My Favorite
Watercolor Supplies
If you’ve ever wondered what watercolor, watercolor pencils, paper, sharpeners, and other supplies I use in my own artwork, they’re all here!
These are the products I currently recommend based on my own experience using them for realistic water color and mixed medium artwork.
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THE WATERCOLOR PAINT & PALETTE I USE
Schmincke - HORADAM AQUARELL
The indigo in this set is not lightfast, so I just use that color for practice, but it’s a great set otherwise and you can replace individual colors by refilling them with the tubes of paint.
Dr Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White
Need to pull white highlights back over your watercolor paintings? This is the product I use for that! I love this stuff, super opaque and easy to use!
Ceramic Palette
This porcelain palette is great for mixing larger batches of color or for using colors that aren’t in my usual watercolor palette like the Aqua Bronze. It’s small so perfect for watercolor!
Schmincke - Aqua Bronze
These are available in 5 different metallic colors. They are STUNNING when painted as accents over your watercolor paintings.
THE WATERCOLOR PENCILS I USE
Faber-Castell Watercolor Pencils
The largest set available has 120 colors. These perform like a true watercolor in how transparent they are. If I use all the colors in my set of 120 pencils, I do not sell the work as it won’t be lightfast. They do make beautiful prints though. You can, of course, choose to just use the lightfast colors.
*Not all colors are lightfast
Caran D'Ache Watercolor Pencils
These feel like something between gouache and watercolor in that they are more opaque of the three types I’ve tested. I LOVE the performance of them. If I use all the colors in my set of 76 pencils, I do not sell the work as it won’t be lightfast. They do make beautiful prints though. You can, of course, choose to just use the lightfast colors.
*Not all colors are lightfast
Derwent Watercolor Pencils
These pencils are highly pigmented but have a typical transparency you would expect from watercolor. If I use all the colors in my set of 72 pencils, I do not sell the work as it won’t be lightfast. They do make beautiful prints though. You can, of course, choose to just use the lightfast colors.
*Not all colors are lightfast
THE PAPER I USE FOR WATERCOLOR
Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper
This is my go-to paper for any water media. While I often buy the type that comes in a block, I almost never work in the block because I’m so heavy handed with water that it will warp. Instead I use the otto stretcherbar system I listed below. One of the reasons I love this paper is that it also works great with colored pencil so when I do a watercolor/colored pencil mixed media piece, this paper is perfect for both!
OTHER ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES I USE
Easel Lamp
One of the most important things in the studio is being able to see without straining our eyes! This lamp clamps right onto my easel, but they also have tabletop and floor type lamps depending on what works for your space.
Pencil Sharpeners
These handheld sharpeners are inexpensive and effective! I like to have several so when one gets dull, I can swap it out for a fresh one!
Otto Stretcher Bars
I recommend getting the larger set of these. You need your paper to be cut the same size of whatever board you work on. You presoak your paper to stretch it, then lock it in place with these bars to prevent warping. No fighting with lifting tape!
Drawing Board
If not using the otto system, a drawing board can work to tape your paper in place. It doesn’t prevent warping if you’re heavy handed with water like I am, but it is far better than working on loose paper.
Masking Tape
It’s important to use an acid-free masking tape when we tape our work so we don’t leave damaging residue on the finished art!
Mason Jars
I use these for pencil shavings and to keep the colored pencils I’m using on a project separate so I make sure I know what I’ve been using on any given project. Old pasta sauce jars work great too!
Masking Fluid
Use this to keep areas of the paper white while you paint. I use this ruling pen and rubber cement eraser set to apply and remove the masking fluid.
4 oz Jars
I use these cute little jars for my distilled water. One is to clean brushes and one is to mix with my colors.
Glassine
I use this acid-free paper under my hand to protect the work from smudges and the oils on my skin. I also place a piece between each drawing to protect them in storage or shipping.
Mat, Bag and Board
Is your art even done if you don’t mat it? These bag/backing board/mat combo sets make it easy to present your work professionally at a reasonable price.
Art Storage Box
These archival boxes are how I store most of my colored pencil drawings. I put a piece of glassine between each piece to keep them clean and smudge free. You can fit a LOT of art in these boxes!
Watercolor Brushes
I love watercolor but it is a picky medium when it comes to how it behaves with different brushes. These two brands are my favorites but they are pricey. Do not feel like you need to get every brush available. Just get a few brushes and build your collection over time! I don’t spend nearly as much on brushes for watercolor pencils, though. For those, I often use the budget friendly Artify Brushes.
Creative Mark Mimik Brush Set
Synthetic Squirrel Brush set is designed to imitate squirrel hair watercolor brushes. The set I linked is not the exact set that I have (mine were purchased separately), but it’s a solid set that will give you everything you need to get started.
Silver Brush Limited Black Velvet
From the manufacturer: Each Black Velvet brush is soft enough to add color without disturbing previous layers but firm enough to lift color when needed. They are a mixed blend of squirrel hair and black synthetic fibers.
Derwent Water Brush
This is not a brush I use for the pan watercolors, but they’re really nice while blending the watercolor pencils.
Want to learn how I use all this stuff?
Supplies are just the beginning! Learn how to layer, blend, and use them together in my full-length lessons.
