Getting Started With Watercoloring

I’ve had a couple people reach out & ask how I got started with watercoloring, so I wanted to share a few things that were helpful for me in case you want to try this too.

I’ve been known to jump into art projects that I thought would be hobbies a little too frequently (i.e. one time I decided I wanted to become an “embosser” — I still have those supplies and they are super fun but not something I do regularly). And don’t ask me how many markers I own — sharpies, hand lettering, tombow, etc, etc. Trying to be mindful of my tendency, I wanted to start veeeery small when it came to watercolor 1) so it didn’t take up too much space and 2) so it wasn’t very costly. 

SO I will be recommending a “starter-see-how-you-like-it” supply list as well as an “I’m-committed-let’s-do-this” list. As for myself, I’m somewhere in the middle but one day hope to own all the winsor and newton watercolor paints my heart desires 🙂

What you’ll need:

• watercolor paper
• brushes (size 2 & 6 to start)
• 2 jars (one for rinsing warm colors + one for cool)
• paints (palette or tubes)
• palette for mixing

Starter supply list:

• Paints
• Tube Paints (because I found it easier to mix with wet paint – these are what I currently use in the plastic palette recommended later in this post)
• Brushes (these hold water so when you squeeze water comes out, which makes it easy to change the shade!)

Committed supply list:

• Princeton size 6 brush
• Princeton size 2 brush
• Winsor and Newton Paints

• Watercolor palette (recommend this regardless of level!)
• Artist’s Loft Watercolor Paper
• Canson Watercolor Paper
• Travel size kit (I plan to get this in the next few months)

Book: Everyday Watercolor – I own this and used it to learn basic strokes, color theory and how to paint leaves, etc. I’m not finished with it but plan to work through as I learn to paint things other than flowers lol.

Youtube Videos:

• Watercolor Tutorial: Painting Spring Flowers Step By Step (Rose, Peony, and Leaves)
• Watercolor Tutorial: Step by Step How to Paint a Rose
• Watercolor Tutorial: Paint Simple Leaves Step by Step PART 1 (Stems, Basics, Supplies) (Step 2 and 3 videos are also available)
• Every watercolor flower you’ll ever need (different artist but still helpful!)
• Every watercolor leaf you’ll ever need

Tips:

• Practice! It’s so easy for me to put off watercoloring. I just recently (like last weekend) started painting again after putting it off for a few weeks. I kept thinking I wasn’t going to paint good enough or long enough, so why bother? For me the hardest part is setting aside time to allow myself to paint and mess up and start again. It’s worth it and you WILL get better the more you paint.
• Watch videos to get you started! If this is your first time watercoloring, you’re probably not going to be fantastic at it on day 1. I am a below-average painter but it’s so fun and relaxing and it doesn’t really matter what the end product looks like. Videos & books can definitely help, though, if you want to understand basic color theory or how to draw a few shapes.
• Don’t let all the options of what to buy overwhelm you. I started with a $7 palette from target, some random paper I found in my craft box and a brush that was not a watercolor brush (again, found in the box & it was probably 10 years old). It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just start.
• Follow real artists who do this for a living & can offer classes if you want to really learn 🙂

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you 🙂