My Art Supplies
I mostly paint with Watercolors by Holbein, use Princeton's Brushes "Heritage" and Hahnemuhle "Collection" Watercolor Paper.
I do enjoy painting once in a while on Arches (my second choice for the paper) and with Schmincke Watercolors.
There's other brushes I also recommend like Escoda's "Barocco" and "Perla" series for more detailed work. Silver Brush's "Black Velvet" Round 8 and Flat 3/4, 1" are a great addition as well if you like softer brushes.
I highly recommend Hahnemuhle "Collection" (and my second choice - Arches), there's no other papers 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 up the paint and do dry brushing and your paper is still fine. These papers are very versatile.
I usually work with Cold Pressed 140lb, 300lb and Rough 140lb, 300lb.
I do enjoy painting once in a while on Arches (my second choice for the paper) and with Schmincke Watercolors.
There's other brushes I also recommend like Escoda's "Barocco" and "Perla" series for more detailed work. Silver Brush's "Black Velvet" Round 8 and Flat 3/4, 1" are a great addition as well if you like softer brushes.
I highly recommend Hahnemuhle "Collection" (and my second choice - Arches), there's no other papers 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 up the paint and do dry brushing and your paper is still fine. These papers are 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 also 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 (my second choice is Arches) and that's what I recommend to all beginners. You want to start with the best to learn faster and see the best results in your artwork.
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 correctly, the paper will buckle, rip, tear, you won't be able to use art masking fluid properly without damaging your 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 correctly, the paper will buckle, rip, tear, you won't be able to use art masking fluid properly without damaging your paper.
My other Art Supplies
- For brush care I recommend Escoda Olive Soap and here's my video:
- If you like to play with your paintings you could use these Natural Sponges as I did in this turtle video.
- I like and recommend masking Fluid by Winsor and Newton and a Fineline Applicator for masking fluid.
- 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.
- My 8 well palette in videos is a Plastic Palette by Richeson.
- If you are looking for glitter 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.
- I use MT Washi Tape from Japan. One is thicker and one thinner.
- I use two products to protect my watercolor paintings, one is matte - Dorland's Wax Medium and second one Sax True Flow which has a glossy finish.
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.