Cold-pressed watercolor paper (labeled CP) has a textured finish, absorbs paint faster, and presents slightly duller colors when dry. It’s also very easy to use and suitable for all kinds of watercolor. Fortunately, there are tons of online resources (like this article!), including watercolor classes and tutorials, that cover everything from materials to technique. This set includes one Sennelier watercolor brush and 12 Sennelier L’Aquarelle Watercolor 10ml tubes in a handy metal container with two fold-out palettes. One of the great things about watercoloring is that you don’t need a bunch of supplies to get started. There are add-ons you can eventually invest in as you evolve in the craft, but as a beginner, all you need are a few essentials.

Watercolour paper is usually available in three different textures. Completely smooth paper is known as Hot Press and allows for the finest lines and crisp details to show. Cold-pressed paper has a slight texture and is also known as NOT surface paper. It is the surface that most artists try to begin with. The texture is made with sheets of felt, so has an irregular, naturally dimpled quality. Rough paper has a more pronounced texture, which acutely changes the quality of brush strokes, often making them appear more broken and expressive than on smooth paper.Some paint makers like Winsor & Newton also have a series number. These are bands of watercolour pigments, depending on how expensive they are. Rarer or more costly pigments will be in a higher series band, making that paint more expensive. The cheapest pigments are series 1, and the most expensive are series 5. Ready to get your paint on? I’ve put together this watercolor for beginners guide to get you watercoloring like nobody’s business in no time! Invest in quality paintbrushes. You don’t have to break the bank, but buying good-quality student-grade materials from the get-go will save you a lot of frustration.

To avoid creating a piece that looks overworked, load your brush and paint with a sure stroke. Your brush should be so full of colour that when you lift your brush from the paint the excess colour will drip from the tip. Remove the excess once only by sliding just the tip of the brush once against the side of your disc tray or mixing tray. 4. Sketch On top of pans, discs and tubes you can also choose to work with watercolour pencils or markers, ideal for drawing and mixed media. Watercolour pencils are highly pigmented to allow for maximum colour purity, while watercolour markers allow for a high level of precision and control. Both have the advantage that they can be easily carried with you wherever you go. Why work with watercolour?

Truth be told, learning how to watercolor can be a little difficult at first — at least if your goal is to really lean into technique and acquire skill. No! Watercolor paint uses natural binders, while acrylic uses manmade acrylic resin binders. Acrylic is also more opaque, which makes it more suitable for different surfaces. Many of the best watercolor sets featured above come with a small brush, but you’ll want to invest in several more for your artwork. These can have wooden, plastic, or acrylic handles with either synthetic or natural fibers.