Welcome to Watercolor Painting
Watercolor is one of the most rewarding and expressive painting mediums. With just pigment, water, and paper, you can create everything from delicate botanical illustrations to bold abstract landscapes. This guide will help you understand the essential supplies, fundamental techniques, and best practices to begin your watercolor journey.
Unlike oil or acrylic painting, watercolor works with transparency and the white of the paper, creating luminous effects that are unique to this medium. The key to success is understanding how water, pigment, and paper interact.
Essential Watercolor Supplies
Starting with the right supplies makes learning watercolor much easier. Here's what you need to begin:
Paints
Watercolor paints come in two forms: pans (dried cakes) and tubes (moist paste). For beginners, pan sets are convenient and portable, while tubes offer more intense color for larger work.
Look for sets with at least 12-24 colors. Student-grade paints are fine for learning, but artist-grade paints have higher pigment concentration and better lightfastness.
A great starter option is the MeiLiang 36-Color Set, which includes a mixing palette and brush in a portable metal case.
Paper
Paper is arguably the most important supply. Good watercolor paper prevents buckling, allows for layering, and brings out the best in your paints. Look for paper that's at least 140 lb (300 gsm) weight.
Paper comes in three textures: cold press (textured), hot press (smooth), and rough. Cold press is the most versatile for beginners.
Brushes
Start with 3-4 quality brushes in different sizes. Round brushes are the most versatile, good for both details and washes. Flat brushes are excellent for broad strokes and sharp edges.
Synthetic brushes offer great value and are easier to care for. Natural hair brushes (like kolinsky sable) hold more water but are expensive.
Palette
You need a surface to mix colors. Many paint sets include a built-in palette, but a separate ceramic or porcelain palette is ideal because paint beads up on plastic.
Look for palettes with wells for holding pure colors and flat areas for mixing.
Water Containers
Use two containers of clean water: one for rinsing brushes and one for mixing clean washes. Change water frequently to keep colors vibrant.
Other Essentials
- Paper towels or cloth - for controlling water and lifting paint
- Pencil and eraser - for sketching before painting
- Masking tape - to secure paper and create clean edges
- Masking fluid - to preserve white areas
Understanding Watercolor Paper
The paper you choose dramatically affects your painting results. Here's what you need to know:
Paper Weight
| Weight | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 90 lb (190 gsm) | Practice, sketches | Will buckle with heavy washes; requires stretching |
| 140 lb (300 gsm) | Most painting | Standard weight; minimal buckling with proper technique |
| 300 lb (640 gsm) | Heavy washes, wet-on-wet | No stretching needed; very durable |
Paper Texture
Cold Press (NOT)
Medium texture with a slightly bumpy surface. This is the most popular choice because it works well for both detailed work and washes. The texture creates interesting effects as paint settles into the valleys.
Best for: General painting, beginners, landscapes, botanicals
Hot Press (HP)
Smooth surface with minimal texture. Paint glides easily but can be harder to control. Excellent for detailed illustrations and precise line work.
Best for: Detailed illustrations, portraits, calligraphy
Rough
Heavy texture with pronounced peaks and valleys. Creates dramatic granulation effects and is excellent for expressive, loose paintings.
Best for: Loose landscapes, seascapes, expressive work
Cotton vs. Wood Pulp
100% cotton paper is the gold standard. It's more durable, allows for more lifting and reworking, and has better wet strength. Brands like Arches, Fabriano, and Saunders Waterford are professional-grade cotton papers.
Wood pulp (cellulose) paper is more affordable and works well for practice. The Canson XL Watercolor Pad is an excellent budget-friendly option with 30 sheets of cold press paper.
For more serious work, the Arches Cold Press Pad (9x12) offers museum-quality 100% cotton paper that handles heavy washes beautifully.
