Joyful Watercolor Supply List

with Liesel Lund

In the Beginning Watercolor class, I will be covering supplies in the first lesson, you may wish to order ahead to get supplies sooner, or you can learn in the first lesson the variety that is available and how to choose what would suit you. 

You do not need everything listed here. I have given you a range of options so you can choose what suits you. 

Dick Blick Online Supply List - Link 

This list was created as a convenience for you. Please shop wherever you would like. Supporting your local art store is highly recommended. But not everyone lives near one. This is a list of supplies for you to choose from. I’ve given you several choices - you don’t need everything. Just pick what suits you. My favorite palettes and high quality paper are not available at Blick, and they are listed below.

1. Paper

1. My favorite, affordable paper - Fabriano Studio, cold press Link 

2. My favorite high quality paper - Canson Moulin Du Roy, 100% cotton, cold press. Link 

2. Palettes

My favorite palettes: 

1. Mijello or Alvin, Leakproof, 18 well palette.   Link  

2. Alvin, Leakproof, 24 well palette.  Link  

3. Alvin, Leakproof, 33 well palette.  Link 

3. Watercolor paints  

You really just need the three primaries. You can mix most of the colors you need from those. If you already have any brand of professional quality paints start with those and if you want to add more later on you can. I will show you how to mix the color wheel from three colors.

Here are some sets options that are good, which I’ve included in the Blick List.

1.  3 tube primaries set- 15 ml tubes, ~$29  Link 

OR

2.  6 tube mixing set - 5 ml tubes, ~$38  Link  

And if you want to spoil yourself with some super fun colors, add this to one of the above sets:

3. 10 tube, granulating colors, Jean Haines set - 5 ml, ~$76  Link

For those of you who want to know, these are my favorites:

Watercolors: (all Daniel Smith brand unless specified) 

1. Cadmium Yellow Light Hue or Hansa Yellow

2. Quinacridone Gold, New Gamboge or Indian Yellow 

3. Quinacridone Red

4. Ultramarine Blue Light (Holbein brand)

5. Manganese Blue Hue or Peacock Blue (Holbein brand)

6. Sap Green (optional- you can mix any greens, but this is really handy if you are going to paint landscapes or florals)

7. Sepia, Transparent Oxide Brown or other dark brown

8. Titanium White if you’d like to create opaque pastel colors.

Optional: 

Goethite or Burgundy Yellow Ochre, Cascade Green , Payne’s Gray, Sodalite, Zoisite or other gray 

I like the Daniel Smith brand because it is high quality and it is manufactured in Seattle.  I recommend you don’t buy Sennelier or M. Graham watercolors as they have honey in them which means they don’t dry and will run in your palette if you travel with your paints. Artist grade paints have more pigment and create richer colors than student grade paints. 

4. Water containers - 2

I like wide-mouthed, glass salsa jars - keep the lids to protect jars from cats and dust. I also use a large plastic container from Costco that used to hold cashews. Whatever works for you. Nice to have one jar with only clean water, and a second jar for rinsing your brushes. If the sink is far way, you may want to have two buckets nearby- one with clean water and one to dump your dirty water into.

5.  Brushes 

You will need a small round brush, a medium round brush and a1/4" or 1/2" flat or angled flat. 

Rosemary brushes: This is a great family-owned company and you'll find high quality brushes for all mediums. Despite paying for shipping from England, their prices are very affordable.

 1. Here is a link to a beginner set 

 2. an affordable larger set that mimics sable or 

3. this very nice sable set. 

These are affiliate links, and I get a tiny amount towards buying my own brushes, with no additional cost to you if you use these links. Thank you!  

I also listed 2 brush sets in the Dick Blick supply list:

1. Da Vinci Casaneo Synthetic Squirrel Watercolor Brush - Assorted, Set of 3, Link

 2. Princeton Velvetouch Series 3950 Synthetic Brushes - Exclusively Ours, Short Handle, Set of 4 Link

7. Brush Holder 

At home, I just use any mug/jar to hold my brushes, but if you are going out with your paints you will need a brush holder. In a pinch you can use a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels. Fold one end, put your brushes in, fold the other end. A better option: Art Alternatives, folding, long or short handle versions - link 

8. Paper Towels, sponge or towel for wiping your brush and lifting paint. 

My favorite paper towel is Viva - Signature cloth- it is thick and has no textured design that could accidentally leave an impression on your paper (their other surface, Multi-surface cloth, has too much texture). Available at most large grocery stores or Amazon. Other artists use blue shop towels. Viva link

9. Spray bottle and hair dryer