Art Equipment I Love!

THINGS I LOVE

I often get asked about the art products and equipment I use, so I'm happy to share my favourites here in case they help you discover something that works well for you. Of course, a lot of these choices come down to personal preference, and what works for one artist might not suit another. Ultimately, it’s about finding the tools that feel right for you. That said, when you’re starting out, a bit of guidance can make all the difference. Please note, I’m not affiliated with any of these companies or products—I simply use and enjoy them, and I’m glad to recommend them. Also worth mentioning: I lived in the USA for a while and picked up a lot of my kit there, so some items may be tricky to find in Australia or could involve international shipping costs. It’s always worth doing your own search to see what’s locally available or if there are good alternatives.

 

BRUSHES

Brushes are a very personal choice. I try different brush types regularly to keep my mark making fresh and loose.  These brushes are an investment but if treated well they can last a very long time.  I try to use many brushes to reduce my need to clean in solvent.  Soaking brushes in linseed oil when I can't clean them straight away and cleaning in warm soapy water makes a big difference to their lasting ability. See this reel for how I clean my brushes. 

Rosemary (UK) - I mostly use the Ivory XLong Flats, Ivory Short Flats & Evergreen Egberts. Ivory pointed rounds for detail and Classic Filbert for blocking in. 

Princeton (US) - I love their Aspen Synthetic Bristles and Refine Interlocked-bristle brushes

Neef (AUS) - Great when I can't wait for an order from overseas. I pick these up at Seniors. I mostly use the stiff synthetic bright. 

Palette Knife - I have the same teardrop palette knife from 10 years ago. I can't read the brand on it but I'm definitely in the market for a new, strong knife with good flex. I'm eyeing off these - Oakblade

PAINTS AND MEDIUMS

I use professional artist-quality paints because I sell my work commercially, and student-grade paints simply don’t have the same pigment load.

My favourite brands are Gamblin and Michael Harding. In my opinion, they’re well worth the extra investment for the quality you get.

Gamblin offers a fantastic colour range that’s incredibly versatile, while Michael Harding paints have a beautiful viscosity—they’re rich, buttery, and an absolute joy to work with.

My palette changes depending on whether I’m working outdoors or in the studio, and also varies between landscapes and still life or florals.

That said, here’s my general colour palette—a solid foundation I adapt as needed:

Titanium White - G Warm White Lead White Alternative - MH Ultramarine Blue  Radiant Turquoise - G Cobalt Blue Kings Blue Deep - MH  Portland Cool Grey - G Gold Ochre - G Indian Yellow Cadmium Lemon - G Cadmium Yellow Medium - G Cadmium Orange  Phthalo Green or Viridian - G Cadmium Green Permanent Green Light - G Quinacridone Violet - G Napthol Red - G Quinacridone Rose - MH Dioxazine Purple - G Asphaltum - G Brown Pink - G

Mediums
Outdoors I use Gamblin's solvent free gel to speed up drying and leave a uniform gloss and sometimes Liquin.  In the studio I use a 2/1 mix of solvent/oil (walnut or linseed).  

Panels

I make my own panels for painting outdoors. Masonite sheets from Bunnings Hardware, cut into regular painting sizes (9x5, 8x10, 9x12, 12x16).  Paint all sides with taubmans acrylic sealer and then another 2 coats on the smooth painting side with Michael Harding Oil Painting Ground.

Pochade Box

I use a Strada Easel  Mini with a monfrotto tripod.  I've had the Strada for a long time and purchased it in the USA. It isn't a cheap option if you're in Australia.  Leon Holmes in WA makes a great timber one that is more lightweight than the Strada and comes in a variety of sizes. 

Umbrella - Unfortunately also purchased in USA by a company that's not in business anymore. I haven't found anything in Australia apart from a golf umbrella from BCF that has a clamp to attach to a chair.

Light for Nocturne or low light conditions -57 LED Super Bright Music Stand Light

Red Value Viewer - I use the Red Value Viewer to see the values in a scene.  Sometimes colour can be very distracting, especially when you are in the design stage of looking at the landscape. Looking through the red colour reduces the scene to tones and helps me find the big shapes.  It's also helpful outside to look at your painting and see if there is enough contrast.  I make these up in bulk and give them to my workshop students. You can buy one here. 

 

Here's my outdoor painting kit.