Explanation of Juan's Materials List

I primarily use two brands of watercolor, due to the consistent quality & permanence. Windsor Newton is the only manufacturer that produces Windsor Red & Windsor Blue. Holbein is the other company that I use. Again I prefer the quality, consistency and permanence of these watercolors.  

Windsor Red - a red that I mix with many other colors. It is a neutral color as well as a suburb stain color.

Windsor Blue (red shade) - a cool blue that helps to make good darks. It’s a wonderful stain color.

Holbein Permanent Yellow Deep – useful to mix wonderful warm colors. Mixes well with all the colors that I like to use.

Holbein Permanent Lemon Yellow – This is my lightest yellow and also mixes well with all the colors that I use. When mixed with other colors, it makes them lighter and brighter.

Holbein Peacock Blue – a pretty blue that is useful to mix to create beautiful greens. It also mixes well with all my colors.

Holbein Permanent Violet – a great violet all by itself. It is a short cut for mixing wonderful browns.

Quinacridone Magenta – (any brand is ok) my darkest red. Mixes well with any other color to make them darker. This color is highly staining. 

Chinese White - (any brand is ok) When mixed with any of the colors above, a sediment color is created. Also the mixed color in lightened. Chinese White is only mixed with other colors and I prefer not to use Chinese White by itself.

I use large synthetic brushes. “Learn to use the largest brush possible and you will master all the little brushes”. The only little brush I use is to sign my name on a painting. Some brushes are specialty brushes which I explain their use in my classes, workshops and books.

Since I have used many papers, I prefer using D’Arches watercolor paper. It is a permanent high quality paper. It doesn’t yellow in time which has happened to other watercolor paper I have used.

D’Arches is a hand made paper which has three surfaces; rough, medium and smooth. I prefer rough 300 lb. and have used this paper for most of my paintings. I also like Fabriano paper 300lb. rough and very rough.

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