Embarking on your watercolor journey is an exciting adventure that invites tranquility and creativity into your life. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to enhance your existing toolkit, having the right supplies can transform your experience. Below, I’ve outlined my favorite watercolor supplies that will help you create beautiful art.
It is important to buy professional or artists grade paper, paint and brushes because the student quality can really cause issues with learning and using watercolor. The quality of your supplies can greatly influence your watercolor experience.
As a watercolor painting instructor my goal is help you realize the best possible success in your journey to master the watercolor medium. I encourage you to have (at minimum) the following supplies with you when you come to my workshops or class. If you are not sure you want to make the investment right away, for a $5 fee per class I will let you use my paint and brushes, and you can purchase sheets of watercolor paper as needed.
Experienced painters, feel free to bring your own supplies, plus anything listed in the essential supplies you don't already have.
BASIC SUPPLIES FOR THE BEGINNER WATERCOLOR ARTIST
You can purchase supplies at your local art supply store, or order online which I recommend you do. My three favorite online stores are:
Cheap Joes.com
DickBlick.com
JerrysArtarama.com
Paint and Palette
Palette: Any white plastic palette with wells for mixing colors. It must have a lid to preserve your paints.
This is a great starter palette. Holbein Plastic Studio Palette with Cover
The palette I use is Cheap Joe's piggyback palette.
Watercolor Paint: Start with a set of high-quality, artist-grade watercolors. They offer vibrant colors and superior blendability compared to student-grade paints. Watercolors come in 2 forms: tubes and pans. Tubes of watercolors are already moist, with a pasty consistency that you squeeze into the wells of your palette and let dry before using. Pans of watercolors are like hard cakes of paint that need to be moistened with water to be used and usually come in sets. Either one is acceptable but I prefer tube paints. Any brand of artist grade paint can be used. I use Winsor Newton and Daniel Smith. Basic colors to start with are:
Alizarin Crimson
Winsor Red
Cerulean Blue
Cobalt blue
French Ultramarine
New Gamboge
Winsor Green blue shade
Burnt Sienna
If you want to purchase additional colors see the list below.
Watercolor Paper
The paper you use makes a huge difference. Look for cold-pressed, 100% cotton watercolor paper with a weight of 140lb or 300lb. This type of paper absorbs water well, allowing the colors to bloom beautifully.
140lb paper is thinner and needs to be taped or stapled to a board so it doesn't buckle. 300lb is heavier and does not need any additional support. Watercolor paper is 22" x 30" and can be cut to yield 4 -11" x 15" paintings. Another option is to buy artist grade watercolor blocks 9" x 12" or larger. They also do not need to be stretched. I buy my paper in bulk, so can sell you a full sheet of 140lb paper as needed.
My preferred paper is Cheap Joes Kilimanjaro 140lb bright white full size sheets.
Watercolor Brushes
Purchase the best brushes you can afford. You get what you pay for in this catagory. I have Kolinsky sable brushes that I've had for 20+ years. Take care of them and they will last forever. With that said purchase brushes only intended for watercolor, not acrylic. Watercolor brushes come in synthetic and natural hair with Kolinsky Sable being the most expensive. Synthetic brushes work well and are less expensive. Stick to short handle brushes. You don't need many brushes to start.
#0 or #1 round brush (small for detail)
#2 or #4 round (medium)
#6 round (larger)
1/4" flat
1" - 1 1/2" flat wash or bigger for large washes
ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO BRING
Water container similar in size to a plastic cool whip tub.
Mechanical pencil or #2 pencil
Box of plain/cheap tissues without any lotion.
Roll of paper towels
Squirt bottle with a pop up top to wet paint. You can usually find them in the cosmetic section where they sell sample travel items.
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES
More colors in my palette:
Cad Orange
Naples Yellow
Paynes Grey
Permanent Rose
Raw Sienna
Raw Umber
Winsor Blue Red Shade
Winsor Violet
Opera by Holbein
Any of the Danial Smith Quinacridone colors
Any artist grade color that catches your eye.
Hake Brush
Masking fluid, masking fluid pick-up to remove the mask, a small round and medium round cheap brush for the masking fluid. You don't want to use a good brush for that. (Use of masking fluid included with $5 fee)
Gatorboard or some lightweight waterproof board (non-absorptive; plywood, particle board, Birch board, sign board, etc.) you can find at the hardware store, on which to tape your single sheets. Should be slightly larger than a full sheet which is 22" x 30". Board is not necessary if you get a block.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT ME AT pchute5968@yahoo.com
