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These are the oil colors I recommend:
large150 ml tube of white (I prefer Permalba brand)
*cadmium yellow medium 37ml tube
cadmium orange 37 ml
cadmium red light 37ml
cadmium red medium 37ml
*quinacridone rose 37ml
quinacridone violet 37ml
*cobalt blue 37ml
ultramarine blue 37ml
pthalo blue 37ml
prussian blue 37ml
pthalo green 37ml
yellow green 37ml
I recommend these oil paints in the Utrecht brand, they can be ordered from www.utrecht.com


brushes:
we will be using flat, white bristle brushes made from hog hair. I have found the very best to be Robert Simmons Series 40 “Signet” Bristle.
You will need different sizes:
1 flat size 2
1 flat size 4
2 flat size 6
2 flat size 8
these can be ordered from www.jerrysartarama.com

you will also need:
a palette knife
a single plastic palette cup
painting palette
pint container of linseed oil, or Liquin, if you need paintings to dry fast.
8 canvas boards or stretched canvases, ranging in size from 11x14 to 18x24.


All of these items can be purchased at the local art store in Taos, “Artisan”. They are not open on Sundays, but open at 8:30 Monday morning. Their phone number is 505 751 0802. For best service, tell them you are taking Leigh Gusterson’s painting workshop. You may be able to call them in advance, and have your items ready for you.

The best easel for plein air painting, we have discovered, is no longer the Jullian easel, but the American Journey field series sketchbox easel offered by Cheap Joes Art Stuff. It's about $130, and has proved to be sturdier and better design than the Julian. 1 800 227 2788 or visit www.cheapjoes.com

I can offer to lend simple tripod easels if you are not ready to purchase your own, and small tables to place your palettes on. Try to keep your supplies consolidated in a crate or knapsack so you can easily move your things a good distance from your car. If need be, you may be able to purchase from me pieces of gessoed masonite to use as a painting palette, or as painting canvases. We will not be using paint thinner or turpentine in the studio, because of the fumes. I wash my brushes out quite efficiently with a bar of Ivory soap. You will want to wear comfortable shoes since we will be standing, and an apron, or clothes you don't mind getting paint on. I use cut up pieces of rags to wipe my brushes on, of which I will have plenty on hand, but many artists use paper towels.

We will be painting outside 5 mornings, and 3 evenings. The workshop is very focused and pretty intense, yet still fun! From the experiences of students in past workshops, I would recommend that you come solely to take the workshop, and not combine the week with other events like bringing the family or friends to spend time in Taos together. Give yourself a gift, and allow the workshop to be a time when you can immerse yourself fully in your own work.

Taos can be quite cool in the mornings (40 degrees) , yet warm up considerably by midday (80+) . Dress in layers. We will be meeting fairly early each morning (8am) to drive out to the morning painting site, breaking for lunch by 11:30 or 12noon. We will gather again together by 3:30pm to drive out to a different painting location in the late afternoon, leaving time at midday to rest, eat, or check out the galleries in town.

Taos is 6500 feet above sea level, and very dry. If you are not accustomed to high altitudes, and are concerned about altitude sickness, get yourself a little one ounce bottle of Chlorophyll concentrate, and take a few drops in each cup of water you drink for 2 weeks before arriving in NM. This will build up the extra red blood cells you will need to be comfortable in our thin atmosphere.

ALWAYS BRING TO EACH PAINTING SESSION:
a water bottle!
sunhat
sunscreen
clothing that covers arms and legs
sturdy shoes



***A word about the colors I recommend. DO NOT substitute any colors for “hues” or any other variation of the color. These cadmiums and blues I have listed are the most basic colors in their purest form. By mixing these colors together, you will be able to obtain pure, rich mixtures. If you have only a “mars yellow” to mix with a blue “hue” to get green, your green will be muddy compared to the green that can be achieved by mixing cadmium yellow with pthalo blue. So don’t compromise! If you have any questions, please contact me at leegee@newmex.com or 505 751 3402.