Watercolor Brush Guide
Quality brushes make painting easier and more enjoyable. Here's what to look for:
Brush Shapes
Round
The most versatile brush shape. A pointed round can create fine lines with the tip and broad strokes with the belly. Every watercolorist needs rounds in sizes 2, 6, 8, and 12.
Flat
Square-tipped brushes excellent for washes, geometric shapes, and crisp edges. Great for skies and backgrounds.
Mop / Oval Wash
Large, soft brushes that hold lots of water. Perfect for laying down large washes and backgrounds.
Rigger / Liner
Long, thin brush for fine lines, branches, grasses, and details. Originally designed for painting ship rigging.
Dagger
Angled tip that transitions from thick to thin. Excellent for leaves, petals, and calligraphic strokes.
Brush Hair Types
| Type | Characteristics | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Kolinsky Sable | Best water retention, excellent spring, fine points | $$$$ - Premium |
| Squirrel | Very soft, high water capacity, less spring | $$$ - High |
| Synthetic Sable | Good balance of spring and water retention | $$ - Moderate |
| Synthetic Squirrel | Soft with good water capacity | $$ - Moderate |
| Basic Synthetic | Durable, easy to clean, less water retention | $ - Budget |
For beginners, a quality synthetic brush set provides excellent value. The ARTEGRIA 10-Piece Set includes rounds, flats, and specialty brushes with synthetic squirrel hair that mimics natural hair performance.
Brush Care Tips
- Never leave brushes in water - This bends the bristles and loosens the ferrule
- Rinse thoroughly after each session - Dried paint damages fibers
- Reshape while damp - Gently form the brush tip before storing
- Store flat or tip-up - Water can seep into handles if stored tip-down
- Use brush soap monthly - Removes built-up pigment and conditions fibers
Fundamental Watercolor Techniques
Master these core techniques to unlock the full potential of watercolor:
Wet-on-Wet
Apply wet paint to wet paper. This creates soft, diffused edges and beautiful color blends. The wetter the paper, the more the paint spreads.
How to do it:
- Wet your paper with clean water using a large brush
- Wait until the sheen just starts to dull (not too wet, not too dry)
- Touch your loaded brush to the paper and watch the paint bloom
Great for: Skies, backgrounds, soft florals, atmospheric effects
Wet-on-Dry
Apply wet paint to dry paper. This gives you maximum control with crisp, defined edges. Most detailed work uses this technique.
How to do it:
- Ensure your paper is completely dry
- Load your brush with paint
- Apply paint directly - it will stay where you put it
Great for: Details, defined shapes, layering, precise work
Flat Wash
A smooth, even layer of color across an area. The foundation technique for many paintings.
How to do it:
- Tilt your board at a slight angle (15-20 degrees)
- Mix plenty of paint - more than you think you need
- Pull horizontal strokes across, overlapping each previous stroke
- Pick up the bead of water at the bottom with a damp brush
Great for: Skies, backgrounds, base layers
Graded Wash
A wash that transitions from dark to light (or one color to another). Essential for skies and gradual color changes.
How to do it:
- Start with your strongest color at the top
- Add more water to your brush with each stroke
- Keep strokes overlapping and work quickly
- End with nearly pure water for the lightest area
Great for: Sunset skies, fading effects, smooth transitions
Glazing
Building up thin, transparent layers of color. Each layer must be completely dry before adding the next.
How to do it:
- Apply your first wash and let it dry completely
- Mix a thin, transparent layer of your next color
- Apply with minimal brushstrokes to avoid disturbing the layer below
- Repeat to build depth and complexity
Great for: Building depth, adjusting colors, shadows, luminosity
Lifting
Removing paint to create highlights or correct mistakes. Works best on cotton paper.
How to do it:
- For wet paint: dab with a paper towel or clean, damp brush
- For dry paint: wet the area, let it sit briefly, then lift with a clean brush or tissue
- Some pigments lift easily (sedimentary), others stain
Great for: Clouds, highlights, corrections, soft edges
Dry Brush
Using a brush with minimal water to create textured, broken strokes.
