Hi all.. I hope you are doing well and being Creative During Quarantine!
Let’s talk about supplies today. When starting in watercolor there are some basic items one needs. I encourage you spend what money you have for good but fewer supplies. Fewer supplies for 2 reasons. I have seen folks enjoy the purchasing but then feel over whelmed with what to do with them.
Paints: Rose Madder Genuine (RMG), Cobalt Blue (CB), Auroline Yellow (AY) and if you can afford it Opera (O).
Brushes – one round and one flat
Kneaded Eraser this is as much a sketching tool as an eraser
Pencils – H’s have harder lead, B softer. I use 2B, 4B and 5 or 6B. I do not use the H’s as the hard lead so very easily leave indentations on the paper. The ‘B’s while very black can create lighter lines if one us gentle!
Paper – Any watercolor paper will work to play on. Do not use regular paper. W/C paper is rag and the water rests on the surface of the paper vs regular paper which absorbs the water. Use ‘cold press’ not ‘hot press’.
I buy most of my supplies for watercolor from Jerry’s Artarama
For pigments, Holbein (which makes Opera) and Winsor Newton.
These are less expensive but good brushes, they hold a lot of water/pigment, come to a nice point and so far for me been durable. If you can afford just one brush try a #6 Round. A lot can be done with just one brush.
For a flat brush Series 755 Sky Scraper 1/2″
Paper – a simple pad is fine for this is play! Get the largest size that works for you!
Palette This is the palette I use. YOu have choices. You can get the palette you want to grow into as you add more pigments, or get a small simple and cheaper one now and as you advance you will have a better feel for what type of palette you will want.
If you go to Jerry’s and sign up you will receive lots of emails with coupons!