Best Watercolor Supplies for Beginners
Watercolor is a medium that grabs you and refuses to let go. Once you have experienced the magic of sheer colors bleeding into each other, it is very difficult to go back to the opaque mediums. Getting started in watercolor can be challenging without two very important things:
We can help with both! Let’s get you painting!
THE RIGHT SUPPLIES
are vital to your success!
Supplies will make or break your watercolor experience. When you hit a plateau that you can’t get over, it is usually because of your supplies not your talent! Let’s talk about the right supplies for your success.
BEGINNERS-
PAPER: We recommend 2 types of paper for the beginner. One to practice on and become comfortable and one to move to when you are ready to start painting rather than just practicing.
Practice paper: Fabriano Studio cold press watercolor paper
Painting paper: Fabriano Cold Press 100% cotton watercolor paper or Stonehenge cold-press watercolor paper
BRUSHES: Brushes are very personal. We tried a LOT of brush before we figured out our favorites. Start with a nice multi-use round brush. After MUCH experimentation, I am a big fan of Cheap Joe’s Art - the synthetic/”pseudo” squirrel and sable brushes. I like a size 6 because I generally paint small rather than big. If you are ready for big, then move up to a 10 or 12.
PAINT: This is where you can very easily start hoarding and collecting - or is that just us? If you are not sure you are going to love watercolor and you just want to try, get a student grade, pre-filled pan palette. It’s inexpensive, pre-filled, EASY. When you are ready for the better watercolors, let us introduce you to the vibrant, sheer, wonderful colors of Mijello Mission Gold. Liquid watercolors are known for their concentrated, vibrant colors in a bottle.
Student grade: Art Philosophy Confections watercolor - Tropicals (favorite and great for florals), Currents (wonderful blues and greens), Terrain (great for landscapes) and the new Confetti - 24 color set
Mijello Mission Gold Set - our go-to every time! We think it is worth the investment for these!
Liquid watercolors: Dr. Ph. Martin set of 12,
MIXING PALETTE: For the smoothest mixing a porcelain (or ceramic) palette is the way to go. If you have a white plate in your dish cupboard - try it! Granted plastic is fine for new beginners.
If you are working on a watercolor paper block, you are all set to go. Otherwise you are going to want to tape down your paper to prevent buckling, I like the clipboard and tape method. This works for paper around 8.5” x 11”.
Tape: Artist tape 3/4”
Clipboards: set of 6
Pens: my favorite forcontinuous line drawings and all other waterproof pen needs Staedtler Pigment Liners
After 2 years of intensive study of watercolor, there were so many tips, techniques and tricks that we wish we had known from the beginning. How much frustration and time would we have saved? So, we got busy creating the workshop we wanted when we were beginners. And to have it in two very different styles would have been a dream come true.
WE WISH YOU THE BEST
as you join the ranks of we who have fallen head over heels for this medium. It requires practice, play and painting regularly but you will be rewarded greatly by this addictive medium. Please join myself and Rae Missigman as we explore and share inspiration in this medium on Instagram.