I use Golden paints - they are good quality professional grade paint and have much more vibrant colors than the student grade paints which are much cheaper. This is because Golden paints have more actual pigment in the paint, and less filler binder. However if you are simply experimenting and want to keep your expenses down, the student grade paints will do.

BRUSHES: I suggest four or five brushes, from 1/2" to 2"width, but feel free to bring other sizes too. A nylon or synthetic brush is preferable to a bristle brush. They should have some "spring", not be too "floppy"; they should have at least enough stiffness to pick up a load of paint. My favorites are Lowell Cornell model #1177(synthetic brown) or #1170 (synthetic white nylon,) that comes in a package of 1”, 2” and 3” diameter for $4.99.  (The 3" size brush you will probably not use, so make sure that you have 3 or four brushes in the 1-2" range) AC Moore and Michaels art store usually has them in stock, they are now located in the CRAFT section of AC Moore, not the fine art section. At AC Moore, go to the aisle that has all the containers of craft paints in small containers. I have been told that Michaels now carries their own brand of brushes like this. Make sure to get the nylon brushes, not the bristle.  I am attaching a picture: 

CANVASES: Inexpensive canvas boards are fine, which is basically canvas glued to a piece of heavy board. Please bring 4-6 canvases in 8x10 or 9x12.

PALETTE: Please bring a disposable paper palette, approx. 12x16. You can find these in art supply stores. This is the surface you will mix your paint on, so make sure that it is large enough. Anything smaller will not give you enough room to mix colors. Please do NOT show up with paper plates or tiny little pieces of board to use as your palette - you need lots of ROOM to put all your colors down, then room to mix them all!

You can also use a piece of glass to mix your colors on 11x14 or 12 x 16. put some duct tape around the sides so you don't cut yourself  (can be taken from a picture frame)

Bead Box: I use a small bead box like this, to store my leftover paints in.  Rather than throw away the unused paint thats on my palette (why dispose of your expensive paint?) I scoop it up and store it for future use. You can find them in any craft store like AC Moore or Michaels. Don't get the type that has compartments with sliding plastic compartments, the paint will slide in between the compartments and mix with the adjoining color. Get one that has around 12 compartments for each color you buy.

EASEL: (This may be provided by the school if the workshop is held at at an art school)
You may want a portable easel to work on - either a tabletop easel (it folds out and sits on a table) or a "field easel" which also folds out and stands on its own. Either of these can be purchased at any art supply store. If you do not want to invest in this, you can work directly on the tables that I will have set up. Please let me know before hand if you will be bringing your own easel or if you would like to work directly on the table.

VIEW CATCHER (or View Finder)  This is an indispensible little tool that you will use all the time. I am including a link to where you can buy it. If you don't want to spend the money/time you can sorta make one by cutting a small window out of a piece of white or black construction paper or card stock which is about 5x8". Cut the window approximately 1" wide by 1.25" high in the center of the page. If you are going to be painting on a square canvas, cut a square window out of the card.

OTHER: Each person will need:
- a roll of absorbent paper towel,
- 8x10 sketch pad or loose paper to do some small "thumbnail" sketches,
- soft charcoal sticks (willow or vine charcoal in "soft")
- a few kneaded erasers

Bring a spirit of adventure, experimentation and willingness to use paint and color courageously!

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