Watercolor Supply List

Joyful Watercolor Supply List

with Liesel Lund

 

In the Beginning Watercolor class, I will be covering supplies in the first lesson, you may wish to order ahead to get supplies soon, or you can learn in the first lesson the variety that is available and how to choose what would suit you.

 

Dick Blick Online Supply List - Link

This is done as a convenience for you. Please shop wherever you would like. Supporting your local art store is highly recommended. But not everyone lives near one. This is a list of supplies for you to choose from. I’ve given you several choices - you don’t need everything. Just pick what suits you. My favorite palettes and high quality paper are not available at Blick, and they are listed below.

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My favorite inexpensive paper

Fabriano Studio, cold press - Link

 

My favorite high quality paper - Link

Canson Moulin Du Roy, 100% cotton, cold press

Note, every artist has their favorite brand, this is mine, you may prefer Arches or Fabriano Artistico

 

My favorite palettes -

1. Mijello or Alvin, Leakproof, 18 well palette.   Link

 

2. Alvin, Leakproof, 24 well palette.  Link

 

3. Alvin, Leakproof, 33 well palette.  Link

 

Watercolor paints 

If you already have any brand of professional quality paints start with those and then you can add in what you are missing later on.

 

Here are some sets options that are good, which I’ve included in the Blick list above.

Daniel Smith 

3 tube primaries set- 15 ml tubes, ~$29  Link

3 tube secondaries set - 15 ml tubes, ~$28  Link

6 tube mixing set - 5 ml tubes, ~$38  Link

10 tube, super fun, granulating colors, Jean Haines set - 5 ml, ~$76  Link

 

These are my favorites:

Watercolors: (all Daniel Smith brand unless specified)

1. Cadmium Yellow Light Hue or Hansa Yellow

2. Quinacridone Gold, New Gamboge or Indian Yellow 

3. Quinacridone Red

4. Ultramarine Blue Light (Holbein brand)

5. Manganese Blue Hue or Peacock Blue (Holbein brand)

6. Sap Green (optional- you can mix any greens, but this is really handy if you are going to paint landscapes or florals)

7. Sepia, Transparent Oxide Brown or other dark brown

8. Titanium White if you’d like to create opaque pastel colors.

 

Optional:

Goethite or Burgundy Yellow Ochre

Cascade Green 

Payne’s Gray, Sodalite, Zoisite or other gray

 

I like the Daniel Smith brand  because it is high quality and it is manufactured in Seattle.  I recommend you don’t buy Sennelier or M. Graham watercolors as they have honey in them and they don’t dry and will run in your palette. Artist grade paints have more pigment and create richer colors than student grade paints. 

 

4. Water containers - 2

I like wide-mouthed, glass salsa jars - keep the lids to protect jars from cats and dust

I also use a large plastic container from Costco that used to hold cashews. 

Whatever works for you. Nice to have one jar with only clean water, and a second jar for rinsing your brushes.

If the sink is far way, you may want to have two buckets nearby- one with clean water and one to dump your dirty water into.

 

6. Brush Holder

At home, I just use any mug/jar to hold my brushes but if you are going out with your paints you will need a brush holder. In a pinch you can use a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels. Fold one end, put your brushes in, fold the other end. A better option: Art Essentials, folding, long or short handle versions - link 

 

7.  Brushes 
You will need a small round, a medium round brush and a 1/2" flat or angled flat. 

Rosemary brushes: This is a great family-owned company and you'll find high quality brushes for all mediums. Despite paying for shipping from England, their prices are very affordable.- Here is a link to a beginner set , an affordable larger set that mimics sable or this very nice sable set. These are affiliate links, and I get a tiny amount towards buying my own brushes, with no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thank you! 

 

I also listed 2 brush sets in the Dick Blick supply list (at the top of this page).

 

8. Paper Towels, sponge or towel for wiping your brush and lifting paint.

Viva - Signature cloth (the other Viva towel, Multi-surface cloth, has too much texture). Available at most large grocery stores or Amazon. Other artists use blue shop towels. Viva link