Watercolor Supply List: 2020

It’s been a few years since I’ve shared my watercolor painting supply list and thought this would be the perfect time since so many of you are jumping into watercolors! Most of the supplies on this list I’ve been using for a long time. I love finding tools and brands that last and offer great quality. It’s also fun to experiment and play around with supplies. Indanthrone Blue for example was an impulse purchase after seeing the color online and I ended up really loving the super deep hue I’ve ordered it many more times since! Have fun and experiment with different tools! 

Paint - 
I use watercolor paint tubes. Most of my paint is either Windsor & Newton or Daniel Smith. If you’re starting out or on a budget, I would recommend Qor or Cotman watercolors. I like using tubes of watercolor paint and I fill my own palette. It allows me to refill certain colors as they get low and easily switch out colors that I don’t use or want to try. This is the list of colors currently in my palette - 

Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Red
Quinacridone Magenta
Quinacridone Gold
Cadmium Lemon
Sap Green
Cobalt Turquoise Light
Indanthrone Blue
Cerulean Blue
Cobalt Blue
French Ultramarine 
Violet
Raw Sienna
Raw Umber
Burnt Sienna
Cadmium Yellow Pale
Cadmium Scarlet
Neutral Tint
Payne’s Gray
Ivory Black
I also have a tube of white Gouache and use it sparingly for accents and highlights.

If you’re just starting out you definitely don’t need this many different colors. I would recommend starting with the basics and mixing your own greens, oranges, purples and darks. The colors I use the most are Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Magenta, Cadmium Lemon, Cobalt Blue, French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna. 

I also have a Portable Painter palette that is smaller and perfect for plein air and travel. It comes empty so you can add your own paint colors. 

Paper -
I use Arches and Bockingford NOT (Cold Press) watercolor paper. I love the texture of Arches. Bockingford is great for landscapes as it’s easier to lift/scrub paint off the paper. 

Brushes - 
I’ve been using the same Silver Black Velvet brushes for about 5 years. The Hake brush is great for 
10 Round Silver Black Velvet Brush
16 Round Silver Black Velvet Brush
Large Ron Ranson Hake Brush
3 Round Cotman Brush
000 Round Cotman Brush

For sketching I love the Derwent Precision .5mm mechanical pencil. It’s really fine lead which allows me to draw small details, especially when I’m sketching a face and want to get all the features right. 

I use a glass water dish and a plastic collapsible one when I’m painting outside. I use either a super absorbent sponge or paper towels to dab off excess water and paint.