Beginner Watercolor Supplies: A Simple Watercolor Supply List for Beginners
Watercolor has become a family favorite. This creative outlet and the stillness it brings are grounding in a world that moves so fast. Recently, I’ve included the kids in this journey to express my life through the hobby of watercolor. We love to find seasonal paintings to create. I share all the details in this post.
Why Watercolor Is Perfect for Beginners
Watercolor is great for beginners because it uses the same few principles throughout most paintings. It is helpful to know the color wheel but knowing how to mix colors gets easier with time. Practice makes perfect. Mostly, anyone can start with simple strokes and shapes. The benefit of watercolor is for everyone, too!
Basic Watercolor Supply List
Watercolor Paints
Obviously, the most important part of painting is the paint! Quality matters more than you think, but I suggest beginners start with a cheaper palette from Amazon with premixed colors. This takes the mixing out of the equation at first, and this paint does a great job.
I prefer a pan style instead of tubes, but those work well too!
Watercolor Paper
The kind of paper you paint on will matter more than the paint itself! As a beginner, I liked using a notebook style to keep all my random pages together. You will want to look for 140lb watercolor paper that is cold-pressed.
Do not try to watercolor on regular paper or even cardstock. The paper will warp, and the water won’t saturate like it should.
Paint Brushes
Look, I’m sure you can use any paintbrushes, but I am a snob when it comes to my watercolor brushes. This is another important tool for controlling the painting and look of the final piece. However, my kids use cheaper brushes, and they work great for them. You will need to look for round brush sizes 2, 4, 6, and 8 to begin with.
If you go with Winsor & Newton, the brush set is missing 2 brushes. Later, you can add Brush 2 and Brush 8.
Additional supplies
To begin watercolor, you only need paint, correct paper, and brushes. However, here are some extra supplies that will be handy when starting your new hobby.
- Water container (or 2. One for dirty water, and one for clean water.) I love how these have a lid to travel with.
- Paper towels or cloth. This helps to control the water, changing colors, and lifting color from the brush.
- Mixing Palette. I have something like this, but using a beautiful plate works just as well.
- Pencil & Eraser for sketching and erasing
- White Gel Pen & White paint.
- Waterproof black pen for lining
- Masking tape to create clean borders
- A bag for books, paints, and a pencil pouch for brushes to collect your supplies.
- This Easel is on my wishlist
I don’t use all of these, but I simply collected what I use over time.
Simple Watercolor Ideas to help you Start
I’ll be honest, the most important thing you need is patience. There will be a time you may want to throw the paintbrush or the book across the room. This is building character, so trust the process! Ha! Seriously, water coloring will challenge you in the best kind of ways.
This is part of balancing life and filling up my cup. Read more about How to create space to watercolor with planning here.
To begin, I suggest using a book like this. Once you have the feel of the brush & paint, along with the techniques down, find some quick-win tutorials. I love all the videos by Let’s Make Art on YouTube!
Water coloring is for any artist, at any skill level. Remember, perfection is not the goal; progress is. This hobby is more than pretty pictures to me. Water coloring will bring creativity and settle your spirit in a new way. Happy Creating!
Until Next Time,
