How to Set Up a Basic Watercolor Painting Set

For the beginning watercolor artist, having the right materials at your disposal can make painting a real pleasure. Here is a list of basic necessities. You can always add to these materials as you advance in your painting skills.

How to select the equipment Needed for a basic watercolor painting set:

Selecting Brushes

Watercolor brushes come in all shapes and sizes from natural or synthetic bristles to sable or squirrel ones. For the beginner, it is not necessary to purchase a large quantity of expensive brushes. A few, good quality brushes will do fine until you become more familiar with painting and want to choose special brushes for different techniques.

A basic selection should include brushes in a blend of natural sable or squirrel and synthetic hair. Here are the basic brushes a beginner will need:

Size 8 round

A flat wash brush 1/2" or larger (Synthetic fiber)

An Oval wash or 'mop' brush

A rigger or liner brush

Brushes need to be properly cared for and stored. Always wash them well when finished painting for the day. Gently massage the bristles into soapy water and rinse well. When the brush is clean use your fingers to gently reshape it to a point if necessary then lay flat to dry. When thoroughly dry, store brushes in a jar or other container with the brush end up, or in a canvas brush holder.

Choosing Watercolor Paper

There are many kinds of watercolor paper. Some types are: Individual sheets, pads of paper in various sizes and blocks of paper in various sizes. I think the easiest and most cost-effective method for beginners is to start with a multi-sheet pad. By buying a larger pad, such as the 22"x30" size (this is called a 'full sheet) you can cut or tear the paper into desired size sheets.

Make sure the paper you buy is acid-free archival paper. This will ensure that your painting will last through the years. When you frame and store your paintings, make sure that any material that comes in contact with the watercolor paper is also archival.