Theory and Tools
 
What I feel are the most important ingredients to making a great painting.

1. Composition: Without a good composition nothing else is possible
   
2. Drawing: You have to be able to put marks and shapes in the right place in order to fulfill your composition. Always be drawing, don't draw then color.
   
3. Tone: Value and color go hand in hand. Always compare, is it lighter or darker or is it warmer or cooler
   
4. Edges: controlling hard, soft, lost and found. Edges help direct the eye to the center of interest

Tools

Canvas:

I think any good quality cotton duct canvas will work fine. When I get a new batch of canvases I give them a good coat of oil gesso then sand. I have found that this is my favorite surface to paint on so far.

Brushes:

This #16 flat is great for coverage Daniel Smith
This Utrecht #12 flat is great  Utrecht
I use Silver Grand Prix Filbert #8 and #4 for the majority of my work
Royal & Langnickel series 5590 long handle flat sable are great for detail work and fine tuning #2 and #8 Jerry's Artarama

Paint:

Core Colors:

Cremnitz white (Michael Harding)
Ivory Black
Ultramarine Blue
Venetian Red
Alizarin Crimson
Yellow Ochre

Colors I add depending on circumstances:

Cadmium Yellow light
Cadmium Yellow medium
Cad red Medium
Viridian
Phthalo Blue
Burnt Umber

Misc:

Viva paper towels
Gamasol for thinning
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