My Top 10 Essential Watercolor Supplies for Every Artist

As a professional watercolor artist, I’m often asked, "What do I need to start painting with watercolor?" The great news is, a good watercolor kit doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive and, if you make the right choices now, you’ll be working with your tools for many years to come. I’ve already written an in depth free guide, "A Quick Start Materials Summary for Beginners,” which you can find below, aimed at helping confident beginners choose the right tools for their style - but if you want a quick start guide, these are my all-time favorite supplies!

1. Water Container: The Foundation of Your Painting Adventure

Let's start with the most humble tool in an artist’s kit – the water container. It may seem simple, but it's essential. You can use almost anything for this - I use an old jam jar with a wide lid. Just remember to use a container you won’t drink from later, as some pigments can be toxic. Keeping your water clean is key if you want to avoid muddy, dull colors.

2. Pencils: Sketching Your Vision

Before you even begin painting, most of us sketch out our visions in pencil. I recommend having a 2B and 4B pencil for sketching your designs; the 2B is perfect for drawing out your design, while the 4B is softer and ideal for transferring your drawing onto your watercolor paper.

3. Pencil Sharpener and Eraser: Precision in Your Hands

A sharpener and a quality eraser are your greatest allies. Sharp pencils allow for detailed lines, while erasers help remove any unwanted mistakes. Artist’s putty erasers are especially helpful in watercolour; they allow you to lighten lines without completely removing them, which is important, as painting over pencil lines in watercolor will seal the pencil to the paper. If you don’t have a putty eraser, you can use BlueTack! Make sure to bin your eraser when it gets too worn out to avoid unwanted graphite transferring onto your paper.

4. Paper Towel: Your Painting Assistant

Don't underestimate the power of the humble paper towel (kitchen towel is preferred). Highly absorbent, it's invaluable for controlling how much water and pigment on your brush. Keep it within reach, and use it to dab off any excess from your brush before you begin painting. A clean kitchen towel can also be used to soak up any mistakes you might have made while painting (such as an unwanted paint splatter, or a too-dark wash).

5. Paints: The Colorful Palette of Possibilities

The choice between watercolor tubes and pans is yours to make. Tubes give you greater control over how intense your colors are, while pans are convenient and portable. Start with the CYM primaries; Quinacridone Rose, Pthalo Blue (Green Shade) and Hansa Yellow Medium. Burnt Sienna and Yellow Ochre and my two favorite browns, and Ultramarine Blue is excellent in mixes. My most versatile reds are Pyrrol Scarlet and Permanent Alizarin Crimson. Viridian green is also useful for a variety of mixes.

If you want an easy one-and-done set, look for Paul Rubens or Winsor and Newton’s Cotman line - both have excellent 12 pan sets, that hit the sweet spot between price and quality.

6. Paper: The Canvas for Your Imagination

The type of paper you choose can significantly impact your painting. Start with Cold Pressed Paper, ideally 300gsm, and look for 100% cotton paper that is acid and lignin-free. Quality paper enhances the longevity and vibrancy of your artwork.

7. Brushes: Tools of Precision

For beginners, I suggest starting with round brushes in sizes 2, 4, and 6. Whether you choose synthetic or natural hair brushes is a personal preference. Experiment with both to discover what suits your painting style best. My all-time favorite ranges include the Winsor and Newton Series 7 line, Escoda’s Reserva range, Princeton’s Neptune line and Silver Brush’s Black Velvet sets.

8. Palette: Blending Your Colors

A plastic palette is an affordable and practical option for beginners; they’re cheap, and less easily broken than ceramic plates. Go for a metal travel tin if you plan on working with pans, or want to work on location.

9. Talent is another word for Practice: Be Patience and Persevere

Watercolor painting is a journey, not a destination. Every artist makes mistakes. Don’t panic when they happen, and try to learn from them when they do. Patience and perseverance are key. Enjoy the process of learning; each painting brings you closer to mastering this beautiful art form. It’s such a rewarding medium.

10. A Learning Resource: Elevate Your Skills

Learn from those around you! I’ve been painting for twenty years, but it doesn’t have to take twenty years to get to where I am now. I’ve distilled the best of what I’ve learned into my course, ‘Realistic Wildlife Illustrations in Watercolor’. My course is aimed at helping confident beginners take that next step; we go through everything from core brush techniques and color mixing skills, to more developed ideas like advancing and recessive colors. Best of all, everything’s practical - you’ll see how everything comes together, in your unique style.

The quality of your materials significantly affects the outcome of your artwork. While it’s tempting to cut costs, investing in good-quality supplies is an investment in your experience painting. Choose materials that will work for you to make your life easier, rather than work against you and make the journey harder. Remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. If you want more specific brush and brand recommendations, check out my free resource, "A Quick Start Materials Summary for Beginners”.

I hope you’ll enjoy your journey with watercolors, whether you join our community of like-minded artists or strike out on your own. If you do join my course on Domestika, I’d love to be a part of your journey; whether it’s to give feedback or see your successes. Most of all, I hope you love painting with watercolors as much as I have!