Best Supplies for a Beginner Watercolor Artist
I’ve been painting with watercolor for most of my life, and professionally I’ve been selling my botanical watercolor art for about 3 years.
I’ve come to love watercolor for the delicate, complex, fluid art medium it is — and I’m always more than happy to recommend supplies that help others to enjoy the painting process as much as I do!
Continue reading for a full list of supplies…
Here is a list of all the supplies I’d recommend for a beginner watercolor artist —
Paintbrushes - I highly recommend these Jackson's synthetic paint brushes. I prefer synthetic fibers to natural squirrel or hog hair bristles, because they are just as capable of holding water well but no animals were harmed in their making.
I recommend purchasing round brushes, and my most used sizes are 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 (but of course this can differ depending on your preference). A large flat brush is also helpful for abstract work and filling in a large background.
Paper - I recommend Canson’s watercolor sketchbook, which you can purchase here. Cold-pressed paper is my favorite for exploring textures and holding more heavy washes; this is perfect for beginners who are still experimenting and finding their art style. Canson’s brand is at a great price point for beginners who will go through more paper as they learn!
Paint - Windsor & Newton paint is great quality and about $2 per tube. This is what I used when I first started out, and it is lovely because it’s creamy, has great color payout, and it is widely available.
Paper Cutter - This is maybe an unexpected recommendation, but this is why I recommend it: watercolor paper doesn’t come in standard framing sizes, so you have to cut it to the size you want if you want to be able to frame any of your art pieces. You can purchase a paper cutter here.
Ceramic Paint Palette - a lot of beginner artists will use plastic palettes, but in my opinion, ceramic is the only way to go. It makes the entire painting process so much smoother, especially when it comes to mixing colors — plastic gets scratched easily and gets discolored over time.
You can purchase a ceramic watercolor palette here.
And another option for a more unique design is available handmade from this small shop.
**Please note that the above list contains affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of the profit of any purchases made, at no extra cost to you.