Here are my top recommended supplies for the beginning watercolor artist!
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If you've done any shopping around at all you'll quickly realize that in the world of watercolor, there is a wide range of price points and a ton of brands to choose from. And generally you do get what you pay for. With watercolor in particular, better quality materials mean a more successful, frustration-free experience for the artist. I don't recommend buying the cheapest stuff on the market, because you'll be constantly struggling with paper that dries out too fast, paint that turns into chalky mud, and brushes that drop bristles into your beautiful painting.
That being said, bear in mind that these are simply my personal (non-sponsored) opinions, based on my own experience. There are as many opinions out there as there are artists - so take any and all of this with a grain of salt!
Basically you need paint, paper, a few brushes, a water container, and some paper towels. The goal is to start with great paper and build from there.
If you really wanted to go with a streamlined, minimalist kit, I'd recommend just these four things (plus your own water container and paper towels:
MINIMALIST STARTER KIT:
And here is my more expanded beginner list. I'll go over all of these items below.
BEGINNER SUPPLY RECOMMENDATIONS:
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Paper
The important thing is to start with 100% cotton paper and find a brand you love. I will always and forever be devoted to Arches cold pressed paper. I love the way it absorbs moisture evenly and stays damp long enough for me to work on it. After you settle on a good brand of paper, choose the best paints and brushes you can afford, and build your collection from there.
In this short video clip, I demonstrate the difference between painting on 100% cotton paper, and paper that is only 25% cotton (mostly wood pulp). There's such a big difference! Take a look!
You will either need to buy a block (easiest option, comes with 20 sheets) or a pad, along with a board and some tape to secure each sheet down (pads only have 12 sheets).
How to open and use a watercolor block:
Paint
When it comes to student-grade paint, the only brand I can honestly recommend is Winsor and Newton Cotman. Other non-professional paints that I've tried tend to be weak in strength, or else unpredictably chalky and milky; leading to muddy mixes. The Cotman Sketchers Pocket Set of 12 palette I've linked here below includes pretty much all of the colors I use (or similar hues) in my own professional palette. They are beautiful on their own and can be combined in dozens of ways to make gorgeous mixes. With this compact little palette, you can mix just about any color you need:
If you prefer, you can purchase these colors in tube form rather than in dried cakes (or pans). The pans are more convenient and easier to travel with, but the tubes are nice if you want to quickly mix up a large amount of paint. Some artists say that the tubes produce a more vibrant, pigmented wash - but in my experience you can get the same performance from dried paint as long as you rewet it properly.
Here are my favorite Cotman colors in tube form:
Brushes
As far as brushes go, I recommend getting brushes that are made for watercolor (acrylic and oil brushes are far too stiff and don't hold enough water). Get brushes that are good enough quality that they won't shed bristles into your painting or begin to fall apart. Taking care of your brushes is important to maintain their nice sharp point. I'll link to a post below on how I care for my brushes. If you do, they'll last for years!
I recommend a set of round brushes (tiny, small, medium with springy bristles for detail work - Cotman brush set 2 is good for starters), a larger soft round brush for loose washes like skies and water (Neptune size 10 or 12 is a good price point), and a 1-inch flat brush for quickly wetting the whole paper.
Helpful but not entirely necessary is a set of inexpensive but durable brushes for getting paint out of the pans, mixing up colors, and cleaning your palette. You won't have to worry about damaging the point of your good brush tips, and these Crayola brushes are nice and sturdy. I use the round ones mostly, but the flat ones are great for swatching colors.
Water Container
Any container will do, really; you don't have to buy a special one. I've linked a handy bucket that is divided, so you can have dirty water and clean water side by side for better rinsing, but you can also just use a couple of jars. Some buckets have ridges on the bottom so that you can swish your brush against them to loosen up the paint better, which is really helpful. I often use mason jars or empty yogurt tubs; whatever I have on hand. I found these handy little "paint pucks," which attach with a suction cup to the bottom of your water jar and provide you with those little bumps to swish against!
Mixing tray or palette
The Cotman Sketcher's Pocket Palette has a small mixing area already built into it, so technically you can just use that. But for a more pleasant experience, I recommend using a tray/plate/palette that is white and made of ceramic or porcelain (enameled tin also works well). The paint will spread out better on that surface than it will on plastic, and the white color will allow you to see the true colors of your paint. Even a white dinner plate is fine. Here are a few to explore:
Towels or rags
To dab off excess moisture from your brush and generally clean up your space, I recommend some lint-free cotton rags or paper towels. I use white bar mop cloths and cotton handkerchiefs (I got mine on Amazon). Paper towels or handkerchiefs are also great for lifting off pigment to create clouds or highlights, and for wiping out your mixing trays.
Drying Tool (optional but helpful)
To speed up drying time, it is handy to have a hair dryer or heat tool. You don't want to scorch your paper, but gently running a dryer over your work can save a lot of time and help you get back to painting sooner! This is the one I use. It's very quiet, so I can even use it early in the morning while my daughter is still sleeping (her room is next to my studio). Win!
There you have it! Basically you need paint, paper, a few brushes, a water container, and some paper towels. The goal is to start with great paper and build from there.
Tips for those starting out:
Never leave your brushes standing in your water jar. It will ruin your bristles! Rinse them well, dab them on your towel, and lay flat to dry.
Get started, and keep painting! You don’t need tons of supplies right away; your supplies need you - to use them!
After you finish a piece, put it aside for a day or so and come back to look at it with fresh eyes. You'll notice things you might have missed before.
Every painting goes through an ugly phase. Persist!
Don’t confuse your drink with your rinse water, ha! Ask me how I know.
Watercolor paint dries lighter than it looks when it's wet. Sometimes up to 30% lighter.
Join a watercolor Facebook group. Explore tutorials on YouTube. Follow other artists on Instagram. Benefit from and to the community! There are so many of us!
Don’t be afraid to use your good paper. It will make all the difference. And save your scraps to swatch on or create bookmarks and gift tags!
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