Watercolor Supplies

You’re hiking in beautiful Switzerland, the weather is perfect, the view is majestic - especially that friendly goat. You want to remember this moment, so you pull out your painting kit, and settle into the soft grass for a lovely hour of savoring and saving the landscape through art. This moment sounds absolutely ideal, and yet there is one element in it that could move this dream to a nightmare quickly, and it’s not the goat. Or the grass… unless you have allergies. When yo

Watercolor is beautiful, expressive, and... sometimes frustrating. The good news is that improvement doesn’t come from buying more supplies or having “natural talent.” It comes from understanding a few key habits and practicing them consistently. Here are eight practical ways to grow your watercolor skills. Learn to control your water Water is the real medium in watercolor. Practice mixing different water-to-paint ratios (often described as tea, milk, and cream). Lighter wash

Walking into an art supply store as a beginner watercolor painter can feel overwhelming. The options are endless, the price tags vary widely, and it’s hard to know what you really need versus what’s just clever marketing. The good news? You need a lot less than you think. Here are ten things beginners commonly buy that they’d be better off skipping if your goal is to truly learn the skill of painting with watercolors. Links in this post will take you directly to the products

There’s no shortage of advice on what you “need” to start watercolor painting—different paper types and weights, spiral pads versus blocks, tubes versus pans, and an endless array of brushes in mysterious sizes. It’s enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed, whether you’re just starting out or picking the craft back up again. So what do you actually need as a beginner? The honest answer is: it depends. Your goals as a painter matter far more than any universal supply list. Are

If you're new to watercolor painting, you’ve probably already discovered one of the medium’s most important quirks: there’s no white paint in traditional watercolor. Unlike acrylics or oils, watercolor relies on the white of your paper to create light values and highlights. This fundamental difference changes everything about how you approach a painting. Learning to preserve and create white is one of the most critical watercolor painting techniques for beginners to master. W

Okay, we covered the big ones already, now let's look at all the extra watercolor supplies one might need to get started. Now listen, y'all...These are my own recommendations, you might not find all these to be helpful to you, or you may think I've left an essential tool out. Tell me! Comment below your best tools and share the knowledge! Links in this post will take you directly to the products I'm recommending, and if you purchase the item, I will get a tiny percentage of t

Your watercolor palette type can make or break a newbie's interest in learning watercolor. A good palette is more than a container for paint—it’s a workspace that helps you mix colors efficiently, stay organized, and paint more confidently, so having the right one is important. Alright y'all... let's get into this short but sweet chat about palettes! Links in this post will take you directly to the products I'm recommending, and if you purchase the item, I will get a tiny per

Watercolor paper is not just thick art paper or cardstock. It is a specialty paper designed specifically to handle water. The difference lies in both its weight and its sizing . High-quality paper makes watercolor easier and far more enjoyable to work with. Let's get into it... Links in this post will take you directly to the products I'm recommending, and if you purchase the item, I will get a tiny percentage of that sale at no cost to you. These links are affiliate links.

Water is an essential “tool” in watercolor painting. It’s used to dilute paint, control transparency , create washes , blend colors, and lift or soften edges. How much water you use—and when—has just as much impact on a painting as the pigment itself. In this post, we will only be talking about water as a supply, this is not a comprehensive guide to using water in watercolor painting! We'll cover the topics listed about in future posts, today let's look at it's place in our

Watercolor brushes come in many shapes and sizes... but most artists eventually discover they rely on just a few favorites. The best brush is one that feels comfortable in your hand and holds water well for the way you like to paint. Quality matters more than quantity, and a small, reliable set will take you far. That said, I have to admit that I do love my dozens of little junk brushes for various jobs, so collect what you like or want to experiment with over time and your s

Watercolor has a reputation for being simple—and it is—but the materials you choose play a quiet, powerful role in how enjoyable and successful your painting experience feels. From how paint flows to how paper responds to water, each supply has a purpose beyond just being “art stuff.” This six-part series for beginner watercolor painters walks through the core watercolor supplies, explaining what they are, how they behave, and why they matter, so you can make confident choice