Materials List

So you can get the most benefit from attending one of Cherry’s workshops you will need particular art materials. Please read this page carefully as the materials required are quite specific.

All items are available to purchase at the workshop, and prices for these are listed here. If you find them elsewhere for a higher cost, please feel free to purchase from Cherry direct.

Brushes

You will need a selection of brushes including a large 5cm wide brush. These are essential for the workshop, please see details below. Some brushes are available for purchase at the workshop.

Paint

Windsor & Newton watercolour paints in 6 colours are required. These are available at the workshop, and details are below.

Paper

Watercolour paper has a gelatin medium called sizing on the surface which makes it perfect for watercolour painting. Bring at least 3 large (580mm x 760mm) sheets of Arches watercolour paper. Substitutes are not suitable, please see details below.

Palette & Containers

Bring a palette with plenty of pots for paint, plus places for mixtures and watery mixtures. You will need half a dozen small, shallow containers for mixing. See details below.

Paper towels, spray bottle and bits and pieces

Bring two large rolls of soft, very absorbent paper towels, a spray bottle and other bits and pieces as listed below.

Full Materials List

So you can get the most benefit from attending one of Cherry’s workshops you will require art materials. Expand each section for full details. If you prefer a printed version of this list, please download it here.

Download printable list

Brushes

Please bring:

One FLAT soft nylon or synthetic brush which is 5cm wide. The 6cm brush is too large for the paper we are using in the workshop.
A couple of large soft FLAT synthetic brushes from 2cm and wide up to 4cms wide.
About three ROUND nylon brushes from fine for detail to large for washes. Check when you buy them that they have plenty of spring back when wet and bent and that they form a good sharp point. The picture is a good example of what you need.
At least one 1cm square finish VERY STIFF nylon or synthetic oil painting brush, these are great for scrubbing back small areas.

Try to find brushes like these – all synthetic bristles, plenty of bounce back when wet. The bristle or handle colour is not important. Reno brushes from Dollar Shops or discount shops are excellent quality. 5cm wide flat brushes and packs of smaller brushes can be purchased at the workshop for $15. These brushes are essential for the workshop.

Paint

Windsor & Newton watercolour paints are available to purchase at the workshop. Please use this list as a price guide and don’t pay more elsewhere.

Required colours 14ml tubes $26.50 each: – Van Dyke Brown – Naples Yellow – Titanium White 5 ml tubes: – French Ultramarine Blue $16 – Alizarin Crimson (non permanent) $15 – Black (lamp, mars or ivory) $15

Optional colours 5ml tubes $15 each: – Burnt Sienna – Prussian Blue

Paper

Arches watercolour paper, rough or medium – (cold pressed) or smooth (hot pressed), its a matter of your taste. Buy 300 gsm or 640 gsm (we will not be stretching the paper). Bring at least 3 large (580mm x 760mm) sheets for the weekend course. Arches 300gsm is available to purchase at the workshop for $15 per sheet, so please don’t pay more. The 640gsm paper is $32 per sheet! Yikes its expensive – 300 gsm is VERY good!! Please don’t roll your paper. Do not bring Chinese calligraphy paper as it is too absorbent. Printing paper is also too absorbent because it does not have sizing on the surface and all-purpose paper is often not absorbent enough. Watercolour paper has a gelatin medium called sizing on the surface which makes it perfect for watercolour painting.

Palette

A LARGE rectangle WHITE PLASTIC PALETTE. Bring a palette with plenty of pots for paint, plus places for mixtures and watery mixtures, as pictured here.

Containers

You need half a dozen small, shallow containers. Shallow plastic dip or takeway containers are great. A large opening is needed for your big brushes. Takeway food containers are very good. White or clear so you can easily see the colour of the paints or the dirtyness of your water. We will be pouring paint which has been mixed up in these containers. Screw top containers are handy to take home left over mix especially the flesh colour which can be difficult to get right. Dozens of miscellaneous containers are available for your use, so you don’t need to bring them, especially if you are flying here.

Paper Towels

Bring two large rolls of soft, very absorbent paper towel (my favourite brand is Handee). Paper towel is not just for cleaning up but it is a very important part of your painting equipment.

Spray bottle & bits and pieces

A cheap plastic 500ml water spray bottle from Bunnings. You can also get a small fine spray from art suppliers but it’s not essential. A ruler and waterproof pen, fine or medium – not thick. A couple of very large sheets of cheap bond or low grade cartridge paper or similar paper for making long strips for measuring and scaling up (not for painting on). Try to get the cover sheet for your paper when you buy it. There’s a cover sheet in each pack of 5. Masking or sticky tape. Scissors. In the cleaning section of the supermarket you can find a little white sponge called a ‘Magic Cleaner’. It’s for cleaning marks off walls extra. It is great for cleaning sections of your painting which need to be changed.