Watercolor Materials - Good, Bad and Best!
Everything you need to know about watercolor materials and where to get them
JUST ADD WATER FOR LUMINOUS COLOR
The first time I touch my brush to wet paper and saw the magic flush of beautiful color, I fell in love with watercolor. I couldn't paint at all, but I spent a lot of time having fun painting and learning. I think you'll love watercolor, too.
Watercolor is the perfect painting medium, inexpensive, non-toxic, and always ready to fit into busy schedules. Whether you want to work loose and free or produce a tight, photo-realistic painting, watercolor is a great choice.
To see my materials list at DickBlick Art Supplies -click here.
This lesson has several sections to cover all the best watercolor materials - with helpful tips and information I've learned years of testing products.
If you've found a new and exciting watercolor product, or have any questions, just post a comment at the end of each lesson.
3 Exciting New Products
1. Masking Pen - Apply your masking like writing with a pen for a no spill option. Not just for kids! Pebeo (my favorite mask) is now available in easy to use pens. (Use a masking pickup to remove - it goes on very thinly.)
2. White Ink Pen - This goes right on top of watercolor paint for any tiny white line, like hairs, or the whiskers on kittens, or to sign my work in dark areas.
3. Qor High Chroma Sample Set - The Qor brand of watercolor doesn't fade as it dries, which means you use less paint and less time and frustration getting the color saturation you want. The colors in this sample set mix well to make stunning painting.
Your Instructor
I'm a self taught artist and I love teaching!
My story is simple.
I showed a lot of talent as a child, but my parents discouraged art - a waste of time! I spent my adult life as a nurse and raised a family - pretty busy. I also kept painting.
I wanted my paintings to be realistic, but the watercolor teachers would roll their eyes and tell me, "That's not how you paint watercolors."
Despite the naysayers, I just kept going and taught myself how to paint realism, the way I wanted it, with watercolors. After years of practicing (and lots of bad paintings), I got really good.
I found that not only did I really enjoy teaching other people (and giving them the encouragement I never had), I continued to learn and improve my art through teaching others. It's a win-win!
And so, I set up this site (and my Patreon site) to encourage other people to give watercolor a try. I think it improves their life and that anyone lucky enough to be able to afford the materials and time to dabble in painting is blessed. Whether (or not) you ever turn into a master painter or just gain the admiration of your friends and family.
Watercolor is doable. The more people painting, the better the world will be. Give it a try today!
And yes, this cowboy is a watercolor painting. (Reference photo used with permission by Diana Robinson)