This list is if you are starting from scratch and new to watercolor.
Please bring any supplies you already have.
Suggested Supplies:
Watercolor palette
Buy a palette with bigger wells and plenty tray space for mixing. I am not a fan of the round plastic or ceramic watercolor palettes because there is not enough room for mixing and you can’t close it up if you want to travel with them.
I like Mr Pen Airtight 18-Well Watercolor Palette with 2 Mixing Areas and Lid – Folding Paint Tray
$9.95 on Amazon.
Brushes
There are many types of watercolor brushes. You will find that you gravitate to a favorite brush or two after you are painting awhile. These are some basic brushes to get started.
I particularly like Princeton, Kolinsky Red Sable and Mimik brands.
There are both animal hair brushes of many kinds and Synthetic bristle brushes.
Round – Sizes 4 and 8
Flat – I recommend a ¾ to 1 inch brush
Rigger or script brush – Size 2 or 3
Paper
Note! NEVER buy cheap paper! Paper is probably the most important supply you use for watercolor. It determines how your watercolors behave and the outcome of your desired look. It’s good to have nice brushes and paint, but if you use it on cheap paper, you will be sorry.
I like Arches and Fluid brand. Strathmore is a popular brand and good for practice but not for your masterpiece!!
There are many brands to choose from, you can always ask someone who works at the art store for their input. Buying a good watercolor paper does not necessarily mean you have to buy the most expensive!
You can buy watercolor paper by the sheet, roll, block or pad.
I suggest to get a pad to start or sheets you can cut to size. You can easily remove the paper from a pad before you start, or keep it in the pad while you paint.
Keep in mind, the higher the “lb”, the heavier the paper. If you use too light of paper, it will “warp” and needs stretching or taping down prior to painting.
Make sure your paper is Acid-Free to resist yellowing and deterioration over time.
The best watercolor paper contains 100% rag (cotton fiber).
I suggest you buy Arches Cold Press 140lb or 300lb 100% cotton watercolor paper. 300lb is my favorite. Cold press is all purpose, great for wet on wet, wet on dry and detail paintings. (you will learn what this means)
Fabriano and Winsor Newton are also good brands.
Arches 140lb Hot Press 100% cotton. Good for more detailed work, not so much for wet on wet on larger areas.
Paper Size 8×10 and/or 9×12.
Watercolor Paint
There are many brands of watercolor paints to choose from. Be sure to buy PROFESSIONAL GRADE, NOT STUDENT GRADE. QOR and Windsor Newton are a good choice but if you want to get another brands such as Daniel Smith, DaVinci, or Holbein, that is just fine! You will come to find what you like best as you paint along your journey!
Suggested List!
Cadmium Red – Windsor Newton (Warm) orange undertones
Quinacridone Magenta (Cool) red-purple,
Quinacridone Rose (Cool) red-violet and leans towards blue
Cadmium Yellow Deep or medium – Windsor Newton (Warm) reddish tinge
Nickle Azo Yellow – QOR (Cool) can look warmer in mass tones
Hookers Green- QOR (Cool) mostly cool
Sap Green – QOR (Warm)
Cobalt Blue – Windsor Newton (can be both Warm and Cool)
Phthalo Blue – QOR (Cool) Green undertones
Other Supplies
2 Cups or holder for water
Small spray bottle or pipet
Paper towels
Pencil, #2
Kneaded eraser
Sketch book, any size
Carbon paper
Ruler
Artists Tape or masking tape 1”
Hairdryer – great to dry your paint faster!
Optional but nice to have – waterproof ink pens (I really love Uni Pin Fine Line water and fade proof ink. You can buy a set of 6 with sizes .03 to 0.8mm
