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Visual Art Supplies
Supply list for Cary Arts Center's Visual Arts Programs in July through December 2026.
July 7-21, 2026: Costumed Figure Drawing (Erin McGuire)
Dry drawing materials of choice, for example:
- Newsprint pad, at least 11x14
- Conte sticks or graphite sticks
- graphite drawing pencils (hb, 2b, 4b etc.)
- Optional- charcoal sticks, willow/vine charcoal, charcoal pencils
- Erasers- kneaded eraser and white vinyl eraser
July 8 & 15, 2026: Beginning Watercolor (Joy Lester)
- 9”x 12” cold pressed 140 pound paper (100% cotton is best)
- Brushes: Sizes vary depending on manufacturer
- 1 large mop or quill brush
- 1 size 6 medium round brush
- 1 size 4 or smaller synthetic brush with a point
- Paints: Daniel Smith Watercolors recommended
- Permanent Alizarin Crimson
- Ultramarine Blue
- Manganese Blue Hue
- Burnt sienna
- Hansa Yellow Medium or Cadmium Yellow
- A glass jar for water
July 9 & 16, 2026: A Night with Monet (Helen Webb)
- Canvases:
- Four gesso-primed canvases, size 11”x 14”
- Palette:
- Disposable palette paper pad or Masterson Palette Sealed Box
- Brushes:
- 3-5 synthetic brushes for acrylic painting in a variety of shapes and sizes (#12 is a good mid-range size)
- Medium-sized cup to hold water
- Paper towels or rags
- Something to transport wet works in
- Paints:
- To have a well rounded set of paints it is recommended that you purchase a warm and cool of each primary plus white. Good quality brands include Windsor Newton, Grumbacher, or Liquitex Basics. Here is a suggested list of colors:
- Cadmium yellow light (cool)
- Yellow Ochre or Cadmium yellow (warm)
- Ultramarine blue (warm)
- Cerulean blue hue (cool)
- Cadmium red light (warm)
- Alizarin crimson permanent (cool)
- Burnt sienna
- Titanium white
- To have a well rounded set of paints it is recommended that you purchase a warm and cool of each primary plus white. Good quality brands include Windsor Newton, Grumbacher, or Liquitex Basics. Here is a suggested list of colors:
July 11, 2026: Draw a Friend's Face (Ginny O'Neal)
- 9" x 12” (or similar) spiral sketchbook
- Prismacolor ebony graphite pencil (ultra smooth, jet black)
- Derwent graphic B 6 or B8 pencil
- HB pencil (any brand)
- Prismacolor kneaded eraser
- Staedtler (or similar) white eraser
- Paper stumps, variety of sizes
- Hand-held pencil sharpener
- 12” ruler
- Optional:
- Woodless graphite pencil
- Pigma Micron archival ink 03 pen
July 23 & 30, 2026: A Day at the Beach in Watercolor (Helen Webb)
- 9x12 watercolor paper pad, cold-pressed, 140 lb (Recommended brands Arches, Canson, Strathmore)
- 20-paint set watercolor paints (recommended brand Windsor & Newton)
- 18-well foldable watercolor palette
- Brushes (synthetic, substitutes OK):
- #6 & #8 rounds (one each)
- 1” and ½” flat brush
- 1 eye dropper
- 2-3 black or sepia drawing pens in a variety of sizes (suggested brands: Pigma Micron, Derwent, or Prismacolor premier)
August 4-25, 2026: Introduction to Watercolor (Joy Lester)
- 9”x 12” cold pressed 140 pound paper (100% cotton is best)
- Brushes: Sizes vary depending on manufacturer
- 1 large mop or quill brush
- 1 size 6 medium round brush
- 1 size 4 or smaller synthetic brush with a point
- Paints: I recommend using Daniel Smith Watercolors
- Permanent Alizarin Crimson
- Ultramarine Blue
- Manganese Blue Hue
- Burnt sienna
- Hansa Yellow Medium or Cadmium Yellow
