Imagine that you are planning to go on a trip without a lot of free space on your bag or you're just a beginner short on money: these are the minimal watercolor painting supplies to keep on creating.
You will need six items, but to be sincere, we can reduce them to the "magic number" three.
So let's start with the essentials: paints, paintbrushes, paper, a palette, a container of water, and soap. The last three, you probably already have at home.
The water container can be ordinary cup, and an everyday plate can be used as palette. Soap, I'm sure you have it!
“I have been doodling with ink and watercolor on paper all my life. It's my way of stirring up my imagination to see what I find hidden in my head." - Maurice Sendak.”
Paints
Watercolors come in 2 forms: tubes and pans. Here, I strongly advise you to go for the pans. They are the safe option on a trip and the best to start with. They are like hard cakes of paint that need to be moistened with water to be used.
You will find several options on the market, but considering the relation quality/price and professional/students offer, I advise you to go for the Windsor & Newton Cotman twelve colors option.
Paintbrushes
Soon, you will discover that you have your favorites, which doesn't mean that they will be the expensive ones. Until that time arrives, I strongly advise you to go for the students' option but get different sizes, hair, and shapes, so you can experiment and understand what you prefer.
I prefer the ones with natural hair brushes, but I also have some synthetics that I adore.
As a starting kit, I recommend you to buy at least three different sizes and shapes. The two smallest ones round and the bigger one, flat. These will be good enough to get started - you can worry about the other sizes and shapes later!
I strongly recommend you to NOT BUY those kits with twelve or eighteen brushes at the beginning. They will only confuse you as you hesitate to choose instead of focusing on the painting itself.
If you only have one brush, my dear friend, do not worry; that will be good enough. Just join the club! You can create an entire watercolor painting, anyway!
Watercolor Paper
For now, use your sketchbook paper as support. Just be sure that they have enough gsm ("grams per square meter") to absorb all the water.
Example: paper with a weight of 80 gsm is the one we use in our printers, in consequence, lighter and thinner than the ones weighing 300 gsm: ideal for watercolor, heavy, thick, and much more durable but often more expensive.
A sketchbook with paper between150 gsm and 200 gsm would be good enough.
The paper can also be available as hot-pressed, cold-pressed, or rough. I prefer rough or cold-pressed paper because I like textured paper.
The one in the image below is from this shop.
Palette
Ceramic palettes are the best ones but often heavier and expensive ones too.
For the trip kit, use a plastic or ceramic plate that you can find easily everywhere. Adding to that, you can also use the plastic lid of the watercolor set as a palette. Just be sure that the cap is dry when you close it.
Water Container
A glass or cup of water is essential. It's necessary to change the water when it becomes too dirty. I use two containers of water – one full of clean water for dipping and one for rinsing in-between colors. Feel free to go your way.
Soap
To clean your watercolor brushes, use a hand soap. There are also artist soaps specially designed to clean paint brushes if you want o spend money.
"Watercolor, with all its subtle color and value gradations and its many welcome surprises, is the perfect medium for capturing mood." - Ray Hendershot.
Some helpful extras:
Paper tissues - Handy for squeezing out excess paint/water from your brush and/or removing excess water from your painting.
Pencil - If you want to sketch before painting. Choose something with an H (Hard) on it, instead of a B (Black).
Eraser - To erase those pencil marks if you make a mistake or if they get too dark!
For me, this is the list of essential watercolor painting supplies.
Please feel welcome to send me your opinion/review about your favorite brands and specific products for watercolor. I would love to know your opinion. 🤓
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