The Top 10 Must-Have Watercolor Supplies for Painting
There’s something incredibly special about the free-flowing nature of watercolor painting. The way vibrant pigments dance and blend on the paper creates luminous washes, gorgeous textures, and happy little accidentals. If you’re new to this spirited medium, preparing your supply stash is half the fun!
While you could go down an endless shopping rabbit hole of brushes and accessories, it’s best to start simple. Having the right foundational tools and materials on hand helps you focus on learning techniques instead of stressing over equipment.
To help take the guesswork out, we’ve curated the top 10 must-have watercolor supplies for an enjoyable painting experience right out of the gate.
Watercolor Supplies for Painting – Top 10 Essentials
For painting, make sure to have these 10 must-haves in your arsenal:
The Right Paints
When just starting out with watercolors, go for a beginners’ paint set with 12-24 colors. The higher-quality paints will give you richer hues. But student-grade options work fine for learning. Look for transparent paints – these allow the white of the paper to show through your glazed layers of color. Tube paints may be pricier upfront but are more economical long-term versus pans.
Essential Brushes
You’ll want a basic set including rounds, flats, and a liner brush. Rounds are versatile workhorses for washes, details, and more. Flats efficiently cover larger areas. A liner creates delicate lines and lettering. Natural hair like sable holds lots of pigment. But synthetics can tackle both thin applications and bigger washes.
Quality Paper
Standard sketchbook paper won’t cut it – you need paper made for watercolors. The surface texture, weight, and materials matter. Cold press has a moderate rough texture to retain details. Hot press is smoother. Look for a “100% cotton rag” – it resists buckling when wet better than wood-pulp paper.
A Good Palette
Having the right palette makes mixing colors so much easier. Rectangular palettes with ample mixing areas are ideal. Some prefer enameled metal for easy cleaning. Plastic stays lightweight and affordable. Get one with a cover to prevent paint from drying out. Palettes with sections and plenty of wells are great for using numerous colors.
Water Containers
Have two jars/containers ready: one for clean water, another for brush rinse water. Wide openings make cleaning brushes easier. Ones with lids are handy for transporting supplies safely.
Masking Fluid
This liquid rubber mask protects areas you want to keep paint-free. Once dry, just rub it off to reveal crisp whites underneath your color layers. It’s essential for preserving highlights and patterns.
Brush Basin
This shallow rectangular tray with sloped grooves cradles brushes perfectly between uses. The grooves suspend brushes to protect delicate tips from crushing against flat surfaces. It extends brush life.
A Sketchbook
Don’t forget to bring a sketching journal along on your watercolor journey! A hardbound multimedia sketchbook provides plenty of space to test palettes, jot down notes, and plan compositions before committing to your nice paper.
Portable Easel
A small portable easel gives you the perfect work surface angle indoors or out. It elevates your work for better visibility and posture. Look for a lightweight, sturdy easel that’s easy to transport.
Rags and Towels
No watercolor exploration would be complete without rags or paper towels on standby. These simple cloth scraps and rolls catch drips, absorb excess moisture, and soak up pigment for transcendent watercolor effects.
Conclusion
With these top 10 watercolor essentials stocked up, you’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily the fluid, expressive world of watercolor painting unfolds. Rather than getting bogged down with too many tools and accessories, having this curated arsenal equips you to flourish beautifully.
Invest in quality materials by Kaywin Color Pen right away for the best learning experience.
