Want to get started on your own watercolor journey? It’s simple to start, and your watercolor supplies don’t have to break the bank! Many professionals will tell you that you have to buy the most expensive paints, brushes that are so expensive you’re afraid to use them, and only the best, thickest paper. I’m here to say that is not true and I think my artwork can support that! Check out what I use below to make my bright, beautiful, nature inspired artwork.

Canson Watercolor Paper

This 18×24 inch pad of Canson Watercolor Paper is what I use for all my watercolor paintings. It is NOT 100% cotton, which makes it much more affordable. I like buying large pads like this because they are more cost effective, and I can easily paint a variety of sizes. This pad accommodates 16×20 inch work, 11×14 inch paintings, and 8×10 inch work, which is the smallest I usually paint. I use the leftover strips to test colors and experiment with techniques, so nothing goes to waste at all! This paper is 140 lb paper, which is perfect for heavy washes and fine details.

Castle Watercolor Paint

I am a diehard fan of tube paints. They seem to stay clean more easily than pans, and they are easy to mix into new colors. I love being able to arrange them thoughtfully in my paint pallet; different paints go in different spaces in my paint pallet depending on how I use the paint. I am going to start looking into more expensive brands of watercolor paint and choose some to try, but for now, I totally love the Castle brand of watercolor paints. Using less expensive paint is freeing because you don’t have to be precious with your watercolor stash. You can jump in, try new things, and experiment on a large scale without breaking the bank.

I bought this set of Castle watercolor paint because I wanted to be able to sample many different colors. I quickly found my favorites but have also been able to push myself to experiment with colors that I would not normally have thought to buy or try because they are just sitting there waiting to play!

Some artists suggest buying only a warm and cool of each primary color to make yourself learn mixing. I suggest buying a set like this so you can jump in and experiment with not only a variety of premixed colors, but also your own mixes of these colors to enjoy a large variety quickly.

Sable Watercolor Brushes

I enjoy how sable brushes hold water compared to synthetic brushes. I love this set because I use fine tip paintbrushes. I love painting detail and creating texture. Though I have a variety of brushes, I find myself reaching for my rounds rather that flat brushes or angled brushes. When you start painting, I would suggest experimenting with different types, but then investing in more quality brushes as you find your unique style. You can also check out this set below; it includes a much larger variety of brushes, but fewer small ones for detail.

Drawing supplies

PaperMate Sharpwriter Pencils

This is the paint pallet I have that has served me well over the years. It has wells for each pure color that I want to work with, space to mix a few colors that I use frequently (like my dark neutral) and space to play with spontaneous blends I create for the individual project.

Water cups

One of my best tips when painting with watercolor: use two cups of water! The first is for rinsing out dirty brushes and will get gross looking. The second is kept perfectly clean for mixing water with paint and applying directly to the paper. I like to stick with the classics, so I use two pint sized mason jars. They are easy to clean, don’t stain, and have lids.

Drink Cups!

Nalgene 24 Oz Flip Top Water Bottle

When you mix watercolor painting and staying hydrated, you will most likely end up dipping your paintbrush in your drink, or, if you’re not so lucky, taking a sip of your paint water! The best way to avoid this is to keep your drink in a lidded container! Here’s my favorite choice for both a cold drink a warm drink! The Nalgene water bottles with the flip top lids are amazing; my family has a dozen of them and even with dropping them they have never shattered. They are also easy to clean and fit in a purse, backpack or diaper bag easily.

Stanley Insulated Tumbler for Hot or Cold Drink

This sturdy tumbler will keep your drink hot for up to 7 hours, is built of a sturdy stainless steel, is easy to clean, and has a lifetime warrenty. You really can’t go wrong with this thermos!

Paper Towels

Nothing fancy here, but I do have some tips on the best type of paper towels to use painting with watercolor. My first tip is to avoid anything scented to eliminate the concern of the chemicals interacting with the paint or paper. Next, I would suggest finding a paper towel with a simple texture because it will transfer onto the paper if it is somewhat dry. Lastly, find a paper towel that can tear down to half sheets. You will probably want to use a small piece when working in more detailed areas of your painting.

A Painting Board

This Artist sketch board is great; it has a handle, small clips to gently hold your painting, and is big enough to accommodate a variety of painting sizes. I like to paint with my paper flat on my work surface, but I still use a painting board for a number of reasons. First, it can be helpful to tape the edges of your paper down so the paper doesn’t buckle when you use heavy washes. Second, I like to be able to prop up a dry work in progress so I can step back and get a fresh perspective while in the middle of a painting. Sometimes I bring the whole board out and prop it up in my living room so I can look at the painting and get ideas while taking care of my kids! I also like to be able to prop up my painting to create paint runs while I am working or spin it to paint from a different angle. Last, it’s convenient to be able to quickly pack up my painting set up and move to paint in a fresh location.

Thanks for checking out my favorite supplies to get started with watercolor without breaking the bank! Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions in the comments below!