CHARLIE HUNTER hunter-studio

BASIC WORKSHOP SUPPLY LIST
Here is a basic list of what you would need for a Charlie Hunter workshop, in terms of Cobra water-mixable oil colors (Raw Umber and Van Dyke Brown), Artisan water-mixable Safflower Oil, recommended brushes, and a selection of approved surfaces from which to choose. 
SQUEEGEES
Ettore squeegees are the only way to go. For your first squeegee, you want to order item #60006, the 6" Pro-Grip Window Squeegee. This is an inexpensive plastic-handled squeegee with a silicone blade (unlike the rubber blade of the standard squeegee, the silicone stays sharper longer and remains impervious to the oils in oil paints, which start to break down the rubber after awhile unless you clean it thoroughly after each painting session). Once you decide that, yes, the squeegee is, indeed, a magic tool, spring for item #1324, the Master Brass Handle. Unscrew the channel (the tube in which the blade sits) from your plastic-handled squeegee, and attach it to the brass handle. The brass handle is balanced amazingly well, and sits beautifully in the hand - this is a totally worthwhile upgrade. Alternately, the standard, classic 6" brass-handle/rubber bladed #100006 will last a lifetime (and replacement rubber is easily available).

Ettore makes any number of other sized squeegees, and I have several. Yet I always return to the 6" - it is truly my painting workhorse. 

Please use these links to order your squeegees, blades, etc. - we get a modest commission from the Ettore Products Company, and that means the cats get "the gud fud." Or just type "CharlieHunterArt" in the coupon code at checkout. Their ungrateful little hearts thank you.

For those wishing to go deeper into the weeds.....

ARTIST COLORS
Charlie Hunter list of preferred Cobra Water-Mixable Oils - just click here!
Hunter uses "Cobra" brand solvent-free, water-mixable artist oils ("WMO's"), made by Royal Talens - learn all about them here. These are artist-grade paints with a very buttery consistency. Other WMO brands may offer these same color names, but consistency, pigmentation, value, temperature and opacity can vary greatly from brand to brand.

These colors are Hunter's base of operations. He will often demo or do field sketches solely with these colors.

• Cobra Van Dyke Brown (a warm, reddish dark brown with slight opacity) 
  
• Cobra Raw Umber (an extremely transparent greenish dark brown) 
• Cobra Titanium White
• Cobra (or Artisan) Payne's Grey

Additional colors Hunter carries in his plein-air rig and uses in the studio:

• Cobra Water-Mixable Safflower Oil (a pale, non-yellowing, slow-oxidizing oil) 

BRUSHES
Blick Order Form for Charlie Hunter's suggested Brushes  - just click here!
Brushes are an extremely individual choice. Hunter prefers medium-firm synthetic "flats" or "brights," ranging from about 1" down to 3/8" or so, so one has the right tool for the job. As well, a "rigger" or "liner" is invaluable for fine work, a fan brush is useful for subtle blends, and a couple of inexpensive 2-3" natural-bristle utility brushes (sold in hardware stores as "chip" brushes) are needed for initial block-ins and some finish effects. Lastly, getting a Rosemary Evergreen 1/2" Sword brush will make you feel cool. Just do it. Also worth having is a Rosemary Badger Blender #37.

UTILITY BRUSHES - Utility "Chip" Bristle Brushes - (we like a 2" or 2.5" brush, ourselves).

BRUSHES OF SUFFICIENT QUALITY - If you are interested in trying Hunter's process without investing major bucks, we think "Black Silver" by Dynasty or "Simply Simmons" by Robert Simmons make a good short-handled plein air brush. Not as durable as a high-quality "studio" brush, they will, however, provide reliable service at an affordable price. Black Silvers are not carried by Blick, but Simply Simmons are. 

