What watercolor supplies do I actually need?

Researching supplies can feel overwhelming when you are first getting started. Don’t feel like you need to use exactly what I do, there are many great options. But I do hope you find this guide helpful and it can point you in the right direction.

Paper

In watercolor the surface we paint on is very important. 

I use Saunders Waterford 140lb rough. I like the texture of this paper. It is durable and it stays wet long enough to work wet-into-wet sufficiently. There are a lot of good paper options, the one thing you will need to ensure is that your paper is 100% cotton.

I order mine as full sheets which are 22" x 30". From there, I typically split them into quarter sheets which come out to 11" x 15".

Brushes

You don't need a lot of different brushes when painting watercolor. Typically I only use four. A large mop brush for the early stages of your painting when you need to cover large areas of the paper. A medium round brush for the middle value washes of my scene. A small synthetic brush for adding in darks and details and finally a rigger brush for fine details and lines.

I love Joseph Zbukvic's Signature Escoda mop brushes, Size 14 and 18. I have had these for years and they are durable and keep their points for quite a while. Keep in mind these are quite pricey but they do last a long time.

If those are more expensive than what you are looking for consider using Raphael Softaquas for your mop brushes. They are an affordable high quality option. I use a Raphael Softaqua size 8.

Medium round brushes are good to use in the middle of the painting process. The still hold a decent amount of paint and water but are small enough for detail work as well. I use a Silver Black Velvet Size 14 and 16.

Once I get into the darks and details of the scene I really like using Escoda Perla brushes. I have a size 12 and a size 18. These are versatile brushes and very durable. The also come to a sharp enough point to do most detail work.

For fine lines and finishing touches I use an Escoda size 4 rigger brush. 

Paints

I use Daniel Smith Paints.

My must have pigments:
-Rose Madder Permanent
-Raw Sienna
-Burnt Sienna
-Cadmium Yellow Light Hue                                                                                          -Cobalt Turquoise
-Cerulean
-Lavender
-Cobalt Blue
-Neutral Tint 

These pigments are the ones I refill most often and also include in my plein air setup. I can paint most subjects with these pigments.

My secondary pigments: Opera Pink, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Orange, Raw Sienna Light, Raw Umber, Quinacridone Gold, Cobalt Teal Blue, Ultramarine Blue

Many of my secondary pigments are useful when I have an outlier subject that requires more saturation, as in a vibrant sunset, or a small pop of color in a figure’s clothing. Other pigments on this list - such as Raw Umber, Cobalt Teal Blue and Ultramarine Blue - are used to add variety to some of my mixtures but aren’t used as regularly as my primary pigments. 

Miscellaneous

There a few other things that I must have. 

Palette

I use a John Pike palette. I don't see these in a lot of stores but you can typically order directly from their site. https://www.johnpikeart.com/pike-products/universal-pike-palette

These are a bit pricey but the essential feature is it's large mixing area. This allows me to pre-mix strong washes. I'm sure you can find a comparable palette if the price is a bit too high. I will say that the John Pike Palette is a one-time purchase and is well made.

Pencil

I use a mechanical 2B pencil with 0.9mm lead.

Kneaded Eraser

Any brand will do.

Sponge

I use a natural sponge for wetting down the paper. I also use a second absorbent sponge for taking the water out of my brush after rinsing. This is helpful for water control and keep me from diluting my mixtures too much.