- PAINT: I mostly use Golden Paints and Mediums. Six 16oz. bottles of Dick Blick student grade acrylics work well and are less costly. Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Black and White https://www.dickblick.com/items/blickrylic-student-acrylics-basic-color-set-pack-of-6-pints/ You may be able to find lower cost paint at box stores, but be aware that the lower the cost the less pigment to acrylic polymer emulsion proportion. Blick paints would have more pigment and less filler than off-brands. Golden is better yet.
- BRUSHES: Blick Nylon Brush Set Flats https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-essentials-value-brush-set-utility-brushes-brown-nylon-set-of-3/ Bigger brushes push us to not get caught up in the details, but rather the color, movement and texture. If you want a smaller round brush I’d suggest a size 4 or 6.
- CANVAS/PAPER Academic Stretched Canvas https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-academic-58-profile-cotton-canvas-12-x-12-pkg-of-2/ These are good quality, low cost canvases. You could also paint on gessoed paper, a pad or a block would keep it flat. Textured Paper https://www.dickblick.com/items/strathmore-400-series-acrylic-pad-12-x-12-10-sheets/ OR any Watercolor Papers, 180lb (needs to be stapled down to keep flat) to 300lb (thicker, won’t buckle)
- PALETTE PAPERS: https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-palette-paper-pad-9-x-12-50-sheets/ OR you can use wax paper taped down or parchment paper. I do believe all in all buying the pad of palette papers are cheaper in the long run.
Other Favorites I like to use:
- Speedball Soft Rubber Brayer: 2″ https://www.dickblick.com/items/speedball-soft-rubber-brayer-2/
- Stamps (start collecting)
- Stonehenge Paper for substrates: https://www.dickblick.com/items/legion-stonehenge-paper-22-x-30-white-90-lb/
- Blick Art Tissue Paper: https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-art-tissue-12-x-18-white-50-sheets/
- Golden Fluid Acrylics: https://www.dickblick.com/products/golden-fluid-acrylics/ Highly intense, permanent colors with a consistency similar to heavy cream
- For more info on all Golden Acrylic Paints: https://www.goldenpaints.com/
- I like to use this matte white: https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-matte-acrylics/?clickTracking=true
- Golden Satin Glazing Liquid: https://www.dickblick.com/items/golden-acrylic-glazing-liquid-satin-16-oz-bottle/ This extends your paint and slows its drying.
- For use as an adhesive and top coat: https://www.dickblick.com/products/utrecht-gloss-matte-acrylic-mediums/
- These are the best acrylic paint pens, in my humble opinion: https://www.dickblick.com/products/uni-posca-paint-markers/ Mark in vivid color on practically any surface! The opaque, waterbased ink in Uni-Posca Markers dries to a matte finish on both porous and non-porous surfaces. Odorless, fadeproof, and bleedproof.
- Dynasty Finest Golden Synthetic Flat Brusheshttps://www.dickblick.com/products/dynasty-finest-golden-synthetic-flat-brushes/ Reasonably priced, good brushes.
- My favorite stencil source: https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/
- Golden mediums, Gloss or Satin