Wanderlust 2022 Main Product List

The structure of Wanderlust 2022 focuses on exploring mixed-media through different supplies. That’s why it’s important that you have some basics and the rest is optional. Below you’ll find two supply lists. Essentials (in rough order of appearance) and extras. Please keep in mind that you don’t have to have all of these supplies before the course starts. Also don’t let this list intimidate you - you don’t need to know anything about any of these supplies before the course starts. We will be explaining all of the basics.



The essentials

These supplies will repeat in many lessons throughout the year and will be used in different ways. If you currently have nothing choose a few from this list to start off. See below for descriptions, tips and colour suggestions.


  • An art journal
  • Acrylic gesso
  • Gel medium
  • Modeling paste
  • Acrylic paints
  • Watercolours
  • Inks
  • Collage papers
  • Glue stick, pva glue
  • Scissors
  • Paintbrushes
  • Pencils, charcoal
  • White pen
  • Spray bottle



The extras

These supplies will be used more sporadically, some may appear only once. We suggest that you don’t buy any of them until you watch the lesson in which they are used and decide that this is something you want to try. The last thing we want you to do is to spend money on expensive products that will end up unused in your drawer.


  • Gelatine printing plate + a brayer (it will be used on at least two lessons)
  • Stencils 
  • Stamps
  • Alcohol inks
  • Dry pastels
  • Needle and thread



Please remember you don't have to buy all of these supplies. Give yourself time to learn about products, watch the Wanderlust videos and then choose what you want to try. Though remember that Wanderlust is about trying new things so if there is something you were always afraid to use, now it's the right time!

Additionally, each Teacher will have their own product list that will be published in the classroom about a month before the lesson goes live. Even though we ask our Teachers to keep the products simple, it may happen that it will include something that wasn’t mention on the following product list.


The article below isn't sponsored by any brand and all recommendations are based on our subjective opinions and experience.


Descriptions, recommendations and tips from Kasia:

The essentials

An art journal - prepare a journal that you are going to work in. You will need at least one to last you through the year. We will create at least 50 artworks so make sure it has enough space for that if each takes two pages. As you’ll approach the second half of the course you may notice that your book is feeling full even if there are still some blank pages. It may be a good idea to then get yourself another art journal to fill in. But start with just one. 

The paper - make sure the paper is matte and thick enough (I recommend at least 190g/m2). My favourites are Dylusions Creative Journal in all sizes and Stathmore Mixed Media Visual journal in 9" x 12" size and Fabriano.

The binding - choose a book that you like and feels nice. Wire bound or stitched will all work fine. 

I also keep a sketchbook for ideas and quick drawings - a Hand Book Journal (Large Landscape size). But anything that’s small and easy to grab will be good.


Acrylic gesso - white is the most important but I'm sure you will also find a clear and a black one very useful. Try to choose better quality gesso as it won't turn yellow over time and will provide you with a better surface to work on. My favourites are Liquitex, Golden, Daler Rowney for white and black gesso. They are all similar in texture. If you want to get clear gesso, it would be better to choose one with smooth or medium smooth finish. (for instance Liquitex is quite coarse, my favourite clear ones are Holbein Medium and Prima Marketing Clear Gesso by Finnabair). Choosing a smoother finish will allow you to use your gesso in a bigger variety of projects.


Gel medium - if you don't have any choose a soft one (thinner) at the beginning. It works perfect as an adhesive and a medium for transfer techniques. I'm using mostly Soft Gel from Golden, but any other brand will also work just as well. Matte / Gloss


Modeling paste - we’re talking about the regular kind, not “crackle paste” or “bead paste” etc. So any make that says “modeling” or “molding” paste on the jar or a tube will be good. If it says “light” on it then that’s also good - it will dry quicker and feel lighter in your art journal. Some of my favourite modeling pastes are from Liquitex, Pebeo, Golden & Prima.


Acrylic paints - there are two kinds that lots of teachers will use: heavy body (thick) and fluid (thin, liquid almost). We will be exploring both artist quality (so brands such as Golden or Liquitex) and craft quality (Dina Wakley Media, Fresco Finish etc). Now this may sound like a lot, but please remember you don’t need many colours to get started. We would always recommend getting a smaller basic colour palette of acrylics rather than tons of tubes that may get wasted. So try not to go for a ready made set of several colours but choose single smaller tubes of colour that you really like. At the end of the day this is about the fun of painting and so I would love you to use colours that bring you joy. If you’re starting with nothing then have a good look online or at your local art shop and choose two or three colours of each kind - heavy body, fluid and craft. And then also add heavy body white, black and one of the earthy, burnt colours (burnt umber, burnt sienna or similar). This will already give you a massive choice of colours and options and will allow you to do most of the lessons. As the course goes on you’ll learn more about colours and kinds of paint you truly enjoy. Remember, you can always treat yourself to another colour later on but you can’t take a tube back to the shop after it's sat unopened in your drawer for months. 