How to do it:
- Load brush with paint, then blot on a paper towel
- Drag the brush lightly across dry paper
- The texture of the paper shows through the strokes
Great for: Grass, fur, tree bark, sparkles on water
Blooms / Cauliflowers
When water pushes into a drying wash, creating organic, flower-like shapes. Usually accidental, but can be used intentionally.
How to use intentionally:
- Let a wash dry until it loses its sheen but is still damp
- Drop clean water or very dilute paint into the wash
- The water will push pigment outward, creating unique patterns
Great for: Textures, abstract effects, foliage, creative expression
Color Mixing Basics
Understanding color theory will transform your paintings. Here are the fundamentals:
The Color Wheel
Primary Colors
Red, yellow, and blue. These cannot be mixed from other colors and form the basis of all color mixing.
Secondary Colors
Orange, green, and violet. Created by mixing two primaries.
Tertiary Colors
Red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet. Created by mixing a primary with an adjacent secondary.
Essential Mixing Tips
- Start with the lighter color - It's easier to darken a mix than to lighten it
- Mix on the palette - Test colors before applying to your painting
- Don't overmix - Leaving colors slightly unmixed creates visual interest
- Complementary colors gray each other - Mix opposite colors (like red and green) to create natural grays and shadows
- Water is your white - In watercolor, add water to lighten, not white paint
Creating Shadows and Darks
Never use black straight from the tube for shadows - it looks flat and lifeless. Instead:
- Blue + Brown - Ultramarine blue + burnt sienna creates rich, natural darks
- Complementary mixes - Purple shadows for yellow subjects, green shadows for red subjects
- Payne's Gray - A premixed blue-gray that's more natural than black
Warm vs. Cool Colors
Warm Colors
Reds, oranges, yellows. These advance visually and create energy. Use in foregrounds and focal points.
Cool Colors
Blues, greens, purples. These recede visually and create calm. Use in backgrounds and shadows.
A Beginner's Palette
You don't need dozens of colors. Start with these 10 essential pigments:
Recommended Starter Supplies
Based on quality, value, and beginner-friendliness, here are our top picks to start your watercolor journey:
Best Value Paint Set
MeiLiang 36-Color Watercolor Set
An excellent starter set with 36 vibrant colors in a portable metal case. Includes a built-in palette and brush. The paints are highly pigmented with smooth application, using natural gum Arabic as a binder for rich luster.
- 36 vivid, highly pigmented colors
- Portable metal case with palette
- Includes watercolor brush
- Great for travel and plein air
Premium Paint Set
Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI 48 Colors
Traditional Japanese watercolors known for their vivid, opaque colors. The extra-large pans hold generous amounts of paint, and the colors are smooth with a slight sheen. A favorite among artists for its unique color palette inspired by nature.
- 48 traditional Japanese colors
- Extra-large pans
- Smooth, non-granulated paint
- Includes 3 water brush pens
Best Budget Paper
Canson XL Watercolor Pad (9x12)
The go-to practice paper for students and hobbyists. 140 lb cold press paper that handles washes well without excessive buckling. The high sheet count (30 sheets) makes it economical for learning.
- 30 sheets per pad
- 140 lb / 300 gsm weight
- Cold press texture
- Fold-over binding
Professional Paper
Arches Cold Press Watercolor Pad
Museum-quality 100% cotton paper that's been the choice of master artists since 1492. Handles aggressive techniques, multiple layers, and heavy washes without damage. An investment that elevates your work.
- 12 sheets of 100% cotton
- 140 lb / 300 gsm
- Cold press texture
- Natural white, acid-free
Best Brush Set
ARTEGRIA 10-Piece Watercolor Brush Set
A comprehensive set with synthetic squirrel hair that mimics the performance of natural hair at a fraction of the price. Includes pointed rounds, flats, dagger, and oval wash brushes for complete versatility.