- A glass jar for water
August 6 & 13, 2026: Landscapes in Water-Soluble Oils (Helen Webb)
- Paints: artisan water mixable oil color (Windsor & Newton recommended brand)
- Cadmium yellow pale hue
- Lemon yellow
- Cadmium red medium
- Permanent alizarin crimson
- French ultramarine
- Cobalt blue hue
- Sap green
- Yellow ochre
- Burnt sienna
- Titanium white
- 1 bottle fast drying medium for water mixable oil (Windsor & Newton recommended brand)
- Brushes (synthetic) one of each:
- palette knife
- #2 round
- #2 flat
- #4 filbert
- #4 flat
- #8 filbert
- #8 flat
- 9x12 canvas pad
- 9x12 grey palette pad
- 9x12 Masterson palette box
August 12-26, 2026: Comics & Zines (Jessica Soffian)
- Smooth vellum bristol, recommended size 9x12 or larger
- Sketchbook, or drawing paper (printer paper also works)
- HB pencils (recommended Staetdler Mars Lumograph)
- Vinyl or pink eraser
- Black India ink
- Small and medium round watercolor brushes
- Optional: Waterproof fine liner pens of choice: OHTO graphic liners will be provided, but you may wish to bring your own set. Recommended brands include Sakura Pigma Microns, Staedtler Pigment Liners, and Deleter Neopiko Line 3.
- Optional: Pentel Pocket Brush pen
- Optional: Dip pen holder (I like the Tachikawa T-40, but any will work and Speedball will be easier to find) and nibs: G-Nib and Spoon Nib are my preferred nibs, but School and Maru nibs are also comic staples.
- Pen cleaner for the dip pen nibs, such as Higgins (optional, only if you get the dip pen holder)
August 15-29, 2026: Botanical Cats in Oil (Joy Lester)
- 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 cradled birch wood panel
- Paints:
- Titanium white
- French ultramarine
- Manganese blue
- Burnt umber
- Alizarin crimson permanent
- Indian yellow
- Pallette paper (a disposable mixing pallette)
- Brushes: I prefer working with red Sable, but Kolinsky mimic works fine, and is more affordable. Stay away from highly textured brushes like boar’s hair. This selection is a good start, but you are welcome to bring more brushes. Proper care will ensure your brushes last a lifetime.
- short liner
- # 4 bright or flat
- # 8 flat
- # 10 flat
August 20 & 27, 2026: Vacation Paintings in Watercolor (Helen Webb)
- 9x12 watercolor paper pad, cold-pressed, 140 lb (Recommended brands Arches, Canson, Strathmore)
- 20-paint set watercolor paints (recommended brand Windsor & Newton)
- 18-well foldable watercolor palette
- Brushes (synthetic, substitutes OK):
- #6 & #8 rounds (one each)
- 1” and ½” flat brush
- 1 eye dropper
- 2-3 black or sepia drawing pens in a variety of sizes (suggested brands: Pigma Micron, Derwent, or Prismacolor premier)
August 22 & 29, 2026: Introduction to Drawing (Claudia Finelle)
- 9x12 sketchbook - can be used but please ensure there is ample space
- Vinyl or pink eraser
- Drawing pencils in a variety of densities - HB, 2B, 4B, 6B
September 2-30, 2026: Comic Art (Jessica Soffian)
- Smooth vellum bristol, recommended size 9x12 or larger
- Sketchbook, or drawing paper (printer paper also works)
- HB pencils (recommended Staetdler Mars Lumograph)
- Vinyl or pink eraser
- Black India ink
- Small and medium round watercolor brushes
- Optional: Waterproof fine liner pens of choice: OHTO graphic liners will be provided, but you may wish to bring your own set. Recommended brands include Sakura Pigma Microns, Staedtler Pigment Liners, and Deleter Neopiko Line 3.
