Beginning Watercolor Masterclass Art Materials Shopping Guide

Essential Starter Kit

The Brush: A single Size 8 or 10 Synthetic Round Brush. A high-quality synthetic round holds a generous amount of water while retaining a crisp, springy point, allowing it to mimic both large mop washes and ultra-fine details. And, a 1/2 inch flat brush.

• Synthetic Kolinsky Sable Watercolor Brushes
  • Size 8 Round
  • Size 10 Round
  • Size 1/2 inch Flat Stroke

The Paper: A pad of 140 lb (300 gsm) Cold-Pressed paper. It is the most versatile weight and texture, offering a perfect balance of moisture control and lovely paper grain.

• Watercolor Paper Pad, 12 Sheets
• Watercolor Paper Block, 20 Sheets

The Paint: A basic 6-color Split-Primary palette plus a few earthy tones in either pans or tubes.

6-Color Split-Primary

• Cool Yellow:
  • Lemon Yellow
• Warm Yellow:
  • Cadmium Yellow
• Cool Red:
  • Quinacridone Magenta; or
  • Permanent Rose (tends toward violet/blue)
• Warm Red:
  • Vermilion; or
  • Cadmium Red
• Cool Blue:
  • Winsor Blue (Green Shade)
• Warm Blue:
  • French Ultramarine (tends toward red/violet)

Earth Tones

• Burnt Sienna; or
• Payne’s Gray

The Masking Tools: To preserve the white paper use masking fluid, masking tape, and wax crayon.

• Masking fluid (Liquid Frisket)
• Masking or painter’s tape
• Wax crayon

Course Progress Journal:

• Watercolor Journals

Care of Tools & Materials

Brush Care

• Brush Soap
• Gum Arabic
• Brush Storage

Watercolor Paper Care

• Paper Storage Portfolios
• Paper Hygiene: Tracing Paper Protection

Your Studio Practice Lesson 1.2a

Following are art supplies mentioned in this lesson’s exercises:

Watercolor Paints

• Raw Sienna
• Raw Umber
• Yellow Ochre
• Ultramarine Blue

Tools

• Waterproof Drawing Pen
• Gray Scale View Finder