ADVICE ON ART MATERIALS
We are very open in regards to the material and mediums you wish to work with at Fowlers Gap and have a flexible program planned. We understand many of you are traveling to Fowlers Gap by plane or train and therefore will be restricted in terms of what you can carry. With this in mind we have provided suggested art materials below, however most importantly please pack the mediums and materials you feel comfortable working with and comfortable transporting out to Fowlers Gap.
Decide what medium you want to work with:
The most important message for creating artworks en plein air is to pack light. This means when we head out from the homestead to various locations that you pack a light kit, ideally focusing on one media. The list below is in order of difficulty when working outdoors, sketching being the easiest and oils the most difficult. But don't be put off as we think oils can be very versatile en plein air and it is the medium we will be working in.
-
Pencil / charcoal and a sketch pad or large paper on a board
-
Inks with a chinese brush and a sketch pad or large paper on a board
-
Watercolours with a watercolour pad or large paper on a board
-
Gouache with a watercolour pad or large paper on a board
-
Any combination of items 1-4 to work in mixed media
-
Acrylic with some medium, water containers, maximum of 6-8 colours including white, a palette or a disposable palette. You can go with a mid size canvas or a selection of smaller panels.
-
Oils with some medium maximum of 6-8 colours including white, a palette or a disposable palette. Bring an old jam jar for your medium but remember solvents will often leak from a jar so screw it tight or keep it upright. Remember if you use oils and if you are not using a disposable palette then you will need something to carry your platte or you will need to clean before transporting. You can go with a mid size canvas or a selection of smaller panels but remember they will still be wet at the end of session so transporting them can be difficult.
Notes on paints (oils, acrylics, watercolours, gouache depending on preference)
A usual recommendation is to have basic primary colours in both warm and cool, a white, raw umber and yellow ochre.
The following list of warm/cool colour range names (the names will vary depending on the paint brand). These are just a guide and you may have your own preference to what you like working in…but having some of the below colours to make a start will be helpful:
Warm red (cadmium red )
Cool Red (permanent alizarin crimson);
Cool Blue (Ultramarine Blue or Phthalo blue)
Warm Blue (Cerulean Blue / Cerulean Blue Hue or Cobalt blue ) ** A Note About Blue: There is a disagreement as to which blues are warm and which are cool. The key is that you SEE the green-blues versus the red-blues.
Cool Yellow (lemon yellow)
Warm Yellow (Cadmium Yellow )
White (titanium white, zinc white)
Brown (raw umber, yellow ochre)
Additional optional extras: burnt sienna/ burnt umber, prussian blue, phthalo blue, dioxazine purple
If you are using acrylics
You will also need an acrylic paint matt or gloss medium.
If you are using oil paints
You will also need:
-
Odourless solvent (We recommend Gamsol) NB: You may have some difficulties flying with Gamsol. Lavender oil is a great alternative.
-
Medium no 1 or 2
-
Lidded jar for solvent
-
Disposable gloves
-
canvas boards/ board/ stretched canvas / unstretched canvas wrapped around a piece of foam core/ canvas paper – whichever suits you best/ and suits your method of travelling.
Please note we will not have any room for storage or transport of student materials. We will be providing for students portable chairs, trestle tables and shade protection in the form of marquees.
Please also refer to the What to Bring List for items other than painting materials.