Beginner Watercolor Painting

This is all you need to get started painting watercolor!
Pentalic sketchbook, Escoda Squirrel Round #14, Winsor and Newton Cotman (Cotman is W & N's student grade paint) Pocket Box Palette.
Paper towels, a cup of water and you're ready to go!

• Paint and Palette

If you've starting from scratch, I recommend you get a little Winsor and Newton Cotman palette like this:



Winsor and Newton Cotman Pocket Box Set (refilled with M. Graham watercolors)
with Blick Art #12 Squirrel Round Brush

The reason to get a tiny travel palette is you will actually use it on location. A studio setup is great for a studio setup, but not much fun to travel with. Painting on location is not only a lot of fun to explore your world in paint but the best way to really look at what you're painting. Too many student artists don't bother to look at their subjects. And the little palette works well for painting at the kitchen table too when you just have a few minutes!

I really like this little palette. For about , it's a great entry into watercolor. The paints are usable, though you'll want to replace them with better paints when you really get going. The great thing is, you can add new artist grade pigments as you use up the starter set.

Immediately throw out the white gouache. It's not thick enough to use as a white gouache but it will mess up all your beautiful transparent colors. Replace the gouache with nickel azo yellow or go crazy with a cobalt violet. Buy your replacements with artist quality tube paints and just squirt a dab (artist quality watercolor paint goes a long way) in the pan.

I love M. Graham watercolors but Schmincke and Daniel Smith are excellent watercolors too. The M. Graham paints stay moist much longer, since they're mixed with honey. They don't dry out and become unusable. On the other hand, just put a little dab in a travel palette since they don't dry up...

I keep my white gouache for touchups in a separate tube and never mix it with my transparent watercolor palette.

This is my quick travel palette, as seen above!
I do change the paints around.

Very Basic Watercolor Palette

Here is a good palette with just the basics if you want to buy a minimum of artist grade paints:

Obviously, cool and warm colors are relative, as are transparent and opaque. And some colors, such as cobalt blue, are a lovely transparent in a very thin wash, but opaque when painted with a heavy hand. You just have to use the colors and get to know them!

Brushes

All you need is One Good Round Brush

That's right. You only need one brush to start painting. You really only need one brush to do excellent paintings.

That doesn't mean you won't want lots of brushes, but you'll be amazed at how often you reach for your favorite brush.

Unfortunately, the adorable little brush in most painting kits is not good for much. Keep it for finishing details, but get a size #12 to #14 Round Brush. I recommend an Escoda Squirrel Hair Round #14 (link to review). It's a very nice beginner to professional brush. It's what I keep in my to Go Paint bag! That and the tiny brush are all you need to get started. The #14 Round for 98% of your painting; the tiny one for the finishing 2%.

A slightly less expensive brush option is a Cheap Joes Golden Fleece Round (link to review). I used this synthetic brush for years for professional painting; however, I think the squirrel hair is easier and better to paint with.

YouTube video about choosing the best watercolor brush for you.
Everyone wants something slightly different. This helps you decide what brush hair type you need.

Your brush should have a good pointed tip and hold water well.

A round brush can paint all brush stroke shapes, while a flat or angular brush is limited. To start, get a good round brush. It will usually cost between $15-25. You don't need sable or a super expensive brush, just make sure it has a good point!

Paper towels

Don't go too cheap on these since they'll shed all over your painting. There's nothing worse than picking bits of paper out of a wash!

In the studio, I use cotton rags. On location, I like Bounty paper towels, but any relatively good brand will work.

Water Containers.

Add a water thermos or jug if you're on location.

On location, you tend to change water less frequently so you'll need 2 water containers, one for clean and one for dirty water.

#2 Pencil and Eraser

You can always use a mechanical pencil if you prefer those. I like drawing with the side as well as the tip, so an old fashioned #2 works for me.

Paper

Paper is the most difficult art supply to recommend because so much depends on your painting style. I highly advise getting paper you don't mind using and throwing away to start! However I also recommend not buying too cheap paper because it will be very difficult to paint on. Cheap paper has made so many students give up at watercolor when all they need is better paper for an easier start.

So, a minimum weight (listed on the label) of 140# or 300 gsm paper. The weight will keep if from buckling all over the place so your paint won't puddle unexpectedly. It will also make it possible to do multiple washes, which you need to do to get rich colors.

The journal option is terrific for keeping track of your progress and painting on location! You have to enjoy and appreciate the process, though. Feel free to tear out duds, but it's much better to realize that even for professional artists, 1 / 3 paintings you'd like to brag on is excellent odds!

You can buy blocks of 140# paper to eliminate the need to stretch paper. Arches is a good brand for any level of painting. Cold press texture is a happy medium.

The cheapest way to start painting on good paper is to buy sheets of paper, cut it into 1/4 sheets and stretch or clip it to a melamine board. This is probably the cheapest option for people who don't like sketchbooks or want to frame their finished work.

Beginning Watercolor Painting Tutorials

All about Watercolor Brushes

Next, there are only 3 Watercolor Washes to learn!

Fun Extras!

• 

  How to use a Rigger Brush

  Rigger brushes make it easy to add fun details to your paintings if you know how to use them! Nothing complicated, just a simple trick to using them correctly! Here's a video and lesson showing how!

• 

  Using Wax Resist (Crayons!)

  This is the one extra, but it makes painting easier!
  This lesson and video makes wax crayons fun!

I've listed all my beginner watercolor painting supplies in one place so you can easily find what you need. While I'm linking to my Amazon store, I highly recommend you go to your local art store and look at what's available.

I buy most of my supplies online, but I always try to buy brushes in the store if possible. Usually, the store will let you try out brushes with water on paper. This will give you a good idea of if the brush will work for you or not.

Disclaimer: Jennifer Branch Gallery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I receive a small rebate for your entire order (starting at 4%) if you choose to purchase through Amazon. Most items can be bought multiple places and I highly recommend local art stores if you have one! Any other recommendation links I receive no compensation for.
These referrals help me support this website, and I thank you for any purchase you make through them. I will never recommend a product I have not used frequently and believe is the best tool for the purpose!

Link to my Amazon affiliate store
where I list all my art supplies.