- Optional: Pentel Pocket Brush pen
- Optional: Dip pen holder (I like the Tachikawa T-40, but any will work and Speedball will be easier to find) and nibs: G-Nib and Spoon Nib are my preferred nibs, but School and Maru nibs are also comic staples.
- Pen cleaner for the dip pen nibs, such as Higgins (optional, only if you get the dip pen holder)
September 2-16, 2026: Urban Sketching (Erin McGuire)
Supplies needed:
- Medium sized sketchbook (minimum size 6x8") or watercolor sketchbook
- Drawing supplies- Drawing pencils and/or mechanical pencils (HB, B, and 2B are suggested lead weights), a portable pencil sharpener., kneaded eraser, white eraser (Staedtler or similar).
- Water brush pen
Optional:
- Other favorite pens and pencils, water soluble markers
- Travel watercolor or gouache palette and paints or a preloaded covered paint palette
- Small jar
- A bag to carry supplies
September 2-7, and October 6-27, 2026 (Claudia Finelle)
- 9x12 sketchbook - can be used but please ensure there is ample space
- Vinyl or pink eraser
- Drawing pencils in a variety of densities - HB, 2B, 4B, 6B
September 10-24, 2026: Intro to Water-Soluble Oils (Helen Webb)
Supplies needed:
- Paints: artisan water mixable oil color (Windsor & Newton recommended brand)
- Cadmium yellow pale hue
- Lemon yellow
- Cadmium red medium
- Permanent alizarin crimson
- French ultramarine
- Cobalt blue hue
- Sap green
- Yellow ochre
- Burnt sienna
- Titanium white
- 1 bottle fast drying medium for water mixable oil (Windsor & Newton recommended brand)
- Brushes (synthetic) one of each:
- palette knife
- #2 round
- #2 flat
- #4 filbert
- #4 flat
- #8 filbert
- #8 flat
- 9x12 canvas pad
- 9x12 grey palette pad
- 9x12 Masterson palette box
September 11, October 16, November 13, December 18, 2026: Tabletop Gaming Miniatures (Lauren Polak)
- 1 20-30mm unpainted plastic or metal miniature (I recommend reapermini.com, bombshellminis.com, stonehavenmini.com, darkswordminiatures.com, or wizkids' "D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Unpainted Minis" if you need a suggestion)
- A 3 brush starter set from brands Army Painter, Citadel or Vallejo (available at the local game stores Gamer's Armory and Atomic Empire or online)
OR
- size 1 round brush
- size 5/0 round brush
- size 4 flat brush
- Available at any art supply store. Recommended fiber: "golden synthetic" or "brown synthetic" for acrylics.
Paint will be provided.
September 12, 2026: A Basic Drawing Workshop (Ginny O'Neal)
- 9" x 12” (or similar) spiral sketchbook
- Prismacolor ebony graphite pencil (ultra smooth, jet black)
- Derwent graphic 6B or 8B pencil
- HB pencil (any brand)
- Prismacolor kneaded eraser
- Staedtler (or similar) white eraser
- #3 paper stump
- Hand-held pencil sharpener
- 12” ruler
- Optional: Pigma Micron archival ink 03 pen, woodless graphite pencil
September 12-October 3, 2026: Color Theory with Acrylics (Erin McGuire)
- Canvases:
- At least 4 Inexpensive canvas boards, 9"x12" or larger
- Palette:
- Disposable palette paper pad or Masterson Palette Sealed Box
- Brushes:
- 3-5 synthetic brushes for acrylic painting. I recommend a larger brush (at least an inch wide), a medium brush, and a brush for detail. Flat, Bright, and Filbert are common styles that will work well for this class.
- Medium-sized cup to hold water
- Paper towels or rags
- Something to transport wet works in
- Paints: We are intentionally using a limited palette to better understand color relationships. I recommend purchasing the following palette of acrylic paints. Brands like Liquitex and Golden tend to have the truest pigments. I like Golden's fluid acrylics.
