My Watercolor Supplies

When I first started watercolor painting I had no idea that the quality of my watercolor supplies were effecting the way that my paintings were turning out. I remember I would get so frustrated when my watercolors wouldn’t blend properly or when my paper would tear if I added more than one layer of paint. I really thought that all watercolor supplies were the same, and at the time I had no one to ask what I should be using to create beautiful watercolors. Instead of hiding my secrets I decided to to create a list of the supplies that I use in my everyday painting. I really hope this helps you get started on your painting journey!

Watercolor paper.

The paper that I use for all my custom paintings are Arches 140 lb. cold pressed. Arches paper is on the pricier side, but it is an acid free, 100% cotton paper that will help preserve your paintings if properly taken care of. When I am painting custom paintings, I know that I’m creating something that my clients will want to last forever, so I defiantly want to use high quality paper here.

Canson 140 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper is what I use when I am practicing new painting techniques or when I am painting just for fun. Canson watercolor paper is cheaper than Archers paper and is perfect for beginners. Just remember you will not get the same results from using Canson paper over Arches paper. They are both totally different, but I have created some beautiful paintings using Canson paper.

Watercolor paints.

My two go to watercolor paint brands are Windsor & Newton, and Grumbach. They are both beautiful watercolor paints, and I personally haven’t notices a difference in the two brands of paint.

Pencils & pens.

I haven’t ventured out much when it comes to the pencils and pens that I use for my art. Micron Fine Line pens and Generals 2.HB pencils. The reason why I love the 2.HB pencil for my watercolors is that it is super light and easy to erase which is important for watercolor paintings. Using a good pen for your watercolor illustrations is also just as important. I had once tried using a regular ink pen for an illustration and the water made the ink bleed all over the painting. Micron pens are perfect for watercolor illustrations and the ink does not bleed.

Where I buy my supplies.

This is really important! When I first started painting I remember being shocked over the prices of art supplies in my local craft stores. I remember thinking that there has to be somewhere else that I could buy my supplies cheaper. Thankfully I found Blick Art Materials! Blicks prices are significantly cheaper than many lcraft stores and I highly recommend them!

I hope this is helpful for those of you just starting your painting journey! I will keep you all updated if I add any new supplies to my list! If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask in the comments!