Why Choose Watercolor Painting?
Watercolor painting is a favorite among many artists for several reasons. Its fluidity and the ability to mix and layer colors effortlessly allow you to create paintings with depth and vibrancy. Unlike other mediums, watercolor encourages experimentation with washes, color blending, and even spontaneous texture effects. This makes it especially appealing to beginners, as there is plenty of room for learning and growth.
One of the unique aspects of watercolor is its transparency. The pigment sits lightly on the paper, allowing the white of the paper to shine through and create natural luminosity in your work. The unpredictable nature of the medium—how the paint flows, spreads, and blends—adds an element of excitement and discovery to the process. Watercolor allows you to express mood and atmosphere with just a few brushstrokes, making it one of the most dynamic forms of artistic expression.
Starting with a Premade Kit
For many beginners, choosing the right materials can be overwhelming. The wide array of options can make it difficult to know where to start. A great solution is to purchase a premade kit, which contains all the essential tools you need to begin your watercolor journey. These kits are thoughtfully curated to help you focus on developing your skills, rather than stressing over which materials to buy.
Royal-Langnickel Watercolour Wooden Box Kit - 32 Pieces
This all-in-one kit includes everything a beginner could need to start watercolor painting, packed in a beautifull wooden box.
With this kit, you'll have a selection of colors, brushes, and tools that allow you to experiment and explore various techniques. The quality of the brushes ensures a smooth and controlled painting experience, while the palette and guide booklet help you develop your color mixing skills.
DeSerres Watercolour Kit - 24 Half Pans
This kit offers another excellent option for beginners, especially for those who prefer watercolors in pans.
The compact design of this kit makes it easy to carry and store, making it ideal for outdoor painting sessions or travel. The refillable water brush allows for convenient water control, perfect for on-the-go watercolorists. Plus, with 24 vibrant colors at your disposal, you'll have an ample palette to experiment with a variety of hues and tones.
Watercolor Paint: Choosing the Right Colors
Watercolor paints are available in tubes or pans, and each has its own advantages. Tubes provide a rich, concentrated color that can be mixed with water to achieve a variety of tones, while pans offer more convenience and portability for outdoor painting.
Essential Colors for Beginners
For a balanced and versatile watercolor palette, it's important to include both primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) and secondary colors (orange, green, and purple). Below is a list of essential colors to start with:
- Hansa Yellow Medium: A bright, warm yellow ideal for creating light washes and mixing with other colors to create a range of hues.
- Cadmium Red Medium: A vibrant red that works well for creating both warm and cool mixtures.
- Ultramarine Blue: A classic blue with a deep, rich tone, perfect for skies, water, and shadows.
- Alizarin Crimson: A dark red that adds depth and drama to your paintings, perfect for shadows or cooler hues.
- Permanent Green: A natural green that works well for landscapes, foliage, and adding balance to your palette.
- Ivory Black: A medium black ideal for adding shadow and depth to your work.
For premium quality watercolors, Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors offer unmatched lightfastness and a rich variety of pigments. Known for their unique Primatek colors (made from natural mineral pigments) and Luminescent colors (which shift in the light), these paints provide professional artists with endless possibilities. For beginners, the Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolours offer vibrant colors and excellent performance, perfect for experimenting with different techniques.
Choosing the Right Paper for Watercolor
Watercolor paper is designed specifically to handle the amount of water used in watercolor painting. Choosing the right paper is crucial, as it will impact how your paint behaves and the final texture of your artwork.
DeSerres Watercolour Pad - Portrait
A high-quality watercolor pad is essential for beginners to ensure the best painting experience. The DeSerres Watercolour Pad is made from a 25% cotton blend that offers excellent absorption and a smooth texture for both beginner and advanced painters. The 200–300 g/m² weight ensures that the paper can hold up to heavy washes without warping or buckling.
It's also FSC-certified, meaning it is made from sustainable materials. The portrait format of the pad gives you plenty of space to experiment with different compositions and techniques. Whether you're practicing washes or fine details, this pad is a great value for those starting with watercolor.
Brushes: Selecting the Right Tools
Brushes play an important role in how you apply watercolor to paper, and having a variety of brush shapes and sizes gives you more creative freedom. When starting out, it's helpful to have a few different types of brushes in your kit.
Essential Brush Types
- Round Brushes: These brushes are perfect for creating both fine details and broader strokes. The pointed tip allows for precision, while the belly of the brush holds plenty of paint and water for controlled washes.
- Flat Brushes: Flat brushes are great for covering large areas, creating washes, and making broad, even strokes. They're also useful for creating sharp edges and adding texture.
- Wash Brushes: Wash brushes, often large and with soft bristles, are ideal for laying down smooth, even washes of color over larger sections of your artwork.
For fine control and fluidity, the DeSerres Round, Pure Red Sable Paintbrush is an excellent choice. Made from red sable, it offers exceptional color-holding capacity and is perfect for fine work, washes, and detailed lines. Its superior quality ensures long-lasting use, making it an essential tool in any watercolor kit.
Mediums for Watercolor
Watercolor painting relies primarily on water, but there are also various mediums available that can change the texture, finish, and flow of the paint. Mediums help control the amount of water in your paints, adjust transparency, and alter the final appearance of your work.
Winsor & Newton Gum Arabic
Gum Arabic is a commonly used watercolor medium that slows down drying time, adds gloss, and increases transparency. It also helps control how watercolor paint spreads on the paper. It is often used in glazing techniques where one layer of paint is applied over a dry layer to build depth.
Additional Tools: Palettes, Pencils, and More
Watercolor artists often use extra tools to aid in the painting process. These tools allow for greater flexibility and creativity.
Palettes
A palette is essential for mixing and holding watercolors. The DeSerres 28-Well Palette is an excellent choice for beginners, providing ample space to mix colors and experiment with different combinations. Having a well-organized palette makes the painting process smoother and helps avoid color contamination.
Watercolor Pencils
For precision and additional detail, Faber-Castell Goldfaber Aqua Watercolour Pencils are a great addition to your toolkit. These water-soluble pencils allow for a more controlled application of pigment, and their soft, intense color makes them perfect for fine details. They're particularly useful for creating intricate outlines, adding texture, or adding finishing touches to your watercolor paintings.
Conclusion
Starting with watercolor painting is an exciting and fulfilling artistic journey. By choosing the right materials—whether it's a premade kit, high-quality paints, or the right brushes and paper—you can set yourself up for success and enjoy the learning process.
Take your time to explore different techniques, experiment with various color combinations, and most importantly, have fun! Watercolor is a medium full of surprises, and the best way to improve is to keep practicing and discovering what works best for you.
Are you ready to begin your watercolor adventure? Explore the wide range of supplies available at DeSerres and start creating your masterpiece today!
