Watercolor Supplies for Beginners

One of the things I hear most often from people who buy or view my artwork is “I wish I could do that”, to which I reply…YOU CAN!

What makes art of any kind so great is that there is no rule book to follow. Art is fluid and open-ended and pretty much anything you want it to be. When I teach classes of beginners, they are shocked at what they’re able to do with a little guidance and some basic materials. Watercolor materials can be expensive as you invest in some more premium paints and brushes but when you’re simply starting off, there are some great basic and inexpensive supplies that can warrant incredible results. Below I’ve listed my favorite supplies for beginners that I’ve both used myself and recommended to others.

Brushes

I love a good variety pack when it comes to brushes. You can achieve so many amazing results with watercolors when you switch up the brush. My favorite beginner brushes are these Benicci Watercolor Brushes. You get 12 brushes for a great price and they include the 4 styles you’d use the most: flat, fan, filbert, and round.

Paint Palette

This starter palette includes 48 colors so you have endless opportunities to mix and blend colors to your hearts content.

Having some mixing palettes is also a great idea because one of the best things to do with watercolors is mix and experiment with different color combinations! This multi-pack is great for starters but over time, a ceramic palette is my personal preference because of how the paints mix on the ceramic. It’s also super easy to clean.

Watercolor Paper

While it isn’t the cheapest watercolor paper out there, I truly believe that you don’t cut corners when it comes to watercolor paper. Legion watercolor paper is my favorite brand and a block versus a pad is my personal preference. The difference between the two is that a watercolor pad has loose pages whereas a block has all of the pages sealed together with wax around the edges. This is especially important for watercolors because it ensures that the paper won’t morph from the use of water. Once you’re done with a page, you carefully separate it from the rest using a knife or blade of some kind.

Erasers

Could you use a regular pink school eraser to sketch out your art? Sure. Do I recommend doing that? For watercolors, heck no! Watercolor paper is different than regular paper because it’s built to absorb water. What it’s not built for is aggressive erasing. Insert my favorite kneaded rubber erasers. You can literally knead these to take whatever form you want. They are soft yet durable and they won’t ruin your watercolor paper.

As time goes on and you experiment with watercolors, you may find that your style and taste for certain products has changed. Trial and error is always the best way to find what works for you so keep painting and enjoy getting lost in the moment!

Are you looking for materials that aren’t on this list? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll be sure to add them!