Getting Started with Watercolor: The Basic Supplies

In this video, I’m sharing my basic watercolor supply recommendations to get you started.

You can download your printable supply list (with some shopping options) by clicking on the button below, or you can see the list below.

The Basic Watercolor Supply List:

1. Paints

• Premade Pans

  • Value Watercolor Sets at Jerry’s Artarama

  • Beginner pan sets at Blick

  • Koi Watercolor Pan Set in the video

• Watercolor in Tubes

  • Student grade watercolor tubes at Blick

  • Value Watercolor Sets at Jerry’s Artarama

  • Utrecht Individual Watercolor Tubes and Sets

• Essential Colors: Every artist has their go-to favorite pigments, but here are a few that I enjoy using:

  • Cerulean and Prussian and Indigo Blue

  • Viridian and Sap Green

  • Permanent Rose (I think a good rose color is essential!)

  • Alizarin Crimson

  • Cadmium Yellow and Yellow Ochre

2. Round-Tip Brushes in 2-3 sizes

• 12 Piece Basic Brushes on Amazon

• 12 Piece Blick Essentials Value Brushes

• Set of 7 Hair Brushes for Watercolor at Jerry’s Artarama

3. Papers

• Canson XL watercolor paper in various sizes on Amazon

• Canson mixed media sketchbook on Amazon

• Canson XL watercolor paper at Jerry’s Artarama

• Arteza Watercolor Pads on Amazon

• Watercolor Studio Pads from Blick

• Other options: music book pages, old book pages, vintage encyclopedia pages, cardstock

4. Mixing Surfaces

• White ceramic or melamine plates

• Large watercolor palette with mixing tray from Blick

I hope that helps! Let me know if I missed anything or if you have questions!