• Dynasty Black Silver #24 or Simply Simmons 1" Flat Wash (25x26mm)
  
• Dynasty Black Silver #18 or Simply Simmons 3/4" Flat Wash (18x21mm)
  
• Dynasty Black Silver #12 or Simply Simmons Flat Shader #10 (10x14mm)
  
• Dynasty Black Silver #6 or Simply Simmons Flat Shader #4 (5x9mm)
  
• Dynasty Black Silver #4 or Simply Simmons Flat Shader #2 (3x7mm)
  
• Dynasty Black Silver Long Liner 5/0 or Simply Simmons Rigger #0 (1.2x20mm)
  
• Dynasty Black Silver Fan #6 or Simply Simmons Fan Blender #4 (43x31mm)

BRUSHES OF EXCELLENT QUALITY - In the studio, Hunter predominately uses Rosemary "Ivory" and "Evergreen" series synthetics. These are high-quality brushes, priced accordingly, that will last years with proper care. As they are hand-made in small batches in England, Rosemary Brushes are not sold by the major on-line art supply houses, but are certainly worth seeking out. Princeton "Aspen" brushes are very similar to Rosemary "Ivories" and are also an excellent long-term choice.

REASONABLY FINE BRUSH SOAP - Working with Grace & Miss Mouse Soaps, a handmade-soapmaker located in the same building as my studio in Bellows Falls, Vermont, we have created an extremely high-quality, sustainably-sourced, brush soap that deeply cleans and beautifully conditions one's brushes. The soap comes in a reusable 5 oz. plastic tub (tin rusts and gets icky), and we will have refills available so plastic waste is minimized - click here to order (along with hats and shirts!). We also love Bristle Magic. It brings brushes we thought we had killed back from the dead.

Blick Order Form for Charlie Hunter Brushes (and brush cleaner)  - just click here!

BRUSH RESOURCES - Brushes are mighty confusing. Blick has an extensive trove of information on their website explaining the component parts of brushes, the purpose of different brush shapes and the materials from which they're constructed. 

SURFACES
Hunter generally makes his own surfaces, applying muslin to gatorboard panels, using Amsterdam Acrylic Binder as the binding agent, then applying three coats of good-quality acrylic gesso. However, for those not wanting to head down the rabbit hole of making one's own panels, we find two Fredrix surfaces work well, although we still feel -time allowing- adding a couple of coats of professional-quality acrylic gesso, with a few drops of Yellow Iron Oxide acrylic mixed in to create a slightly warm white, is a good idea.

• Fredrix Watercolor Boards (ignore the name. These boards have the right texture surface to work with Hunter's technique. Be sure to wipe with a damp cloth to remove sizing prior to painting or gessoing).
• Fredrix Paint Boards (Cotton! AKA "Mixed Media Boards." Counterintuitively, the linen boards have too rough a texture). This line may have been discontinued as of 2022.
• Utrecht Professional Acrylic Gesso (extremely dense, very 'plastic-y' finish)
• Liquitex Professional Acrylic Gesso (excellent quality, slightly 'tooth-y' finish)
• Golden Fluid Acrylic Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide 

Blick Order Form for Charlie Hunter-approved Surfaces - just click here!

PAINTING MISCELLANY

• Large Mouth Double Palette Cup 
  
• Palette Knives (Hunter prefers thin, flexible blades - but it's a matter of personal preference)
  
• Collapsible Water Bowl

Blick Order Form for Charlie Hunter Miscellany - just click here!

This rather eclectic set of additional accessories that follows is, of course, highly individualized. And only some are available from traditional art suppliers. We are including links from Amazon for those who wish to hew strictly by-the-book!

• Cotton Swabs
  
• Stim-U-Dents (Original - Mint - green package; other types are too thin)
• Toothbrush
  
• Bounty Paper Towels (some folks like Viva, but Hunter swears by Bounty. Costco "Kirkland" brand are also excellent).
  
• Spray Bottle
• Afmat Electric (USB) Long-Point Pencil Sharpener

Hunter feels a daily drawing practice is crucial to developing as a painter. Keep a simple drawing set-up in your car, and when you have 20-40 minutes free, just sketch what's in front of you.