapped on the brush. I tend to buy the large 128 oz since I’ll go through it but the 17 and 34 oz size are a good starter size. The small size isn’t recommended since I’ll disappear too quickly.

Buy here on DickBlick: Gamsol Mineral Spirits $12-42

STEEL BRUSH CLEANER:

I keep my mineral spirits covered when not in use and I would still advise wearing gloves. I use my brush cleaner after each session to get rid of the paints and medium trapped on the brush. These are sturdy and large enough to clean large brushes.

Buy here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3X9DXrb $34

Glass Brush Cleaner / Silicoil:

Sometimes my steel brush cleaner container gets too dirty so I switch to my smaller glass jar with “fresh gamsol” to do a second rinse of my brushes. This is also a nice travel size and a trick I like to use is to take the coil out and put it into a talenti jar.

Buy here on DickBlick: Silicoil Brush Cleaner $10

U.S. Art Supply Malibu HEAVY-DUTY XL Adjustable H-Frame Easel

My favorite easel I’ve used so far. I have one in California and one here in my Boston art studio. Why do I like it? It can accommodate a canvas up to 90" high. It has a little tray table to place rags, brushes, paints etc… It has wheels so it’s easy to move around and they can be locked in place to have a steady easel to paint on. The easel can be tilted to varying degrees whether you like painting on a straight vertical or at a slight angle. The easel can be adjusted to become a horizontal surface which makes it so convenient to varnish large paintings.

Buy here on amazon: https://amzn.to/3x20HyM $200

U.S. Art Supply Venice Heavy Duty Tabletop Easel

I don’t always paint on large canvases so having a foldable tabletop easel is handy! It holds up to a 23 in canvas and folds flat for easy storage. It’s priced at $35.

Buy here on amazon: https://amzn.to/3Y971jU $35

BLICK GESSO:

16 oz jar starting at $10 is a steal compared to what other companies are charging. Some canvases, panels, or papers don’t come pre-gessoed so applying your own layers is an important step in protecting your surface. I sometimes add acrylic burnt Sienna to my gesso and mix it in to tint the gesso so that I don’t paint on a white surface but instead a warmer pinkish tone. If you plan on guessing canvases in batches, I’d recommend going for the 32 oz or 3.8 L since each canvas needs 3 coats.

Buy here on DickBlick: Blick Gesso ($11-95)

WINSOR & NEWTON COTMAN SET:

12 colors and it comes with a little pocket size brush. I like taking this on trips because the inside of the lid can be used as a pan for mixing my watercolors. I often pair this set with my “ocean paper” watercolor paints to mix beautiful ranges of color. Arguably the most affordable and the perfect way to begin your watercolor sketching journey.

Buy here on amazon: https://amzn.to/3XbrlzR $35

THE OCEAN PAPER HANDMADE WATERCOLORS:

12 colors in a white bioplastic palette (made from plants not fossil fuels). Palette made in the U.S. mainland. Hand-mulled paints made in Kauai. I have the Traveller Set $140 and Banana Leaf + Ginger $140 which are perfect for traveling due to their compact size (3 x 3 x .75 in). These paints are very popular and sell out quite quickly so follow the instagram page and check out their website to keep up with shop updates!

Buy here on their website: https://theoceanpaper.com/collections/watercolor-sets $70-150

TURNER ACRYL GOUACHE SET OF 36:

During Covid quarantine I started experimenting with gouache and fell in love with this set. I ended up painting a bunch of 4 x 6 in pieces and sold them through my online shop! I really enjoyed the versatility of gouache paints and how they can be used as acrylic paint or watered down to a watercolor-like fluidity. I sometimes paint with watercolors and then embellish them with gouache paints due to strong opacity. Gouache paints tend to dry very quickly so working fast is key!

Buy here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JTpvk6 $73

Canson Plein Air Mix Media Artboard Pads

This is what I paint on when I’m using watercolors and gouache. I hate when thin paper buckles while I paint and I don’t like to prep surfaces to make sure they don’t wrinkle or expand and buckle. I cut them to size using a ruler and x-acto knife and then create a border using washi tape. Keep in mind that peeling the washi tape will rip the paper but I learned that if I use a blow dryer when peeling to heat the glue on the washi tape, I can peel it easily and for a rip-free peel).

