What You Need for a Painting Workshop

Use this shopping list to prepare a painting workshop without running short on materials. Plan one canvas, one brush set and one apron per participant, then add shared items such as paint, palettes, water cups and cleaning supplies. The setup also needs tables, chairs, table covering, drying space and safe cable access for the presentation area. Buy or borrow the equipment at least one week ahead, and check every item before participants arrive.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Work tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 45
Presentation table
Coat racksqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Kettlesqty 2
Coffee maker

Painting supplies

Painting canvasesqty 45
Acrylic paint setsqty 45
Brush setsqty 45
Palletsqty 45
Mixing bowlsqty 90
Water cupsqty 90
Pencilsqty 45
Erasersqty 45
Pencil sharpenersqty 10
Palette knivesqty 20
Spongesqty 30
Mixing palettesqty 10
Easelsqty 45
Painter's tapeqty 12
Cloth clipsqty 90
Drying racksqty 5
Paint can openersqty 6
Apronsqty 45
Nitrile glovesqty 100
Work glovesqty 10

Kitchen

Coffee potsqty 3

Tableware

Mugsqty 50
Glassesqty 50
Platesqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 50

Catering

Serving traysqty 4
Small bowlsqty 12
Drink dispensersqty 2
Coolersqty 3
Picnic blanketsqty 6
Groceries
- Coffee beans - 2 packs
- Tea bags - 100 pieces
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar sticks - 100 pieces
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Still mineral water - 36 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 24 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Ginger beer - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salted pretzels - 3 bags
- Rice cakes - 4 packs
- Mixed nuts - 3 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Carrots - 4 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Apples - 45 pieces
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Baguettes - 10 pieces
- Gluten-free crackers - 4 packs
- Vegan crackers - 4 packs
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 50 pieces
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Decorations

Name badgesqty 50
Table runnersqty 6
Clipboardsqty 6
Arrow stickersqty 12

Cleaning

Microfiber clothsqty 12
Spongesqty 10
Bucketsqty 4
Floor squeegeesqty 2
Hand broomsqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Paint waste binsqty 4

Packaging

Painting coversqty 45
Paper carry bagsqty 50
Bubble wrap
Cardboard boxesqty 10

Tips

Count painting materials by workstation, not only by guest. For a group of 12, prepare 12 canvases, 12 brush sets, 12 aprons and at least 12 water cups, plus two or three spare sets.
Allow one acrylic paint set per participant if everyone works independently. Shared paint needs more control: place one set at each workstation and keep an extra set aside for colours that run out first.
Plan drying space before shopping. One drying rack may not hold 12 wet canvases, so check its capacity and add cloth clips or a second rack if finished paintings cannot lie flat safely.
Protect the tables with painter’s tape and suitable covering, and keep at least two waste bins in the room. Paint spills are easier to handle when cleanup supplies are already at each workstation.
Prepare drinks separately from the paint area. For a two-hour workshop, provide about two cups of coffee or tea per person, and place kettles, the coffee maker and extension cords where guests cannot catch the cables.

Frequently asked questions

What supplies do I need for a painting workshop?: For each participant, plan a canvas, acrylic paint, a brush set, an apron, a pencil and an eraser. Shared supplies usually include palettes, water cups, mixing bowls, palette knives, sponges, paint openers, table protection and drying racks.
How many canvases do I need for a painting workshop?: Buy one canvas per registered participant, plus 5–10% spare canvases for damaged materials or last-minute additions. For 20 participants, that means 21 or 22 canvases.
How much paint should I buy per person?: Acrylic paint sets are easiest to plan at one set per participant, with one additional set for every 10 participants. For a group of 20, prepare 22 sets if participants will mix colours freely.
When should I buy painting workshop supplies?: Order specialist painting supplies at least one week before the workshop and check them within 24 hours of delivery. Do the final shopping two or three days beforehand so drinks, tape and other consumables are fresh and available.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.