My Art Supplies
I mostly paint with Watercolors by Holbein, use Princeton's Brushes and Arches Watercolor Papers.
Having said that I do enjoy painting once in a while with Schmincke Watercolors and sometimes I will play with Rembrandt or QoR.
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.
For the papers, I highly recommend Arches, there's no other paper that 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. This paper is very versatile.
I usually work with Cold Pressed 140lb, 300lb and Rough 140lb, 300lb.
Having said that I do enjoy painting once in a while with Schmincke Watercolors and sometimes I will play with Rembrandt or QoR.
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.
For the papers, I highly recommend Arches, there's no other paper that 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. This paper 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 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.
"Heritage" series brushes are synthetic and a bit softer. The stroke brushes (flat) are great to spread the paint when you are trying to create a smooth background. Liner brush is a must have for when you paint "flowers, grass, hair, whiskers" etc
"Heritage" series brushes are synthetic and a bit softer. The stroke brushes (flat) are great to spread the paint when you are trying to create a smooth background. Liner brush is a must have for when you paint "flowers, grass, hair, whiskers" etc
Watercolor Papers
I mainly paint on Arches Watercolor papers 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. That simply won't happen when using cheap/student grade watercolor papers.
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.
I mostly paint on:
Arches Cold Pressed 140lb, 300lb
Arches Rough 140lb, 156lb and 300lb
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.
I mostly paint on:
Arches Cold Pressed 140lb, 300lb
Arches Rough 140lb, 156lb and 300lb
My other Art Supplies
- For brush care I recommend this 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 Holbein's Masking Fluid in a bottle (Masking Fluid Pen has been discontinued) but I also recommend masking Fluid by Winsor and Newton and Fineline Applicator for masking fluid.
- I also use a rubber pen by Meeden to spread masking fluid and have more control.
- To remove masking I use cement eraser. Click here for another option.
- 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 here. 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.