- Ultramarine blue
- Sap Green
- Burnt sienna
- Indian Yellow
- Red- (note! Cadmium red is very expensive and potentially toxic. I use it occasionally, but pyrrole red [also branded as sennelier red or winsor red, depending on the brand] is a good alternative)
- Titanium white
- Painting mediums- I recommend Liquitex ultra-matte medium as a painting medium.
September 26, 2026: Drawing a Friend's Face (Ginny O'Neal)
- 9" x 12” (or similar) spiral sketchbook
- Prismacolor ebony graphite pencil (ultra smooth, jet black)
- Derwent graphic B 6 or B8 pencil
- HB pencil (any brand)
- Prismacolor kneaded eraser
- Staedtler (or similar) white eraser
- Paper stumps, variety of sizes
- Hand-held pencil sharpener
- 12” ruler
- Optional:
- Woodless graphite pencil
- Pigma Micron archival ink 03 pen
October 1-15, 2026: Soft Pastels (Janet Masouras)
- pack of soft pastels (assortment of colors)
- pad of paper designed for pastels or other dry media (such as drawing paper)
- kneadable eraser
October 1-15, 2026: Fall Watercolors (Helen Webb)
- 9x12 watercolor paper pad, cold-pressed, 140 lb (Recommended brands Arches, Canson, Strathmore)
- 20-paint set watercolor paints (recommended brand Windsor & Newton)
- 18-well foldable watercolor palette
- Brushes (synthetic, substitutes OK):
- #4, #6 & #8 rounds (one each)
- 1½” flat brush
- 1 eye dropper
- Optional: kneaded eraser, pencil, sketchbook, brown fine-point permanent marker
October 6-20, and November 24-December 82026: Unfussy Oil (Joy Lester)
- 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 cradled birch wood panel
- Paints:
- Titanium white
- French ultramarine
- Manganese blue
- Burnt umber
- Burnt sienna
- Alizarin crimson permanent
- Indian yellow
- Palette paper (a disposable mixing palette)
- Brushes: Preferred brands: red Sable or Kolinsky mimic. Not recommended: highly textured brushes such as boar’s hair.
- short liner
- # 4 bright or flat
- # 8 flat
- # 10 flat
Instructor’s note: This selection is a good start, but you are welcome to bring more brushes. Proper care will ensure your brushes last a lifetime.
October 10 or November 14, 2026: Costumed Figure Drawing (Erin McGuire)
Dry drawing materials of choice, for example:
- Newsprint pad, at least 11x14
- Conte sticks or graphite sticks
- graphite drawing pencils (hb, 2b, 4b etc.)
- Optional- charcoal sticks, willow/vine charcoal, charcoal pencils
- Erasers- kneaded eraser and white vinyl eraser
October 21-December 9, 2026: Intro to Acrylic Painting (Claudia Finelle)
- Canvases:
- Four gesso-primed canvases, size 11”x 14”
- Palette:
- Disposable palette paper pad or Masterson Palette Sealed Box
- Brushes:
- 3-5 synthetic brushes for acrylic painting in a variety of shapes and sizes (#12 is a good mid-range size)
- Medium-sized cup to hold water
- Paper towels or rags
- Something to transport wet works in
- Paints:
- To have a well rounded set of paints it is recommended that you purchase a warm and cool of each primary plus white. Good quality brands include Windsor Newton, Grumbacher, or Liquitex Basics. Here is a suggested list of colors:
- Cadmium yellow light (cool)
- Yellow Ochre or Cadmium yellow (warm)
- Ultramarine blue (warm)
- Cerulean blue hue (cool)
- Cadmium red light (warm)
- Alizarin crimson permanent (cool)
- Burnt sienna
- Titanium white
- To have a well rounded set of paints it is recommended that you purchase a warm and cool of each primary plus white. Good quality brands include Windsor Newton, Grumbacher, or Liquitex Basics. Here is a suggested list of colors:
