My Art Supplies
I mostly paint with Watercolors by Holbein, use Princeton's Brushes "Heritage" series, and paint on Hahnemuhle "Collection" Watercolor Paper.
But I do enjoy painting with Schmincke Horadam Watercolors in tubes, and once in a while on Arches (my second choice for the paper).
There's other brushes I also recommend, for example Escoda's "Barocco" and "Perla" series for more detailed work. Silver Brush "Black Velvet" Round 8 and Flat 3/4, 1", are a great addition if you like softer brushes.
I highly recommend Hahnemuhle "Collection" series watercolor paper, there's no other paper out there where you can apply all the watercolor techniques, use masking fluid, wax, play with salt, alcohol drops, and on top of that lift the paint and do dry brushing and your paper is still fine. This series is very versatile.
I usually work with Cold Pressed 140lb, 300lb and Rough 140lb, 300lb.
But I do enjoy painting with Schmincke Horadam Watercolors in tubes, and once in a while on Arches (my second choice for the paper).
There's other brushes I also recommend, for example Escoda's "Barocco" and "Perla" series for more detailed work. Silver Brush "Black Velvet" Round 8 and Flat 3/4, 1", are a great addition if you like softer brushes.
I highly recommend Hahnemuhle "Collection" series watercolor paper, there's no other paper out there where you can apply all the watercolor techniques, use masking fluid, wax, play with salt, alcohol drops, and on top of that lift the paint and do dry brushing and your paper is still fine. This series is very versatile.
I usually work with Cold Pressed 140lb, 300lb and Rough 140lb, 300lb.
Art Supplies I recommend for Beginners
The swatches of colors you see below are my top pigments that I recommend for beginners to start with.
If you don't paint seascapes you can skip Cobalt Turquoise Light, Marine Blue, Cobalt Green and Viridian Hue.
If you don't paint seascapes you can skip Cobalt Turquoise Light, Marine Blue, Cobalt Green and Viridian Hue.
Yellow Ochre, Quinacridone Red, Burnt Sienna, Vandyke Brown, Neutral Tint, Indigo, Phthalo Blue Red Shade, Cobalt Blue, Sap Green, Marine Blue, Viridian Hue, Isoindolinone Yellow Deep, Cadmium Yellow Pale, Opera, Cobalt Turquoise Light, Cobalt Green
Brushes
These are some of the brushes I recommend for beginners to start with:
Flat/Stroke 3/4, 1"
Liner 2
- My own line of brushes: "Golden 1" size Round 8
- "Heritage" series brushes by Princeton:
Flat/Stroke 3/4, 1"
Liner 2
Watercolor Papers
I mainly paint on Hahnemuhle "Collection" Watercolor paper (Arches is my second choice) and that's what I recommend to all beginners. You want to start with professional grade supplies because cheap art materials will only hold you back.
You need the right tools to grow as an artist.
I recommend to only paint on Professional Grade Watercolor Papers. It is very easy to get discouraged if you paint on cheap/student grade because the colors will not come out right, colors will look faded, the paper won't absorb the water/paint correctly, the paper will buckle, rip, tear, you won't be able to use art masking fluid properly without damaging the paper.
You need the right tools to grow as an artist.
I recommend to only paint on Professional Grade Watercolor Papers. It is very easy to get discouraged if you paint on cheap/student grade because the colors will not come out right, colors will look faded, the paper won't absorb the water/paint correctly, the paper will buckle, rip, tear, you won't be able to use art masking fluid properly without damaging the paper.
My other Art Supplies
- For brush care I recommend Escoda Olive Soap
- If you like to play with texture you could use natural sponges as I did in this turtle video.
- I like and recommend masking Fluid by Winsor and Newton, a Fineline Applicator for masking fluid or ruling pen.
- Ocassionaly I also use a rubber pen by Meeden to spread masking fluid and have more control.
- To remove masking I use a cement eraser.
- I use two different types of palettes. The main one you see in videos is eight-well plastic palette by Richeson. Today, I much prefer a butcher palette.
- If you like gold accents like I used in this video I recommend Gold ink by Winsor and Newton.
- I paint on a glass top table by STUDIO DESIGNS but there's a similar/cheaper version on Blick's website. Painting on a glass top prevents my watercolor paper from buckling. Here are other versions, click here.
- I use Holbein soft tape and MT Washi Tape from Japan. One is thicker and one thinner.
- I use two products to protect my watercolor paintings, one is matte varnish - Dorland's Wax Medium and second one Sax True Flow which has a glossy finish.
If you shop at St Louis Art Supply - use my link, please click here (thank you!)
If you go to thebrushguys.com and click on "teacher recommend brushes" you will find my profile there and you will see a list of some of the brushes I recommend. You can use a 5% coupon code. Basically I get 5% and you get 5% off with every purchase.
COUPON CODE: mariar for 5% discount.