Watercolor painting is fun to learn.
Your new adventure in watercolor painting will require some basic materials. Start with inexpensive items to get your feet wet. After establishing whether or not you love painting with watercolor, start adding colors, better paper and brushes; include an instruction book in your purchases. Use an online tutorial in watercolor instruction, or find a class in your area for beginning watercolor.
Watercolor Products
Watercolor paints come in several types and consistencies. Some watercolors come in pans with small cakes of watercolor paint. Pre-made sets of tubes are also available, or you can opt to purchase individual small tubes. Limit your first colors to the primaries --- cadmium red, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, burnt umber and Paynes gray --- and add new colors as you progress. Your paper will act as the color white for watercolor painting.
Palate
Plastic palates come in a variety of sizes with varying number of paint wells. Many palates have covers that keep your paint fresh for several painting sessions. The most useful palates come with center mixing areas. If you are on a strict budget, try a plastic plate or plastic-coated paper plates, which you can discard after painting. Keep lots of paper towel handy for mopping paint, cleaning your palate and wiping your brushes.
Brushes
Brushes vary in sizes and shapes for watercolor painting. You'll need a flat wash brush for doing large washes before adding subject matter; these brushes come in sizes ranging from 1/2 inch to 3 inches. Round brushes, used for the actual painting, also come in a variety of sizes. Synthetic brushes are the least expensive and most durable for your watercolor painting experience. Include small twig brushes for painting small objects. Start out with at least three brushes to cover your different painting needs.
Paper
Paper for watercolor comes in several weights, ranging from 90 to 300 lbs. Purchase either cold0pressed (semi-rough) or hot-pressed (smooth) paper. Paint on a weight of at least 140 lbs., which should handle the water adequately without buckling. For your beginning experience, try watercolor pads with a number of sheets of paper --- available in several sizes. Watercolor paper also comes in blocks of sheets, which provide you with a solid backing. Once you have completed the painting, tear off your sheet and start the next project.
