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Watercolor Painting Equipment Resources for Watercolor Painting and Sketching

To start painting, you’ll need watercolor painting equipment. Whether you’re painting outside or in your studio, the resources below will help you build your kit.

Watercolor Supplies
Urban Sketching Supplies
Books

Favorite Watercolor Supplies

Some of my favorite supplies for Watercolor painting.

Watercolor Paper

Arches Watercolor Block

Arches Watercolor Blocks

Arches is the product of five centuries of paper making experience. Arches watercolor papers are mould made in France, with 100% cotton fiber content. They are acid-free, pH-neutral, gelatin-sized, and air-dried. Sheets are 140 lb (300 gsm) weight, with 20 sheets per block. Several sizes are also available.
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Brushes

Isabey Original Siberian Blue Squirrel Quill Mop

Isabey Squirrel Quill Mop

The finest Siberian blue squirrel is unsurpassed in color absorption, making it a superb brush for large watercolor washes. It has a large, delicate point for unique brush strokes and line work. The genuine goose quill ferrule is hand tied with brass wires onto a natural wood handle. Available in 12 sizes and a pocket size here.
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Watercolor Paint

Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors

Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors

Available in an astounding range of more than 235 colors, Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors are made by hand in Seattle, Washington. This superior-quality watercolor line includes historical hues, amazing earths, and some of the brightest and boldest quinacridones ever formulated.
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My Favorites for Urban Sketching

Urban Sketching is sketching done on location and not from a photo or memory. It usually takes a minimal amount of supplies and even time but you make the kit your own. This year I’ve been spending some time introducing Urban Sketching to people around the world and I want to share the tools we’ve been using. 

Make the kit your own! Customize it with your favorite tools. Not one kit is the same.

Featured

The Sketch Book

Carry with you what fits. If you carry a small bag, get a small book. Make sure that it’s not an inconvenience to carry it around with you all day. You can have other books that are larger for days when you’re going out just to sketch but day-to-day may be more manageable with a book that fits your everyday bag.

The Waterproof Ink

These are my favorite brands for urban sketching. They’re waterproof and dry quick. 

The Travel Brushes

Water brushes are great on the go. I’ve been using the Medium and Large brushes in my watercolor kits but they are available in a wide variety of tips.

The Travel Palette

Whether its DIY or store bought, make sure your palette is the right size to travel with.

Other ways to watercolor

Last year I purchased a set of these Winsor & Newton Watercolor markers and have brought them out for sketchers to try. I’ve gotten mixed reviews and I’d recommend trying one for a couple of dollars rather than investing heavily into the set. Scroll through and hover over a color to view its name and price.

Winsor & Newton Watercolor Markers beautify your pages with highly pigmented, lightfast color in a spectrum of 36 brilliant shades. These markers have a double-ended design that includes both a fine point tip and a flexible brush tip, enabling techniques from subtle to precise. The colors in the Winsor & Newton Watercolor Marker line mirror — and are fully intermixable with — Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors. They also work well with all watercolor mediums. Available individually or in a set of 6 or 12.
Winsor & Newton Watercolor Markers beautify your pages with highly pigmented, lightfast color in a spectrum of 36 brilliant shades. These markers have a double-ended design that includes both a fine point tip and a flexible brush tip, enabling techniques from subtle to precise. The colors in the Winsor & Newton Watercolor Marker line mirror — and are fully intermixable with — Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors. They also work well with all watercolor mediums. Available individually or in a set of 6 or 12.
Winsor & Newton watercolor marker

More Favorites

Derwent Water Soluble Sketching Mixed Media (8 Count)

  • A great introduction to the world of water soluble sketching media
  • Create bold strokes and precise lines
  • Blocks are used for sweeping tone and blend easily
  • Pencils add fine detail and highlights
  • Pack includes 3 Sketching Pencils (HB, 4B, 8B), 2 Graphite Sticks (2B, 6B), a paintbrush, pencil sharpener, and a plastic eraser
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