Supplies for Beginners

It can be overwhelming. What paints? What brushes? What paper?

My advice is to keep it simple:

• A handful of paint colors
• A couple brushes
• The best quality paper you can afford

If you do not want to take the time to read each article, here is an easy shopping list, everything for under USD 65:

• Brushes – Simply Simmons Watercolor 5 Brush set, usually around USD 12 at Jerry’s Artarama and Amazon
• Paint – Qor Introductory Color Set of 6 tubes, usually around USD 25
• Paper – Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress, 9” x 12” pad of 15 sheets. Usually around USD 24. Cut each sheet into four 4.5” x 6” sheets. You will end up with 60 sheets of paper to play with.

Here is what you will need from home:

• Two containers to use for water
• A plate or flat dish to use as a palette for color mixing
• Cloth or paper kitchen towels

And lastly, here are the most important supplies:

• Positive attitude
• Determination – Watercolor painting is a skill, like anything else. You do not pick up a musical instrument and immediately play a song. Here is my comparison of learning watercolor to learning a musical instrument.