- 10 professional brushes
- Synthetic squirrel hair
- Includes variety of shapes
- Excellent water retention
Round Brush Set
ARTEGRIA 4-Piece Pointed Rounds
If you only buy one brush set, make it this one. Four pointed round brushes in the most-used sizes (#2, #4, #6, #8) with excellent snap and water retention. Perfect for both detail work and washes.
- 4 essential round sizes
- Fine pointed tips
- Great flow control
- Durable synthetic fibers
Best Palette
MEEDEN 18-Well Porcelain Palette
A ceramic palette that outperforms plastic in every way. Paint doesn't bead up, making mixing easier. The weight keeps it stable, and the porcelain surface cleans beautifully.
- 18 wells for colors
- Large mixing area
- Premium white porcelain
- Easy to clean
Masking Fluid
Winsor & Newton Art Masking Fluid
Essential for preserving white areas while painting freely. Apply to areas you want to protect, paint over it, then rub off when dry to reveal clean whites. The yellow tint makes it easy to see where you've applied it.
- 75ml bottle
- Yellow tinted for visibility
- Removes cleanly
- Professional quality
Complete Beginner Bundle
If you're starting from scratch, here's everything you need:
- MeiLiang 36-Color Set - Your paints and travel palette
- Canson XL Watercolor Pad - Practice paper
- ARTEGRIA Round Brush Set - Essential brushes
- Two jars of water and paper towels (you already have these!)
Total investment: Under $50 for quality supplies that will last months of regular painting.
Tips for Success
Start Light, Go Dark
Watercolor is transparent, so you build from light to dark. Always start with your lightest values and gradually add darker layers. You can't paint light over dark in watercolor.
Preserve Your Whites
The white of the paper is your brightest highlight. Plan ahead and leave white areas unpainted, or use masking fluid to protect them while painting.
Work in Stages
Let layers dry completely before adding more. Working into wet paint creates blooms and muddiness (unless that's what you want). Patience is a watercolor virtue.
Embrace "Happy Accidents"
Watercolor has a mind of its own. Unexpected blooms and runs often become the most beautiful parts of a painting. Learn to work with the medium, not against it.
Keep Water Clean
Muddy water makes muddy paintings. Use two water containers and change water frequently. Clean water = vibrant colors.
Test Before Applying
Always test your color mix on a scrap piece of the same paper before applying to your painting. Colors dry lighter than they appear wet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn watercolor?
You can create enjoyable paintings within your first few sessions, but developing control and confidence typically takes 3-6 months of regular practice. Watercolor is known for being "easy to start, hard to master" - the basics are simple, but there's always more to learn.
Why does my paper buckle when I paint?
Paper buckles when it absorbs water unevenly. Solutions: use heavier paper (140 lb minimum), tape your paper down on all four sides, or stretch your paper before painting. Higher quality cotton paper buckles less than wood pulp paper.
Can I use watercolor on regular paper?
Technically yes, but you won't get good results. Regular paper buckles severely, doesn't absorb paint properly, and often pills when wet. Watercolor paper is specifically designed to handle water and will dramatically improve your results.
What's the difference between student and artist grade paints?
Artist-grade paints have higher pigment concentration, better lightfastness (they won't fade over time), and smoother handling. Student-grade paints have more filler, less pigment, and may fade. For learning, student grade is fine; for serious work or selling, artist grade is worth the investment.
How do I fix mistakes in watercolor?
While wet, you can lift paint with a damp brush or paper towel. Once dry, you can re-wet and lift (works better on cotton paper). For serious mistakes, you can sometimes scrub gently with a wet brush. Prevention is best - plan your whites and work light to dark.
Should I sketch before painting?
Most artists lightly sketch their composition in pencil first. Use a light touch so lines don't show through the paint. Some prefer to paint without sketching for a looser, more spontaneous result. Try both approaches to see what works for you.