Buy here on DickBlick: Canson Plein Air Mix Media Artboard Pads $15-27

MIDORI WAY SKETCHBOOK:

An affordable slight yellow undertone paper for sketching on the road. Softcover with Wax paper coating. I use this as a tool for loose sketches and jotting down ideas in graphite.

Buy here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lbNfWh $10

MOLESKINE HARDCOVER JOURNAL:

I used to never use journals into I started writing in Moleskine notebooks. I fell in love, to say the least. These journals are the only ones that I’ve been able to complete from start to finish and I write in them daily. I use it to make to-do lists, keep track of ideas and projects and make goals and plans. They have a little slip in the back to store papers and the hardcover keeps them from bending and getting too beat up when traveling with it. I like the Moleskine Classic Hardcover Notebook - Black, Ruled, 9-3/4" x 7-1/2" size but that’s just my preference. Overall a 10/10!

Buy here on DickBlick: Moleskine Hardcover Journal $28

MOLESKINE HARDCOVER WATERCOLOR ALBUM:

I tend to go for the 5" x 8-1/4" Moleskine hardcover watercolor Album. I learned how to paint with watercolors in this album and still use this brand. The paper is rigid enough to withstand the heavy use of water.

Buy here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3llwgkA $20

MOZART BRUSH KIT:

Set of 15 for Watercolor, Acrylic, Gouache and Oil Painting although I use them exclusively for watercolor and gouache personally. This travel kit is compact and wonderful since the case it comes in protects the brushes and it’s easy to grab and go. I have 2 sets of these and have gifted these brushes to friends time and time again! Huge fan!

Buy on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3I9ez0D $18

MICRON PENS:

I am die-hard fan of micron pens. I used to only draw with pencils and pens when I first started drawing and inking. The range of size and thickness of the tip really allowed me to create some interesting shadow effects and line drawings. I use these in my sketchbooks all the time and I write in my journals exclusively with these pens! I’d recommend buying the Sakura Pigma Micron Pens Set of 8, Black, Extra Fine, and Fine Assorted Sizes to try out various ink tips and experiment with line thickness to discover which ones you like best!

Buy them here on Dickblick: Micron Pens $14

SQUARESPACE WEBSITE:

I have tried 3 other website builder websites and found square space to be my favorite yet. It’s easy to navigate, has great options for displaying options and also for showcasing products and pieces to sell. I combine this with my shipstation account to run my online business from home.

Sign up for Squarespace: https://squarespace.syuh.net/anRdWM

AIR PURFIER:

Something I take very seriously is my health! I paint with a window open in summer/cracked in winter. I have my Levoit Air purifier on while I’m in my art studio. In my previous studio, I had cross ventilation from a window and sliding door but in my new apartment, my small space has resulted in me painting with the window open, a fan blowing and my air purifier on! It’s quiet, it’s great and it gets the job done. Filters are affordable and only need to be changed out every 3 months or so.

LEVOIT Air Purifiers for Home Bedroom H13 True HEPA Filter for Large Room, Sleep, Quiet Cleaner for Dust, Allergies, Pets, Smoke, White Noise, Smart WiFi, Auto Mode, 300S

Buy on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3ZWz4n3 $149

LIGHT SET UP Tripod + Ring Lights

I have 3 lightrings in my art studio while I paint which may seem like overkill but my pet peeve is working in low lighting. During the day, I only have my overhead ring light on but at night, I have all 3 blasting away.

Buy Ring light on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/40abxzi $93

This overhead light stand allows me the option to have light directly over my canvas rather than coming from the side. It’s less disruptive and is my favorite addition to my art studio set up.

Buy Light stand for overhead lighting here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZTlHnI $100

If you would like to learn more about what tech I use such as light rings, tripods, cameras, audio recording, and art packing materials I use—check it out on my amazon associates page: https://www.amazon.com/shop/beaubfrank