Watercolour painting has perhaps never been more popular. As serious painters are continuously pushing the boundaries of what watercolour may be, it is no longer stigmatised as a "sketch" medium. From dancing, vibrating, light-filled passages to richly coloured transparent darks, from cascading wet washes to staccato dry brush effects, when adding the spark of life to your drawings, watercolours are the hardest to beat.
The Essential Supplies for Watercolour Painting
If all of this makes you thrilled, when starting watercolour painting, you should be well aware that there are some essentials to get. Novices should especially keep in mind that top-quality watercolour painting supplies can produce painting effects that no other medium can match. What's even better is that these supplies are only a few and don't cost much which makes painting with watercolour paint quite an affordable pastime. But the fact that anyone can afford it doesn't mean that you should buy it all at once. To save you time, effort and well, money we have compiled a list of some of the must-haves you should start with.
Paints
One of the most essential watercolour painting supplies is the paint. They are available in two sizes: tubes and pans. The tubes of watercolours are already damp and pasty. Watercolour pans are like hard cakes of paint that must be wet with water before use.
If you're not sure whether to get pans or tubes, grab a beginner's set of both and discover which suits you best. Every artist has a different preference for pans vs. tubes, so it comes down to personal preference! Watercolour paints are available in sets as well as individually.
Moreover, watercolor paints are also offered in two quality levels: artist and student. Student-quality watercolours are less expensive, but they have more filler and less pigment than their Artist Quality rivals. You get what you pay for. Artist-quality watercolours allow for greater colour and transparent subtlety.
Still, Student Quality watercolours will give beginners a taste of what it's like to paint with watercolours - and if you like it, you can always upgrade to a set of Artist Quality watercolours later on.
Paintbrushes
When purchasing watercolour brushes, you have three options: hair, size, and shape. If you're a newbie, all the information regarding brushes may be overwhelming, so we'll summarise what you need to know.
Natural brushes outperform synthetics, and if you can only afford one, go with a natural round brush. If you can afford it, purchase a tiny round and a medium round (or a medium round and a large round, depending on whether you prefer working large or small). This is all you need to get started; the other sizes and shapes can come later. If you're on a tight budget, you'll be relieved to learn that you can complete a whole watercolour painting with just one brush.
Use a gentle shampoo or organic, all-natural soap to clean your watercolour brushes. Commercial soaps with harsh cleansers should be avoided because they can harm the hairs on your brush. There are even artist soaps made specifically for cleaning paintbrushes.
Watercolour Paper
Watercolour paper comes in sheets, pads, and blocks. There are student papers and artist papers, and you get what you pay for once again. Artist papers will, however, be of higher quality, allowing you to produce greater outcomes. You can also buy artist-quality watercolour papers in individual sheets that you can cut to size. This is a great way to experiment with different types of paper.
On the other hand, most watercolour pads contain student-quality watercolour paper that is wire-bound on one end. Watercolour pads often comprise 10-20 sheets that are substantially smaller than what may be purchased separately. Pads are the ideal solution for travelling and practising.
Watercolour blocks are just a stack of watercolour papers pasted together along one edge. After painting on the top sheet, slide a knife into the bonded binding and gently remove your page. Painting on watercolour blocks has the advantage of not requiring you to stretch your paper. Another thing to know about watercolour papers is that they might be hot-pressed, cold-pressed, or rough. The majority of artists work on rough or cold-pressed paper.
Palette
The majority of watercolour palettes are made of plastic or ceramic. Ceramic palettes are of higher quality; plastic palettes may ultimately become soiled with paint, but they are lighter and easier to handle.
When narrowing down your choices, pick a palette with different wells for mixing your colours. The well walls will keep the colours separated; otherwise, the watery paint will simply run into each other. You can use the plastic lid of the watercolour set as a palette if you use the pan option. Just make sure the lid is dry before closing it. Tin foil or a dinner plate can be used as a palette in a hurry, as long as you keep the colours separated enough so they don't clash.
Water Container
A glass, jar, or cup of water is also required. It's preferable to use a clear container so you can see how clean or unclean the water is. When the water becomes too murky, it's vital to replace it; otherwise, the residue can creep onto your brush and end up on your painting. Some artists use two containers of water: one for dipping and one for washing in between colours.