Watercolours - I do a lot of mixed-media but I mostly get by with just five tubes of watercolour paint. This is because I chose the colours I truly love and use over and over again. And I also decided to go for a high quality brand - Daniel Smith which has an amazing, almost translucent finish. With products such as craft acrylics, gel medium or modeling paste you can definitely go for a cheaper option, but with watercolours it’s worth getting the best you can afford. You can go for tubes or pans. Tubes have more intense colours, pans are usually a little cheaper and more portable. Choose three or four colours that you love and this will do nicely for the year. Have a look at some of these: Daniel Smith watercolour tubes, Golden Watercolours, Pan palettes - I recommend these half pans: Sennelier l'Aquarelle Watercolour Half Pan S1 - Green Earth, Winsor & Newton Payne's Grey Half Pan


Inks - there are two kinds you’ll need - an ink pad for stamping (permanent, black will be most versatile, I like Stazon and Archival) and liquid ink in two or three colours. For liquid ink you could choose between pigment based acrylic inks (for instance Liquitex) or dye based Ecolines or Bombay. If you haven’t got any, then get yourself just one colour of liquid ink to see how it feels. You’ll be able to mix it with your acrylics, watercolours and gessoes and just one colour will provide you with lots of fun.


Collage papers - no need to buy anything, but start collecting random leaflets, cut outs from magazines, postcards, labels, old book pages, pretty illustrations, old envelopes, old cards. notebook paper, tissues (even the kind that new shoes are wrapped in). If you’re starting with nothing ask around, for instance on your local FB group, if anyone has any magazines or postcards that they want to get rid of. 


Glue stick and PVA glue - glue stick is a must, PVA glue (the white, liquid kind that kids use at school) is optional as you could use your gel medium instead. But I like to have a bottle of PVA anyway because it’s much cheaper than gel medium.


Paintbrushes - if possible try to invest in better quality brushes. Their bristles won't change and fall off. Buy the best you can afford, you won’t regret that.

A perfect starting kit would be: one round big nylon brush (my favourites are Pro Arte Polar 14 and Kozlowski 18), at least two flat soft synthetic brushes in different sizes (e.g. Ranger Artist Brushes, Gold Line Crea-time), one bigger hog-style paint brush with stiff bristles for heavy body acrylics (Pro Arte Studio Hog 12, Dina Wakley paint brush 1"). I also always have one inexpensive bigger brush for my glue and gel medium. If I accidentally forget about washing it and the glue dries then I don’t have to worry that I wasted my best, expensive brush.


Pencils and charcoal - your tools for sketching and making quick notes. Any pencil will do and definitely get some willow (stick) charcoal as it will be lovely to use with other mediums and is very inexpensive. You can also get charcoal pencils which are lots of fun too.


White pen - you’ll love adding highlights or marks with white pen as your top layer. You could choose a Posca or Molotow acrylic pen (go for a finer tip if you only want to buy one) or for a white Gelli Roll, which will give you a more subtle result. 


Spray bottle - a little bottle with a fine nozzle will be very useful to spray water on your water-based mediums. You don’t need to buy one, check out your cupboards, you may already have something that can be reused (think window cleaning products, hair products - just wash it and fill it with water).


The extras


Gelatine printing plate and a brayer - there are various brands, but if you decide to buy go for a medium size gelli plate and a brayer that’s slightly smaller than the width of your plate.


Stencils - there are lots of brands that do some amazing stencils. For our course I would recommend getting a background stencil (a pattern that can be repeated) rather than an object kind of stencil (like a guitar, or a face). A background stencil will give you more options and you’ll be able to use it over and over again. Here are some of my favourite designs: Crafters Workshop 6x6 Mixed Media Stencils set of 4, Crafters Workshop 6x6 Microbial Stencil, Crafters Workshop Corn Cob Etching, Crafters Workshop 6x6 Sea Bubbles.


Stamps - same as with stencils, go for patterns. One of my big favourites is Viva LasVegaStamp - they have a massive choice and are pretty inexpensive. You can purchase stamps that are mounted on a piece of foam or wood (they are ready to use and you’ll get best, most precise result), but my personal favourite are unmounted stamps (simply a piece of rubber), which you can either mount yourself or like me, use as it is. I like a little bit of randomness in my mixed-media so the result that I get from using unmounted stamps is exactly what I crave.


Alcohol inks and spray inks - we’ll have a lesson in which these will be used, but since these supplies won’t repeat very much it’s worth watching first and then seeing how you like the result that they give. Alcohol inks are made by Ranger and come in a massive colour palette and give an effect that’s hard to achieve with anything else. For spray inks we’ll be using Dylusions, but there are other brands out there so definitely wait and see.


Dry pastels - we’ll be using them from time to time so maybe next time you’re at your local arts shop grab a colour or two? Any brand will be fine, go for the softer kind and choose a colour that you like. Please avoid buying sets.


Also useful to have during the course


Craft heating gun or a hair dryer - For making the drying process faster. Heating gun makes it easier though. It’s hotter and doesn’t blow away as much. I'm using a Ranger Heat It Craft Tool, but any other will be fine as well (e.g. American Crafts Zap embossing heat gun, Martha Stewart Crafts heat tool, Dovecraft Pink Heat Tool)


Palette knives -metal palette knives are my favourite, but to start with you can try cheaper plastic ones. You will need at least two different sizes - a small one and medium.


Pens - a black one is the most important. We recommend you to get at least three different sizes of nibs and definitely add a brush pen to your collection. I'm mostly using black Sakura Pigma Micron 05, 03 and black Faber - Castell PITT artist pen in size F, M and B (brush).



Disclaimer: this is not sponsored, and unless otherwise stated all products were purchased by us and our teachers.

W22 product list.pdf
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