Watercolor Supplies You Should Be Using Right Now!

What are the watercolor supply options out there? In this post I'll share my favorites with you!

Hi Friend!

When I first started painting, I was overwhelmed with the amount of supplies that were available! So, I turned to my favorite artists on YouTube for their recommendations. By scouring through answers from the Internet people I trusted most, I was able to easily choose products I now love, thanks to those who had already done the research.

Today I want to share with you my absolute favorite watercolor supplies that I am currently using. Before I start, I just want to say that it’s important to not get hung up on what type of supplies you feel like you need to begin your journey. Use what you have! Practice is valuable, no matter what your supplies are. I have even painted on printer paper before, believe me! If you have a budget, it can feel intimidating to spend money on expensive supplies that you will be afraid to mess up. With that being said, quality supplies do improve your painting experience and your overall end result. If money is a concern, as it was for me when I first started, use what you have and invest in one quality item at a time, building up your collection slowly. Over everything else, putting in the time to practice is the most important part!

First of all, let’s talk paint. When it comes to student-grade, there are so many options. Personally, I started out with those nasty, chalky paints from Ross. Even Crayola paint for kids is better than that, not that there's anything wrong with Crayola. But if you are ready to upgrade a bit from craft paint to a student grade, I recommend Mei Liang by Paul Rubens. The palette I purchased has 36 vibrant colors and the palette has ample mixing space, which is very important to me. I also recently started using Meeden Art supplies as they generously reached out and offered to send me some of their products. I discovered I had already been using some of their metal palettes, as well as their cotton paper! The watercolor tube paints are vibrant, have good quality and spread nicely, and are wonderful to start out on. Oh and by the way, their super cute ceramic flower-shaped palette has 12 wells and a large one in the center for easy mixing!

Next, let’s talk about Winsor and Newton paints. I hand-selected the colors after a lot of careful research. Because I paint mostly watercolor florals, I wanted a large variety of pinks, purples, and reds on my palette. I also wanted to make sure I had some lesser-used colors, such as some type of aqua and turquoise. There’s no doubt that this brand stands on its own two feet in quality and vibrancy. I utilize this paint when I am working on a painting for my shop or for a friend. If you want a high-quality paint, try these out.

Next up, let’s talk paper. I really love the Tumuarta journals that come in a variation of sizes but I utilize them in the 5 x 5, as well as the 3 x 5 sizes. They are perfect for sketching outdoors and I love the elastic band to keep everything together. They are about 25% cotton, enough to increase the absorbency and satisfaction of using this paper. I do paint on both sides.

Next up, the Handbook Journal Co Artist, which created a lovely cloth-covered journal with an elastic band. It is also about 25% cotton and the size I use is 5 x 8. I love using this journal when I create my reels for a Instagram, not too big not too small. It would also be a great sketchbook for outdoors and I do paint on both sides.

When it comes to cotton paper, I am really loving the Meeden Art paper block, which I currently have in the 7 x 10 block, as well as the 11 x 15 block. It has a lot of rough texture, it is cold-pressed, and I would consider it similar to the feel of Arches 100% cotton paper, but much more affordable! I’ve also been loving using the Saunders Waterford 100% cotton paper in the 9 x 12 block size. It is slightly off-white, which is not my favorite but you only notice if you compare it side-by-side to a whiter piece of paper. It has good texture and the convenient block makes having to tape your paper down obsolete.

When it comes to paintbrushes, I’ll be honest, I have tried quite a few! I’m usually a round paintbrush kind of gal, but you can find so many types and sizes that will totally change up your painting game. For example, I really started loving dagger brushes about a year ago and I recently started using flat brushes more often when I paint my landscapes. So first off, let’s talk about the Meeden Art watercolor brush set. You get 10 brushes in a variety of sizes, including some flat wash brushes and even a fan brush. The tips of the round brushes are very pointy, although I’ll say the smaller ones I received are not as pointed as I would like. But I just use the larger brushes for the thin and thick marks and that works just great. They hold a good amount of water and the paint goes on smoothly with them.

Next step, I want to mention the Princeton Heritage brushes, which I have been painting with for several years now. The #16 round holds a ton of water, really good for loose watercolor florals. The #8 round is so versatile, with a very pointy tip for thin details and a large enough belly for thicker lines and shapes. And the #2 round detail brush is perfect for all the little bits you might not be able to do with the number six. I also really love that these brushes have wooden handles vs plastic. If you are looking for a larger flat wash brush, the 3/4 inch Princeton Heritage is a joy to paint with. It is springy, holds a good amount of paint and water, and I love using it for my larger landscapes.

Finally, let’s talk about the Kristy Rice #6 round travel brush, which has a gorgeous rose gold-colored handle that detaches in the middle and becomes the cover for your brush. I love taking this with me when I paint outdoors or go on a trip., Not to mention, it looks gorgeous in a photo! It has a wonderful pointed tip and it’s perfect for most all of the paintings I do.

Last but not least, we must talk about my reference books! I usually like to have a book, a photo, or a physical object in front of me from which to paint. It gives me inspiration and although I don't copy the picture exactly, it gives me an idea of where I’m going with my painting. I love flipping through these books, often marking pages that I will paint from in the near future.

So let’s talk about The Flower Book. What I love about this book is that the images are so large, encouraging you to paint large! I tend to paint smaller blooms even when I want to paint them bigger and this really helps with increasing the size of my compositions. The Flower Color Guide is my go-to reference book and florals are organized by color groupings. You will find each arrangement contains just one type of flower, giving you good practice on one flower at a time. The same authors of this book created a sequel, called Flower Color Theory and features floral bouquets, encouraging you to paint many shapes and sizes at one time. Honestly, the gorgeousness of all these books cannot be expressed enough! Use them as inspiration and as guidance on your creative watercolor journey.

I hope that this guide helps you and your selection of the supplies that you need to jumpstart your watercolor journey! Feel free to let me know in the comments which ones are your favorite or add to the list so that others can learn from you as well. Happy painting and happy mental health!

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Categories: : Art Supplies, General Art Tips, Mental Health, Watercolor Painting