Materials list for Watercolour Class

Paper

Working on good watercolour paper makes all the difference to your painting experience and success. Please get 100% cotton watercolour paper, cold pressed. Paper must be 300gsm (140lb). 10x14 inches is the ideal size, but a smaller size (eg. 9x12 inches) will also be useful so that you have options. (If working in metric, this means roughly A3 and A4). There are various brands to choose from. It is usually cheaper per page if you buy a larger size and cut it down. The best painting experience is if you buy a “block” that is glued on all sides. If using a block, it’s useful to have two, so that while one is drying, you can work on another one.

We will also do lots of warmups, so please also bring cheaper watercolour paper, this doesn’t have to be 100% cotton.

Brushes

Hake Brush. For painting skies and other large areas, you will need a Hake Brush. Mine is from Jacksons Art, 1.25 inches (30mm) wide:
https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-artist-hake-white-goat-hair-brush-flat-1-25in-30mm. Please note that when you first open this brush, there is a strong smell, as the bristles are goats’ hair. Please open and take yours for a test drive before the first class, otherwise the smell will be terrible!
Large round. I recommend this one: https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-icon-sable-synthetic-watercolour-brush-quill-no-2
Small size 6 round - any synthetic brush is fine
A rigger brush, like this: https://www.jacksonsart.com/pro-arte-ms-prolon-series-64-synthetic-brush-half-rigger-size-2-0 is good for making very fine lines.
3/4 inch flat brush
An old oil brush (large, round) is useful for stippling techniques, if you have one.

DRAWING BOARD/STRETCHER

Unless you are painting on watercolour blocks, you will need a board to tape your paper onto. It needs to be slightly bigger than your paper.

PAINTS

It’s up to you whether to use pans or tubes. Working with good quality paints will give you a better experience, as professional paints are more highly pigmented and give richer colour. But if budgets are tight, then rather spend your money on good paper. Below are some paint recommendations for different budgets.

Tighter budget:

Winsor and Newton Cotman full pans (Please avoid half pans, they will ultimately be frustratingly small).
Kuretake Gansai Tambi: You can get different size sets, depending on how much you want to spend. Please don’t get the pearlescent or pastel set.
If getting tubes, Winsor and Newton Cotman set of 12, is good quality student grade paint to get you started. You can upgrade to professional quality later.

Better quality paints:

Golden QOR Watercolour Paints - this is a lovely set: https://www.jacksonsart.com/golden-qor-watercolour-paint-introductory-set-of-12-colours-5ml-tubes
Tubes of Winsor and Newton Professional, or Daniel Smith, or Holbein would be an excellent choice. You could start with a few colours and build your collection gradually.

OTHER ITEMS

A ceramic palette. I like a flat palette, but it’s fine to get one with sections if you prefer. The bigger the better. You could just start with a white plate, though.
Two water jars
Kitchen Towel
Toilet paper
Masking Fluid, eg. https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/daler-rowney-art-masking-fluid-75ml/5636061000.html (Please note, you can also get “Permanent Masking Fluid”, which is non-removable… for now, don’t get the permanent one, you want the removable version!)
Masking tape: low tack tape works best.
A natural sponge, eg.
Some rags are useful (eg an old T-shirt cut up) and can save on wasting kitchen towel and toilet paper
A hard pencil (something in the “H” range)
A soft eraser
Watercolour pencil crayons are useful for drawing first when painting landscapes
A cutting mat, ruler and craft knife are useful
Toothpicks (for applying masking fluid)
Baking paper (for using with masking fluid)
White acrylic or gouache paint
Spray bottle of water
Individual ceramic saucers for mixing washes, or a palette that has large wells in it.
Palette knife - smaller rather than larger, preferably diamond shaped.