Supplies for Beginners (Patreon)

Hi beginners,

I get lots of messages about what sort of supplies beginners need to get started painting in watercolour so I thought I’d put this post together so it can be referred to in the future.

If you have any more suggestions yourself please let us all know in the comments. I can add to this post over time if necessary.

Good quality art materials are expensive so building up your stash of supplies will probably take you a few years.

Paper:

I’ve written a post before about watercolour paper here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/27336933

The number one most important item you need is good quality paper. I don't recommend  buying wood pulp paper because you will more than likely have no success with it. 

100% cotton watercolour paper is what you need - 300gsm (140lb) in weight is a good weight to start with.

I use Arches, Fabriano Artistico and Saunders Waterford. Arches is the most expensive and it is my favourite paper. Paper is a personal choice and as you grow as an artist some papers will suit you better than others. I began painting in watercolour with Arches paper. I bought the small A5 size pads and filled up many of them. Then I bought the next size up (A4) and painted on that size paper for a while - see my post here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33658556

Cold pressed paper is best when you first start rather than hot pressed. I find that it’s a little easier to paint on. Cold pressed paper is textured. Hot pressed paper is smooth.

You can paint on both sides of good quality cotton paper. So when you are learning you can paint on one side and after you have finished and it has dried you can try again a second time on the other side. Be aware though,  if you have stretched your paper and the painting didn't work out and you want to paint on the other side - once you take it off your board and paint on the other side the paper will pucker because it's no longer attached to your board. I save my paintings that don't work out. I keep them in a drawer and when I need some paper to try something out (maybe a technique or a colour combination) I'll use the other side of the failed painting rather than get a new piece of paper out.

I always stretch my paper before I paint on it. I have a video about my process here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31443575

Here is a written post with more information about paper stretching: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41954171

Stretching the paper before you start painting stops it from puckering and it’s much easier to paint on paper when it’s flat.

You can buy paper in pads, blocks or individual sheets. I suggest buying the pads or blocks to begin with.

Paints:

If you can afford it, only buy artist quality watercolour paint. I use Winsor and Newton and Daniel Smith mainly. I did buy some Winsor and Newton ‘Cotman’ paints when I first started painting in watercolour. They are student grade paints. They were ok to practice with but I quickly switched to artist quality paints.

Colours: When you first start painting and you have no supplies at all I suggest you buy 5 colours:

A warm and cool red, a warm and cool blue and a transparent yellow. You can mix just about any colour with the primaries.

Suggestions are: 

Cool Blue- Phthalo Blue or Winsor Blue (red shade- I use mostly)

Warm Blue - French Ultramarine 

Cool Red - Permanent Alizarin Crimson

Warm Red-  Cadmium Red or Scarlet Lake, 

Yellows - either Quinacridone Gold or Indian Yellow.

You will learn about staining colours, transparent colours, opaque colours, glazing colours and granulating colours along your journey.

Brushes

Synthetic brushes are cheaper to buy than natural hair brushes so start with them first.

When you go shopping, either in store or online, - look for/ask for ‘watercolour brushes’. They are different to oil and acrylic painting brushes.

I started my journey with Winsor and Newton Cotman brushes. They are cheap. I used them for about 3 or 4 years before I switched to natural haired brushes and they served me well. I haven’t bought any synthetic brushes since 2015 so I’m not familiar with all the brands. I can’t recommend one over another because I’ve never tried them. Please add your suggestions for beginners below in the comments.

For Australian patrons: here are the brushes I used when I first started: https://www.eckersleys.com.au/winsor-newton-cotman-111-water-colour-round-brushes

UK patrons: https://www.jacksonsart.com/en-au/winsor-newton-cotman-brushes

US patrons: 

https://www.dickblick.com/products/winsor-newton-cotman-watercolor-brushes/

I use round brushes mainly. I have them ranging in size from a 2/0 up to an 8.

In addition, a flat brush cut with an oval edge is very handy for painting water onto your paper.

I have a Da Vinci Casaneo oval pointed wash brush (size 16) that I use all the time. Here it is below. A one or two inch flat brush cut with a straight edge is good to use for applying water as well.

Other items you will need to paint with:

A water container. I use a cheap painters' bucket I bought at a hardware store.  Some people like to have two containers - one with clean water and one with 'wash your brush' water in it. That doesn't work for me because I keep dipping my dirty brush into the clean water by mistake 🥴. So I change my water regularly while I'm painting.

Old towels or tea towels to wipe your brushes on.

Paper towel or tissues are also needed. You can’t paint without something to wipe your brush on. 

Lately I’ve been using a squashed toilet roll wrapped in paper towel to wipe my brushes on while I’m painting. Thanks to Sterling Edwards for the tip.

Palettes

You don’t need expensive palettes. A white ceramic dinner plate or serving dish will work just fine. I have them piled high in my painting room. One good thing about watercolour paint is you never waste it. It’s not like acrylic or oil paint where once it’s gone hard on the palette you have to throw it away. With watercolour all you do is refresh it with some water when it’s gone hard and you’re ready to start painting again. Go for white plates so you can see the colour of the paint properly.

A water spray bottle to refresh your paints.

Graphite pencils….hb, 2b

I transfer my line drawings onto my paper by scribbling over the back of them with graphite. I’ve written about different methods of transferring your drawing on to the paper here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37395099

To summarise:

1.100% cotton cold pressed watercolour paper

2. Artist quality watercolour paint colour suggestions: Phthalo Blue or Winsor Blue, French Ultramarine, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red or Scarlet Lake, Quinacridone Gold or Indian Yellow.

3. Synthetic round brushes sizes 2/0, 2, 3, 5, 7 and a flat brush with an oval or round edge (see my photo above)

4. White ceramic dinner plates for palettes

5. A water container - large is best

6. Tissues and paper towel

7. Water spray bottle

8. Graphite pencils

If you decide to stretch your paper you’ll need a board to attach it to. I use gator board, gummed tape and staples. See my paper stretching video - link above.

This should get you started and then you can add to your supplies over time. Let me know if I've forgotten something important.

Louise

💚