Watercolor Supplies for Beginners (and slightly seasoned artists)
choosing supplies that fit your budget and style
I love painting the natural world in watercolor, and my love for watercolor supplies is unending. I’ve taught countless workshops and classes throughout the years, and one of the most frequent questions I’m asked is: what supplies do you use or recommend? What are your favorite supplies? It seems there are endless amounts of paints, brushes, and paper out there, and I’m here to help you find what supplies fit your budget and style.
Photo by Shiloh Leath Photography
paints
Watercolor painting requires a few essential supplies for beginners to begin their artistic journey. First, investing in quality paints, whether in tube or pan form, is vital as they provide the pigments needed to create vibrant washes and mixes. I teach all of my watercolor workshops and classes with Winsor and Newton Cotman watercolors. Originally these palettes were purchased with pans of color, however, I did have to purchase tubes of paint over time to refill them (it's really simple!) This brand comes in two different sizes, the smaller perfect for someone just starting out. I’ve tried countless brands over the last decade and these fit the bill for every budding artist. The price point is perfect for the amount of paint in each tube, the pigment ratio is fantastic (some cheaper brands are full of fillers), the paints rewet wonderfully after drying, and there’s a variety of colors to choose from.
for the slightly seasoned artist…
My current studio palette is filled with Winsor and Newton Professional watercolors which I love dearly. For years I was a ride-or-die Daniel Smith fan ( I still love them), but W&N is my new go-to palette. They are worth the investment if you’re painting every day and plan on turning your artistic journey into a career.
I’ve also tested and painted with professional brands such as M. Graham (they have a honey binder, so they can be sticky to work with, but are very vibrant), Daniel Smith (they have a massive library of colors to choose from!), and Schminke watercolors (they’re beautiful and creamy pigments). While they are expensive, these brands are lovely to paint with if you’re looking to invest in professional paints.
My all-time favorite beginner’s watercolor kit. This is the exact kit I use in all of my classes and workshops. I’ve had these palettes and brushes since 2021!
Winsor and Newton Cotman brushes are some of my favorites to teach with; I’ve yet to find a brush that performs this well for the price.
W&N also offers premade palettes with paint ready to go! This is a great option if you’re uncertain as to what colors to purchase.
brushes
Additionally, a small set of brushes that are designed for watercolor will make life so much easier when painting. If it's helpful, think “small, medium, and large” if you’re purchasing single brushes. You don’t need an army of brushes; I’ve been using the same five brushes for about four years now, and they’re working just fine. I recommend Winsor and Newton Cotman watercolor brushes. They’re soft, absorb paint and water well, and glide easily across the paper. After years of use, my set of Cotman brushes still keep a nice point, perfect for detailed painting. I use the sizes 4 and 10 rounds for my workshops, and they’ve held up wonderfully over the last four years (I’ve taught well over 200 students, and these brushes are still kickin’).
Ideally, you want to choose brushes that are made for watercolor (some mixed media brushes are good, too!) as these brushes are designed for the unique characteristics of watercolor like effectively distributing paint and water across your paper. There are plenty of brush options, including synthetic, natural hair, and synthetic blend, with synthetic brushes being the most affordable. Synthetic brushes are fantastic for beginners and provide more control over paint and water than some natural hair and synthetic blend brushes. Personally, choosing the right brushes for my style of painting was the most difficult step in building my watercolor kit. You may find that testing out a few different types of brushes will help you decide what suits your style.
I really love Winsor and Newton Sceptre Gold brushes; they’re a blend of sable and synthetic hairs.
for the slightly seasoned artist…
I’m currently using Winsor and Newton Sceptre Gold brushes and their Professional Sable brushes. While pricy, they perform wonderfully, especially for my loose washes and layers. The Sceptre Gold is a nice synthetic blend—it’s moppy, but keeps its shape. I prefer natural hair brushes as I paint rather loosely and need a brush with the capacity to hold more paint and water. As a professional painter, I paint daily and need brushes that will last; natural hair brushes tend to hold their shape longer than synthetics. I have three sable brushes (I believe they are Grumbacher; they’re so old that the label has worn off…I received them used, so who knows how old they are!) that are over a decade old, and they still hold a point!
I’m also a fan of Princeton Neptune brushes and Robert Simmons Sapphire brushes; while these are synthetic brushes, I do find they hold a nice amount of water and they’re made well. I’ve had my Princeton Neptune brushes for almost ten years, and they still work wonders.
palettes and mixing surfaces
Having a clean, non-porous surface or palette is important for mixing and organizing colors. I like the Winsor and Newton Cotman palettes that come with a set of paint. These sets are great for beginners, and the palettes are lightweight, easy to use, and keep your paints safe. You can also buy empty plastic or metal palettes and design your own custom set. I’ve also used Daler-Rowney Aquafine and Koi watercolors with success, and they are relatively affordable options for a premade palette. Lastly, should you have tubes of paint and no palette, you can use a ceramic or porcelain plate, coated paper plate, or butcher tray (preferably white) to mix colors. This method is affordable and works just as well as a palette—the only drawback is your paints won’t be protected or secured with a lid.
My trusty Winsor and Newton Cotman palette used in all of my classes and workshops.
for the slightly seasoned artist…
My best advice: invest in good quality paints, brushes, and paper before worrying about a fancy palette (especially if it’s an empty palette!).
paper
Choosing the right watercolor paper is crucial, as it is designed to let water and paint flow freely across its surface; options are available ranging from cold press to hot press, depending on individual texture preferences. I use both 140# hot press and cold press papers and find that both can be fun to work with. I recommend Canson XL, Strathmore 300 and 400 series, and Winsor and Newton watercolor papers. I’ve taught with all three brands, and the paper quality and quantity are great for the price. I will add that these papers are not 100% cotton, however, they perform just fine. I always suggest Canson XL as the paper is very forgiving to new artists, however, all three brands are perfect for painting. I’ve not had trouble with major buckling, pilling, or warping (though some buckling is normal), and I find paint and water flow nicely across their surfaces.
for the slightly seasoned artist…
I love Stonehenge hot press watercolor paper and am currently experimenting with Winsor and Newton hot and cold press. I have noticed that paint doesn’t lift easily with the Winsor and Newton Professional papers; I’m still experimenting, so if I have any updates, I’ll be sure to share. I’m also a fan of Arches 140# cold press (I use this paper for my pet portraits), but haven’t used it lately. What I love most about these papers is that they are all 100% cotton. I tend to use lots of water when painting, so I find that cotton papers suit my style of watercolor.
Some of my favorite supplies used in the studio and for workshops.
additional supplies and final thoughts
Lastly, you’ll need a container for clean water, paper towels or rags (for blotting and correcting any mistakes), a pencil, and an eraser. Any pencil and eraser will work—the key is to sketch lightly! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can add a toothbrush to your kit for splattering paint!
There are tons (possibly an infinite amount) of supplies to sift through which can be equally exciting and overwhelming for a novice painter. My best advice is to start small and dedicate time to painting. In the world of watercolor, less really is more. If you build a basic kit with just the essentials, you won’t have time to fuss over colors or what brushes to use. The more you paint, the more confident you’ll become as an artist. As you progress, you can always explore additional tools and techniques to further enhance your artistic expression.
I hope this guide has made your watercolor journey slightly less stressful! I’d love to know what your favorite brands and supplies are, so feel free to leave me a comment below!
Photo by Shiloh Leath Photography
