Watercolor Paint:

When it comes to choosing materials for watercolor painting, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—it’s all about finding what works best for you. The right tools can enhance your creative process, but the heart of your artwork lies in your dedication, practice, and enjoyment of the journey.Take a moment to explore what you already have or consider investing in new supplies that inspire you. Whether you’re working with a modest budget or exploring premium options, there are countless ways to achieve beautiful results.

Ready to explore the essentials? Let’s dive into the tools that can elevate your watercolor experience!

Essential (the bare minimum needed):

• Lemon Yellow

• *New Gamboge

• *Opera Pink

• Quinacridone Rose

• Alizarin Crimson

• Cerulean Blue

• Phthalo Blue (green shade)

• *Green Gold (don’t get mixed up with rich green gold)

• *Sap Green

• Yellow Ochre

• Quinacridone Gold

• Raw Umber or Sepia

I get most of my paints from Daniel Smith but other brands such as Winsor & Newton, Schmincke Horadam, Sennelier l’Aquarelle, Turner, Holbein etc.
BUT: There are couple colors that I prefer getting it in Daniel Smith brand due to the tones and hues coming out a little different from other brands. I will * any that I would love in the Daniel Smith Brand.

You can buy most of these materials from Blicks! There is one located on the same street as Workshop SLC! :)

Expand your palette (my preference):

• Ultramarin Blue

• Cadmium Red or Organic Vermillion

• Wisteria

• Lavender

• Deep Sap Green

• Rich Green Gold

• Van Dyke Brown

• Paynes Grey

Which type: Professionell, Student, or Hobby?

I encourage my students to work with professional or extra-fine watercolors whenever possible. These high-quality paints are rich in pigment, making it easier to achieve vibrant, intense colors in your artwork. They also offer excellent longevity. However, for my courses, you’re welcome to use any watercolors you already have at home as you explore and refine your skills

Tubes or pans?

Watercolors are available in both tubes and pans, each with unique advantages. Pans are portable and ready to use immediately, while tubes allow for easier mixing of intense colors and help keep paints clean. The quality remains consistent between the two, and the choice largely depends on personal preference. With professional-grade paints, only small quantities are needed; 1/2 pans and 5-14 ml tubes can last a long time. For example, I’ve been using many of my 14 ml tubes for several years. If you're experimenting with new colors, 5 ml tubes are an excellent starting point

PALETTE:

Nothing beats a plain white ceramic plate as a palette. It offers plenty of space for mixing colors, it is easy to clean and has a nice and smooth surface that lets you see exactly what shades you are mixing.

NOTE: I do like to introduce new colors in class depending on the theme of that month so I usually ask all students to get a big enough palette that I can add new colors to :)

Watercolor Palette with set Paints: When shopping for watercolor palettes, you may come across pre-packaged sets containing 12 to 24 colors. These sets are often more affordable and convenient, making them a great option for beginners. However, it’s important to choose sets from reputable, high-quality watercolor brands. For example, palettes from Winsor & Newton or Daniel Smith offer excellent quality. Avoid opting for cheap, low-quality cake pans, as these may result in dull or less vibrant colors due to poor pigment quality.

Creating your Own: Building your own watercolor palette can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. By this stage in your watercolor journey, you likely have a better understanding of the colors that resonate with you. Investing in a larger palette provides the flexibility to curate a more personalized selection, while also allowing me, as your instructor, to introduce additional colors for you to experiment with in the future. This approach fosters creativity and helps you develop a more versatile and expressive artistic practice.

Other Tips to think about:

• Any palettes with Half Pan options can help you switch out the colors you need to and leave any you don’t need to use that month at home :)

• Getting a palette with a nice tight lid will let you carry it around without worrying if the paint is dry from using.

• make sure your palette has a nice space to mix your colors, that is so needed!

• Be mindful about the size of your palette! If you don’t paint big, you don’t need a gigantic palette. (even if you feel tempted, like me and then it sits on my shelf for years)

Look at the two example below:

- One on the left is a pre created palette from a brand I recommend! Click on the photo to get to the link :)

- The one on the right are empty palettes you can order and start creating your own! :)

Brushes:

Watercolor artists typically favor brushes that balance paint-holding capacity with fine tips for intricate detail work but to also cover larger areas. My ideal brush shape is "round" and tapered, resembling the point of a spear.

Brush Shape: "Round" with a pointed tip.
Brush Size: Different brands use varying size systems, so a number 1 from Winsor & Newton may differ in thickness from a Raphael brush. If possible, check the width in millimeters, which is measured at the ferrule (where the bristles are secured).

For a solid starting point, a brush with a thickness of 2-3mm is ideal. From there, you can expand your collection with both larger and smaller brushes depending on your style (if you prefer painting larger, rougher areas, you’ll need bigger brushes). For life-sized work, consider starting with three main brushes:
• 1 mm width for delicate details
• 2-2.5 mm width for detailing and general surfaces
• 3 mm width for larger areas with wet-on-wet techniques and glazing

Additionally, having a synthetic flat brush (up to 5 mm wide) for smoothing edges or lifting paint can be added to your collection but isn’t required!

Examples of brands to consider include Winsor & Newton Series 7 (including the “miniature” version for finer details).

I also LOVE Princton Velvet Touch Brushes! Great quality and affordable!
My go to Princeton Brush is the #12 long round. I will add link to the photo :)

Things that Workshop SLC will provide:

Here are some materials that Workshop will provide that you will never have to worry about:

• Water containers - we have mason jars!! :)

• Paper Towels! - but if you would like to not waste paper towels, please bring your own rag then you can reuse it as many times as you would like.

• Paper: I always prep paper for everyone but if you want to bring your own or would like recommendations on paper to practice at home - please get the Arches block from Blicks!

• Pencil

• Transfer Papers

• Ink Pens

Many links provided are to Blick Art Supplies. (1025 East 2100 South) other art suppliers and stores will have similar/same products.

We do not receive commissions based on products purchased from these links.