October 22 & 29, 2026: Practicing with Water-Soluble Oils (Helen Webb)
- Paints: artisan water mixable oil color (Windsor & Newton recommended brand)
- Cadmium yellow pale hue
- Lemon yellow
- Cadmium red medium
- Permanent alizarin crimson
- French ultramarine
- Cobalt blue hue
- Sap green
- Yellow ochre
- Burnt sienna
- Titanium white
- 1 bottle fast drying medium for water mixable oil (Windsor & Newton recommended brand)
- Brushes (synthetic) one of each:
- palette knife
- #2 round
- #2 flat
- #4 filbert
- #4 flat
- #8 filbert
- #8 flat
- 9x12 canvas pad
- 9x12 grey palette pad
- 9x12 Masterson palette box
November 2-23, 2026: Watercolor 101 (Joy Lester)
- 9”x 12” cold pressed 140 pound paper (100% cotton is best)
- Brushes: Sizes vary depending on manufacturer
- 1 large mop or quill brush
- 1 size 6 medium round brush
- 1 size 4 or smaller synthetic brush with a point
- Paints: Daniel Smith Watercolors recommended
- Permanent Alizarin Crimson
- Ultramarine Blue
- Manganese Blue Hue
- Burnt sienna
- Hansa Yellow Medium or Cadmium Yellow
- Indigo
- A glass jar for
- Masking tape
- Mixing palette with lid
November 10-December 1, 2026: Drawing in Perspectives (Damon Burnard)
- 9x12/11x14 sketchbook - can be used but please ensure there is ample space
- Vinyl or pink eraser
- Drawing pencils in a variety of densities - HB, 2B, 4B, 6B
- Optional: Micron pens, black 05 and black 02 or 03
November 14 & 21, 2026: Playing with Light and Shadow in Oil (Joy Lester)
- 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 cradled birch wood panel
- Paints:
- Titanium white
- French ultramarine
- Manganese blue
- Burnt umber
- Burnt sienna
- Alizarin crimson permanent
- Indian yellow
- Palette paper (a disposable mixing palette)
- Brushes: Preferred brands: red Sable or Kolinsky mimic. Not recommended: highly textured brushes such as boar’s hair.
- short liner
- # 4 bright or flat
- # 8 flat
- # 10 flat
Instructor’s note: This selection is a good start, but you are welcome to bring more brushes. Proper care will ensure your brushes last a lifetime.
December 2-16, 2026: Intro to Life Drawing (Jessica Soffian)
- Newsprint pad, 18x24
- Soft vine/willow charcoal sticks
- Kneaded eraser
- Chamois cloth
- Optional: other dry media of choice such as drawing pencils, conte sticks, compressed graphite, colored pencils, etc
December 2-16, 2026: Intro to Watercolors (Helen Webb)
- 9x12 watercolor paper pad, cold-pressed, 140 lb (Recommended brands Arches, Canson, Strathmore)
- 20-paint set watercolor paints (recommended brand Windsor & Newton)
- 18-well foldable watercolor palette
- Brushes (synthetic, substitutes OK):
- #4, #6 & #8 rounds (one each)
- 1½” flat brush
- 1 eye dropper
- Optional: kneaded eraser, pencil, sketchbook, brown fine-point permanent marker
December 3-17, 2026: Winter Wonderland in Watercolor (Helen Webb)
- 9x12 watercolor paper pad, cold-pressed, 140 lb (Recommended brands Arches, Canson, Strathmore)
- 20-paint set watercolor paints (recommended brand Windsor & Newton)
- 18-well foldable watercolor palette
- Brushes (synthetic, substitutes OK):
- #4, #6 & #8 rounds (one each)
- 1½” flat brush
- 1 eye dropper
- Optional: kneaded eraser, pencil, sketchbook, brown fine-point permanent marker
Contact
For general information, call (919) 469-4069.
Shannon Mallery
Visual Arts Specialist
shannon.mallery@carync.gov
