Watercolor Supplies
These are the watercolor supplies I keep within reach in my studio, from the paints and brushes I use most to the paper, palettes, and little extras that make painting easier. Whether you are just starting out or building up your kit, this is a good place to begin.
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Paints
Good paint makes the biggest difference. Artist grade pigments are richer and mix more cleanly, but a student set is a great way to start.
DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Essentials Set: six artist grade tubes that mix into a full palette.
Holbein Artist's Watercolor: smooth, vibrant tube colors that rewet beautifully.
Winsor & Newton Cotman Set: an affordable student line that is perfect for practice and sketching.
MeiLiang 36 Color Watercolor Set: a budget friendly pan set for beginners and travel.
Dr. Ph. Martin's Radiant Concentrated Watercolor: liquid watercolor with bright, glowing color.
Winsor & Newton Designer's Gouache: opaque paint for highlights and small details.
Brushes
You do not need a lot of brushes. A couple of rounds, a flat, and a small detail brush will cover most paintings.
ARTEGRIA Watercolor Brush Set: ten soft brushes with a good mix of rounds and flats.
Travel Watercolor Brushes by Kristy Rice: compact capped brushes for painting on the go.
Mr. Pen Water Brush Pens: refillable water brushes for sketchbooks and plein air.
Easyou Bamboo Brush Roll: rolls up to protect your brush tips in storage and travel.
Paper
Paper matters as much as paint. Cotton paper handles water and layering best. Cold press has a light texture, and hot press is smooth for fine detail.
Arches Watercolor Block, 140 lb Cold Press: glued on all sides so it stays flat while you paint.
Arches Watercolor Block, 300 lb Cold Press: heavy paper that stands up to big, wet washes.
Arches Hot Press Watercolor Pad: a smooth surface for botanical and detailed work.
Strathmore 300 Series Watercolor Pad: affordable paper for practice and studies.
Strathmore 400 Series Artist Tiles: 6x6 squares for small paintings and color swatches.
Hahnemühle Round Watercolour Paper: round sheets in a metal tin, fun for small pieces.
Palettes
A palette with plenty of mixing space and a lid to keep paint clean goes a long way.
Masterson Aqua Pro Watercolor Palette: sealable palette with lots of wells and mixing room.
Sweaty Pony 20 Well Paint Tray: a large, simple tray for mixing.
Fuumuui Watercolor Palette Box: a wooden travel palette with 24 removable half pans.
Masterson Sta-Wet Premier Palette: airtight palette that keeps paint workable between sessions.
Extras
The little things that make painting easier.
KIWIHUB Artist Tape: low tack tape for clean, crisp borders.
Pleinly Watercolor Stretching Board: a waterproof board for taping down paper so it dries flat.
Winsor & Newton Art Masking Fluid: saves the white of the paper where you want it.
NAROA Natural Sea Sponges: for texture and lifting color.
Continuous Spray Bottle: keeps paints and paper damp while you work.
Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens: waterproof ink for line and wash.
Derwent Watersoluble Sketching Pencils: sketch first, then add water for soft tones.
Faber-Castell Kneadable Eraser: lifts pencil lines without roughing up the paper.
Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jars: sturdy water jars for rinsing brushes.
From My Studio
A few of my paintings made with these supplies, plus short process videos so you can see how they handle.