Amsterdam Expert Series
Royal Talens · acrylic paint · 75 and 150 ml
Amsterdam's artist quality: highly pigmented, full-bodied and very lightfast. 70 colours for areas that are meant to glow.
My Materials
People often ask me what I paint with. Here you will find the paints, brushes and tools I work with in my studio and recommend in my courses.
I buy little, but I buy well. Good materials make painting easier, and the paintings last longer.
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Paints
I paint exclusively with Amsterdam acrylics. The brand is made by Royal Talens in the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Standard Series
Royal Talens · acrylic paint · 120, 250 and 500 ml
My choice for large formats and for anything that needs a lot of paint. Can be mixed with the Expert Series.
Amsterdam Metallic
Royal Talens · light gold, deep gold, silver
For the golden accents in my paintings. A touch is enough.
My colours
I use them all, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the painting. Here are 48 colours from the Standard Series, each as a 120 ml tube. All of them can be mixed with one another.
Whites and light tones
- Titanium WhiteNo. 105Amazonbol
- Zinc WhiteNo. 104Amazonbol
- Titanium Buff LightNo. 289Amazonbol
- Titanium Buff DeepNo. 290Amazonbol
Yellow and orange
- Azo Yellow LemonNo. 267Amazonbol
- Primary YellowNo. 275Amazonbol
- Azo Yellow LightNo. 268Amazonbol
- Gold YellowNo. 253Amazonbol
- Naples Yellow DeepNo. 223Amazonbol
- Yellow OchreNo. 227Amazonbol
- Azo OrangeNo. 276Amazonbol
Red
- Naphthol Red LightNo. 398Amazonbol
- Naphthol Red MediumNo. 396Amazonbol
- Pyrrole RedNo. 315Amazonbol
- CarmineNo. 318Amazonbol
Rose and violet
- Light RoseNo. 361Amazonbol
- Venetian RoseNo. 316Amazonbol
- Persian RoseNo. 330Amazonbol
- Quinacridone RoseNo. 366Amazonbol
- Primary MagentaNo. 369Amazonbol
- Permanent Red VioletNo. 567Amazonbol
- Ultramarine VioletNo. 507Amazonbol
Blue
- UltramarineNo. 504Amazonbol
- Cobalt Blue (Ultramarine)No. 512Amazonbol
- King's BlueNo. 517Amazonbol
- Phthalo BlueNo. 570Amazonbol
- Primary CyanNo. 572Amazonbol
- Brilliant BlueNo. 564Amazonbol
- Sky Blue LightNo. 551Amazonbol
- Turquoise BlueNo. 522Amazonbol
- Greenish BlueNo. 557Amazonbol
Green
- Turquoise GreenNo. 661Amazonbol
- Phthalo GreenNo. 675Amazonbol
- Permanent Green DeepNo. 619Amazonbol
- Permanent Green LightNo. 618Amazonbol
- Yellowish GreenNo. 617Amazonbol
- Sap GreenNo. 623Amazonbol
- Olive Green DeepNo. 622Amazonbol
Earth tones, grey and black
- Raw SiennaNo. 234Amazonbol
- Burnt SiennaNo. 411Amazonbol
- Burnt UmberNo. 409Amazonbol
- Warm GreyNo. 718Amazonbol
- Payne's GreyNo. 708Amazonbol
- Oxide BlackNo. 735Amazonbol
Metallic
The colours on screen are approximations. The Royal Talens colour chart is the reference.
Mediums and primer
Mediums change how the paint behaves: thicker, more fluid, more matt or more glossy. Here too I stay with Amsterdam so that everything works together.
Gesso
Amsterdam · white 1001, black 3007, transparent 3000
The primer under every painting. White for luminous colours, black for deep, dark works.
Modelling paste
Amsterdam · 1003
For textured paintings: the paste can be applied with a knife, shaped and painted over once dry.
Heavy Gel Medium
Amsterdam · matt 020
Makes the paint thicker and firmer without changing the colour. Good for visible knife marks.
Pouring Medium
Amsterdam · 014 · 250 and 1000 ml
For fluid paintings: the paint becomes liquid and levels out by itself into a smooth surface. Dries clear.
Acrylic varnish
Amsterdam · gloss 114, matt 115
The final step: varnish protects the finished painting from dust and light and evens out the sheen.
Brushes
My brushes come from da Vinci in Nuremberg. The TOP-ACRYL range has strong, springy synthetic fibres and is made for full-bodied acrylic paint.
BrushesMy Materials
BrushesMy Materials
TOP-ACRYL filbert
da Vinci · series 7485
The rounded tip makes soft transitions and organic shapes.
BrushesMy Materials
BrushesMy Materials
Wide flat brush
da Vinci · 50 and 80 mm
For priming, large areas of colour and the varnish at the end.
Knives and tools
Many of my paintings are made more with the knife than with the brush.
Knives and toolsMy Materials
Painting knife
RGM · stainless steel, various shapes
For applying, dragging and scratching. A good painting knife is springy and lasts a lifetime.
Knives and toolsMy Materials
Knives and toolsMy Materials
Silicone wedge
Princeton · Catalyst
Pulls the paint softly across the surface and leaves lively marks. Dried paint simply peels off.
Knives and toolsMy Materials
Stay-wet palette
Masterson · Sta-Wet
Keeps acrylic paint moist for days. Saves paint and nerves.
Frames and hanging
Frames and hangingMy Materials
Floater frame
Wood · made to measure
The narrow gap between painting and frame makes the canvas appear to float.
Frames and hangingMy Materials
Hanging hardware
D-rings and picture wire
Secure, invisible and fitted in a few minutes.
For beginners and for children
This is what I recommend in my courses. A few good things are enough to start with.
For beginners and for childrenMy Materials
Primary colours set
Amsterdam Standard Series · 6 × 20 ml
Almost any colour can be mixed from six. Ideal for getting to know the paint.
Selection set
Amsterdam Standard Series · 36 × 20 ml
For everyone who wants the whole world of colour straight away. Also a lovely gift.
Children's brushes
da Vinci · Junior
Short handles, sturdy hairs. They sit well in small hands.
For beginners and for childrenMy Materials
Painting smock
for children
Acrylic paint does not come out of clothing. A smock is part of the kit.
Do you have a question about a material, or are you looking for something for a particular project? Write to me using the contact form. In my courses at the studio in Eindhoven you can try everything before you buy it.