Materials list for Beginners Watercolour Class

PAINT

Paint comes in two grades: student or professional. Some people feel more relaxed using less expensive paints… however as these paints are less strongly pigmented, you can use them up more quickly. So it’s swings and roundabouts! Professional paints are highly pigmented and last a long time. You can start with just 8 colours, and then build your supplies gradually. Some suggestions are below. It is usually worthwhile to shop around for the best price. Online Art Stores have special offers from time to time, which can save a lot of money. You can also buy art materials from Broad Canvas in Oxford, and Hobbycraft in Botley.

Student grade watercolours:

  • Daniel Smith : Watercolour Paint : Essentials Set : 5ml : Set of 6 - This is a good starter set, offering the 2-primary system (a warm and cool yellow, warm and cool blue, warm and cool red). The tubes are small but will last a long time.

  • You will also need Burnt Sienna. You can use mix Burnt Sienna with French Ultramarine to create beautiful greys similar to Payne’s Grey.

  • You will also need Pthalo Green (Blue Shade) - if you mix this with your cool red, you get a good black.

  • If you can push the boat out a bit further, then instead of Daniel Smith Essentials Set of 6, you could buy Golden : Qor : Watercolour Paint : Introductory Set of 12 Colours : 5ml Tubes. These are wonderful paints and will set you up well. This set includes Payne’s Grey, Burnt Sienna and Pthalo Green (Blue Shade).

PAper

You will need cheaper paper for exercises and warmups, and good quality 100% cotton paper for paintings. “Blocks” (gummed on all sides) give you the best painting experience, but are a little more expensive than pads (gummed one end only).

1) This cheaper paper for exercises: Goldline : Watercolour Studio Pad : 200gsm 100 sheets : 24x32cm

2) 100% cotton paper. Please buy COLD PRESSED (also called “NOT”), 300gsm (140lb). You can buy any brand, but I recommend Fabriano Acquarello Artistico - make sure you get the “Extra White” version, otherwise it is quite a yellow paper. I suggest 9x12 and 10x14 inches.

Brushes

1) You will need this brush, you can do most things with it: Jackson's : Icon : Synthetic Sable : Watercolour Brush : Quill : No.2

2) You will also need a Hake Brush, 1 inch (24mm), for skies and washes: https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-artist-hake-white-goat-hair-brush-flat-1in-24mm

3) You may want to add a size 6 round brush. Any brand is fine, the link I’ve suggested is Pro Arte Synthetic Sable, a mid-range brush. If you purchased the size 2 Artway brush from me, then you won’t need to get a size 6 brush.

4) You may want to add a Rigger Brush to your toolkit, for fine lines. Size 1 or 2 should do fine. You want something with long bristles, about 1.5cm long.

Palette

A ceramic palette is better than a plastic one.

This would be a great one to have (they also do a bigger version, you never have enough mixing space!): Jackson's : Porcelain Palette With Cover : 19 Well : 25x33x4cm

This one is cheaper and smaller, less of an investment. Later on you could buy another one if you need more mixing space: MEEDEN Ceramic Tray Palette.

OTHER ITEMS

  • Two water jars

  • Kitchen Towel

  • Toilet paper

  • Masking tape: I have found that this tape from Artway is excellent and doesn’t damage your paper: https://artway.co.uk/ultratape-edge-tape-masking-tape-12mm-24mm/. If you can’t get the Artway tape, then look for low tack tape.

  • 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

  • A cutting mat, ruler and craft knife are useful

  • Spray bottle of water (you can use an old household spray bottle, just clean it out very well first)

  • White gouache paint.

  • Unless you are working on watercolour blocks, you will need a board to tape your paper to. If you can seal the board with varnish or plastic (eg GAC 100) this will prevent it from soaking up water, and it will last a lot longer.