My Favorite Watercolor Painting Supplies
Here’s a roundup of all of my favorite supplies for watercolor painting! I hope you enjoy learning about some of my favorite tools and please leave a comment if you have any questions!
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1 - PAINTS
Watercolor paints are usually available in pans or tubes. I prefer pans mostly because I can immediately have all of my colors in front of me and ready to use without having to open each tube and squeeze out some paint. The paint in tubes and pans is the same though, so when I run out of a certain color I buy a tube of that color, squeeze it into my empty pan, and wait for it to dry.
1 - 48 HALF PAN WATERCOLOR SET FROM SCHMINCKE
My favorite brand is Schmincke from Germany. I use their professional line and love how heavily pigmented their paints are. The linked set is the exact one that I have. It’s an investment though, so if you would like to start with a smaller set here’s another one to try.
WATERCOLOR SETS FROM WINSOR & NEWTON
A more affordable brand that I love and often use while traveling is Winsor & Newton. You can find a variety of sets at the link above.
For European readers: Schmincke set, Windsor & Newton set
2 - Paint brushes
I have a large paintbrush collection, but these are the three that I currently use most often. I’ve had the three pictured for more than 15 years so I don’t have links to these exact brushes, but here are some similar options:
20/0 LINER BRUSH - great for tiny lines and details
SIZE 1 ROUND BRUSH - my favorite versatile brush, you can use it to paint bold and small details
SIZE 4 ROUND BRUSH - holds more water, and is best for covering a large area
If you live near an art store and want to shop in-person, read my blog post about choosing brushes here.
A good starter set available for European readers
3 - Paper/Sketchbooks
I like to experiment with a variety of paper types and surfaces for my paintings. I’ve included a few ideas here to get you started, but don’t be afraid to experiment with other papers or surfaces. You never know til you try!
This set of mini paper pads from Legion paper is a great way to experiment with several types of paper to find your favorites. I really like their Aqua Cold Press. (Cold press watercolor paper has some texture while hot press is smooth.)
9x12 COLD PRESS WATERCOLOR PAPER PAD
I’m also currently using paper from this watercolor pad. It’s very affordable, and I usually get a large size and cut down each sheet to whatever size I need.
HANDMADE PAPER FROM SHARE STUDIOS
If you’ve followed us on Instagram for any length of time, you know that I’m obsessed with handmade paper from Stephanie Hare of Share Studios based in Maine. I love the irregularity of handmade paper, and it’s fun to paint on a colored background instead of a white one.
For European readers: Legion Mini Pads, Legion Aqua Coldpress, Strathmore 9x12 Cold Press Pad
4 - Water Container
We save and repurpose glass jars when they are empty, and I’ve been using one of those to hold my water for years. Here’s another option, and another if you want to splurge.
This one is available in Europe.
NOT PICTURED - Paper towel or cloth
You’ll also need a paper towel or cloth for cleaning your brushes. Whichever you pick, fold it a few times so it will absorb more water. Then you can also fold it inside out for the next time you paint so you won’t have to get a new paper towel yet or clean the cloth right away.
5 - Color/Swatch Chart
Many watercolor sets will come with a swatch card, but it’s also easy to make your own! Just write the name of each color on a piece of watercolor paper and then paint a small sample next to it. I use mine all the time, especially if I’m using a color that I don’t use often. Some colors like dark blues can all look very similar if you’re looking at the pans, but very different when painted on paper.
6 - PENCILS
PENTEL GRAPH GEAR 500 PENCIL - 0.3 mm
It’s great to have some pencils around so you can sketch your design before painting. I’m partial to mechanical pencils, and the 0.3 size linked above is my favorite. For heavier lines, I also use this one.
European readers can purchase here.
7 - MICRON PENS
I love using micron pens to outline or add detail to my work after painting. The linked set has six different sizes so you can play around with all of them to see which line weights you like best. My favorites are 0.1 and 0.3.
Here’s the same set available in Europe
8 - MIXING PALETTE
Many watercolor sets have a lid that can be used for mixing, so it’s not always necessary to have a separate palate. I like to use one especially if I want to mix a large amount of one color or if I really want to water down my paint. I prefer ceramic palettes and my favorite one is from Sugarhouse.
Here’s another available in Europe.
9 - WASHI TAPE / MASKING FLUID
Tape and masking fluid are helpful if you’re trying to paint a very straight edge or leave parts of your design unpainted.
This washi gives me the sharpest lines out of all the tape I’ve ever tested.
If I’m trying to mask a curved line or an irregular area in the middle of a painting, I use masking fluid. You squeeze or paint the fluid on the paper where you don’t want to paint, and then let it dry. After painting, you can use your finger or an eraser to rub off the masking fluid, leaving a clean unpainted surface. I like masking fluids with a super fine squeeze tip because the fluid has a very unpleasant smell, and the small opening helps minimize that.
For European readers: Schmincke Masking Fluid
10 - Tool Roll
If you want to take your painting supplies with you, a tool roll is a great way to transport everything safely! Here are a few options: 1, 2, 3
Mine is from Bookhou who no longer makes them, but you can buy her pattern to make your own here.
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I hope this list will help you find some watercolor supplies that you love. Comment if you have questions and let me know if you’re learning to paint with watercolors and would like to see more posts about this topic!
