Basic Watercolor Supplies for Beginners
Want to try out watercolor but have no idea where to start? Here’s a basic guide of watercolor supplies.
Paint
You can get watercolor in two forms: pans (or cakes) and tubes. Pans are more convenient for traveling but can be more difficult if you do large paintings and washes, while with tubes, you can take as much or as little paint as you need.
There are also two grades of paint: student grade and artist grade. It all boils down to price and quality. Student grade paints don’t have as much color pigment and have a lot more filler in them, but they’re a little cheaper. So if you’re starting out, student grade is the way to go! Artist grade cost more, but if you want your paintings to be more vibrant and last longer, they can be a good investment.
I suggest that you start with a balance of cool and warm versions of the primary colors such as Lemon Yellow (cool yellow), Cadmium Yellow (warm yellow), Alizarin Crimson (cool red), Cadmium Red (warm red), Cerulean Blue (cool blue), and Ultramarine Blue (warm blue). You can create more colors just by mixing and experimenting with these primaries.
Paper
When you put water on paper, you want a paper thick enough to handle it. Watercolor paper comes in different weights (90lb, 140lb, and 300lb) and different textures (rough, cold press, and hot press). They come in single sheets, pads (wire bound or glue), or in blocks. For beginners, pads are the most cost-efficient solution.
I recommend paper that is at least 140lb (300 g/m2). You can use the 90lb paper for studies and training but they need to be stretched so they won’t warp. 300lb is more like cardboard and doesn’t require stretching, but is more expensive and will take longer to dry.
The texture of your paper will have direct consequences on your results. Rough watercolor paper will add texture to your washes because the paint will settle in the little wells of the paper, and hot press paper, with its very slick surface, tends to make colors appear brighter, so they will also be easier to lift off. Cold press paper is somewhat in between rough and hot press and is the most commonly used.
Brushes
To start, you don’t need many brushes, just a small round brush, an angled flat, and a big flat for washes. You can use synthetic or squirrel, depending on your budget. The most expensive ones are the sable as it is considered the finest fiber for watercolor because of its strength, spring, and snap (ability to retain shape).
Palette
Whether it’s fancy or homemade, look for a palette that is white so that you can accurately see the colors you’re mixing. Most watercolor palettes are made of plastic but any non-porous material works (glass, ceramic, etc.)—my favorite is a platito! Most palettes have wells for the paint and a flat mixing area. If you think you’ll be traveling, consider a smaller, portable palette.
Other Supplies
Water — I usually have two jars/glasses of water. One for cleaning, the other for paint.
Paper towel — For cleanup, lifting paint, and keeping brushes clean.
Pencil — H2 or hard graphite. Something light!
Masking fluid — To reserve white areas that are too small or too complex to paint around.
Board — Any paper lighter than 300lb will need to be stretched as it will buckle with water if not. I usually stretch paper on a clipboard with some masking tape.
There are many media you can mix with watercolors: wax crayons for resist, dry pastels, acrylic, colored pencils, etc. You can also use sponges, tissue paper, plastic cards, and salt for texture, or spray water or alcohol — the list goes on. You just need to experiment and practice!

