What you need for a painting workshop
A painting workshop needs more than canvases and paint. Each participant needs a complete station, including brushes, mixing space, water, protection for clothing, and somewhere to let the finished work dry. This shopping list also covers the practical items people often arrange too late: table coverings, name badges, extension leads, chilled catering, and coffee service. Use the expected headcount to calculate quantities, then check every item before the room is set up.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 6
- Chairsqty 24
- Work stoolsqty 4
- Clothing rack
Creative materials
- Easelsqty 24
- Painting canvasesqty 28
- Acrylic paintqty 120
- Brushesqty 96
- Mixing palettesqty 24
- Water cupsqty 30
- Apronsqty 28
- Tableclothsqty 6
- Pencilsqty 30
- Erasersqty 30
- Pencil sharpenersqty 6
- Painter's tapeqty 8
- Drying racksqty 4
- Name badgesqty 30
Equipment
- Bluetooth speaker
- Extension cordsqty 2
- Power stripsqty 4
- Hair dryerqty 2
Tableware
- Reusable cupsqty 30
- Platesqty 30
- Cutlery setsqty 30
- Coffee cupsqty 30
Kitchen
- Thermos flasksqty 4
- Serving traysqty 4
- Serving spoonsqty 4
- Coolersqty 2
Cleaning
- Bucketsqty 3
- Cleaning spongesqty 12
- Microfiber clothsqty 12
Catering
- Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 24 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Tortilla chips - 3 bags
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- White rolls - 30 pieces
- Cheese - 2 kilos
- Vegetarian spreads - 6 tubs
- Butter - 500 grams
- Pasta salad - 4 kilo
- Green salad - 3 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Cucumber salad - 2 kilos
- Fruit salad - 3 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Pepper - 1 can
- Salt - 1 tin
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 3 packs
Tips
- Plan one painting canvas, apron, and working place per participant, plus a small spare supply for late registrations or damaged materials. Keep the final participant count beside you while shopping.
- Allow at least two or three brushes per person in different sizes, one mixing palette, and one water cup per station. Wash or replace cups before the workshop rather than discovering they are unusable during setup.
- Cover every table before setting out paint. Painter’s tape is useful for securing tablecloths and marking station areas, while a drying rack prevents wet paintings from being stacked.
- Check power needs before bringing equipment into the room. Count the speaker, hair dryer, and any other powered items, then bring enough extension cords and power strips to avoid daisy-chaining leads.
- Buy or prepare refreshments according to the schedule, not just the guest count. Store perishable catering in coolers until serving, and allow time to prepare coffee and tea before participants arrive.
Frequently asked questions
- How many painting supplies do I need per person?
- Prepare one canvas, apron, mixing palette, and water cup per participant. Provide at least two or three brushes per person, with a few extra brushes and canvases available for breakage or last-minute additions.
- How much acrylic paint is needed for a painting workshop?
- For a two- to three-hour workshop, plan roughly 100–150 ml of paint per participant across the selected colours. Add about 10% extra so participants can mix freely without running out of a popular colour.
- What should I buy for a painting workshop table setup?
- For each table, prepare a tablecloth, painter’s tape, easels if used, and enough stations for the people seated there. Add one water cup, palette, apron, and canvas per participant, then keep spare materials within reach.
- How far in advance should I shop for a painting workshop?
- Buy non-perishable art materials at least one week before the workshop and check them immediately. Purchase fresh catering one day before or on the day itself, and chill it until the reception starts.
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