Paper:

Canson Watercolor pads - good beginning student-grade paper; (Michaels/Hobby Lobby/Blick)

Arches 100% cotton paper - artist grade; best for projects, 140 lb.; available Blick Art/Michaels

*Remember to swatch your paint on scrap paper before adding to your paper.

Brushes:

Round brushes - size 4 & 8 (or 10); get a small and larger brush to start

Princeton Velvetouch is what you used in the workshop (Michaels/cheaper at Blick)

*Do NOT leave the brush sitting inside the water jar.  This will bend the tip and you will no longer have a nice point.

Paint:

Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketcher’s Pocket Box - best student-grade pan set (Michaels/Blick)

Daniel Smith Watercolor in tubes - my favorite professional paints but pricey (Blick Art/Michaels)

Miejo Mission (Amazon)- also a very good professional grade paint

There are other professional grade paint available (i.e., Sennelier, M Graham, Winsor & Newton) but I have not tried them out yet.

*Start with dry paint pans since it is easier to control how much pigment you add to water.  If you purchase tubes, squeeze out a dollop of paint and let dry.

Blue Painter’s Tape:

This is for taping down the paper to a board or table in order to prevent buckling.

*If you do not tape it down you can always flatten out your art piece. Just lightly wet the backside using a damp sponge, sandwich between wax paper for protection and place under heavy books. Let dry overnight.

Palette:

A ceramic dish works best because the paint won't bead on the surface. But a plastic one works fine too.

*I rarely wash my ceramic palette since you can reactivate dried paint with water. 

Jar of Water:

We only used one jar at the workshop but most artists use two- one for rinsing off dirty brushes and the other remains clean for dipping the brush to make a new color.  There are some artists that use one for rinsing off warm colors (red, yellow, orange, pinks) and the other for cool colors (blue, purple, green).

*Remember to get fresh water when needed.  Dirty brown water will affect your painting.

Sketching pencil & eraser:

Draw lightly on watercolor paper.  Use HB or 2B sketching pencil.  I only use a kneaded eraser because it is gentle on the paper (Prismacolor kneaded eraser is my fave).

*FYI, once water touches the pencil mark then it cannot be erased.

Paper towel and/or rag

Watercolor pencil (optional) 

Happy painting!