Watercolor Beginner Resources 

I'm so glad you are here!
First of all, welcome to this page, secondly, I will make this page as easy to read as possible. This page is for anyone that needs to find the right content to start with. I know that at the beginning, when you first start out with watercolors, things can get quite confusing. I am here to help you, and to guide you through, along the way.

Let's start with Art Supplies! After all, no art supplies, no painting...

Watercolor Paper

The best watercolor paper for beginners is Cold Pressed, 140lb, 100% Cotton watercolor paper. I highly recommend Arches Watercolor Paper, which was my first watercolor paper 10 years ago and still remains one of my top choices.

Hahnemuhle's The Collection Cold Pressed, 140lb is also a good option, but please note that the texture of their paper has changed recently, and the Cold Pressed now feels like the Hot Pressed, which is not ideal for beginners. Hot Pressed paper dries too quickly, making it hard to control the paint and layering. Therefore, it's better to choose a paper with a nice texture that provides more control and forgiveness, making it easier to layer the colors.

Watercolor Paints

If you're planning to invest in watercolor paints, I recommend that you go for professional grade ones instead of student grade. This is because student grade watercolors are often made with low-quality ingredients and synthetic fillers which can lead to muddy colors and poor results. Personally, I prefer Holbein watercolors and recommend them to others. I used to paint with other brands like Winsor and Newton, Cotman, Grumbacher, and Daniel Smith, but I found that they didn't blend well and often resulted in a muddy layer.
After trying out several different brands, I found that investing in professional grade watercolors like Schmincke, Royal Talens, and finally Holbein made a huge difference in my artwork.

​With Holbein's watercolors, I was able to control the paint and water better, and my artwork improved significantly. When choosing a brand of watercolors, it's important to choose a professional line, and you don't necessarily need to have a wide range of colors. Starting with just a few colors can be enough to get started and produce beautiful artwork.

Recommended colors:

Holbein Watercolors (if you use other brands colors may have different names)

1. Raw sienna
2. Yellow ochre
3. Imidazolone yellow (primary yellow)
4. Isoindolinone yellow deep
5. Quinacridone red
6. Pyrrole red (pimary red)
7. Cobalt blue
8. Phthalo blue red shade (primary blue)
9. Indigo
10. Sap green
11. Hooker's green
12. Burnt sienna
13. Vandyke brown
14. Cobalt green 
15. Cobalt turquoise light

Watercolor Brushes

Ok, it's no secret that I have my own watercolor brush collection, but I never force my students to use them in my classes.

I believe that it’s entirely up to the individual to choose their supplies. However, I would like to suggest my brushes as I designed them with the help of top-notch brush makers.

My ‘Songbird’ line of brushes is handmade by da Vinci in Germany. We created the best long quills, riggers, and small round brushes for details.

You can purchase my brushes in my Etsy shop, but here's a list of suggested brushes that are helpful to have at the beginning of your watercolor journey.

Recommended Brushes:

  • For the smallest details, use small round brushes with sizes 0, 2, and 3. These brushes should be medium-stiff ("Songbird-Details")
  • Medium size round brushes, example, round 6,8, these brushes should also be medium-stiff (Round 8, "Golden 1")
  • For smoother layers, use a softer round brush with size 6 or 8 (Round 8 "Golden 2)
  • To create fine lines and lift colors, you need a rigger brush with size 2. This should also be a medium-stiff brush. ("Songbird" riggers)
  • If you are comfortable painting animals, consider getting a quill brush. The "Songbird" line offers long quill brushes with sizes 2 or 4, which hold a lot of water and paint. All brushes in this line are vegan and cruelty-free ("Songbird" quills)
  • For larger coverage, use a flat brush. I highly recommend da Vinci's Casaneo line, with flat brushes in sizes 20 or 24. These brushes can last for a decade and are a great investment, especially if you enjoy painting landscapes or seascapes.

Beginner Classes

"Watercolor Beginner Series"

Please start with this beginner series first and download the free PDF book “Beginner’s Guide to Watercolor” to keep.

​The next class I recommend to take is "New To Watercolors" course at Maria's Watercolor Academy.

Not only is the course FREE, but it provides comprehensive information about art supplies and breaks down all the watercolor techniques.

You will have numerous opportunities to practice wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and color lifting.

2nd Patreon Beginner Course


You can also take this in-depth 12-episode course on Patreon.

The first three episodes are all about art materials, but the following ones are full of exercises, and at the end of the course, you will be creating different paintings.

To Join me on Patreon,
​Click on the Button.

Before joining, you can familiarize yourself ​with all the content by looking through Patreon's Index.

What to expect on Patreon?

  • There are numerous watercolor classes and tutorials available for you to choose from.
  • Each class or tutorial includes a recommended list of art supplies, a downloadable pencil sketch, a reference image, and a wealth of tips and links to assist you throughout the course.
  • The classes are recorded in real-time, and you can pause them at any time. You do not need to rush to complete each class within a specific timeframe.
  • A new class is posted every Friday.
  • Joining Patreon means joining a community of artists just like you, where you can showcase your artwork and connect with others who share your passion. Share your creativity by posting your artwork under Community Chats or Art Corner (by special invite), and let your talent inspire others.
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