So, you want to start painting with watercolour but you have no idea where to start, or what art supplies you need. We've got you.
It is easy to get overwhelmed by the number of people out there saying to buy this and buy that. Surprisingly, no-one tells you that you can get started with under S$20-30. Watercolour as a medium of art is typically quite expensive as you get more advanced, but it doesn't have to be. This blog post has you covered.
So, what are the top 5 supplies that you need to get started?
1. Watercolour paints.
Seems obvious, right? But woah, the range that is available out there is insane! Have you walked into an art store and stood in an aisle with hundreds of options not knowing where to start? Well, you're not alone. Here are two of our favourites.
If as a beginner watercolour artist, you don't want to spend too much money, try out this cheap palette by Jovi, bought for S$8 at Art Friend (palette on the left below). There are a great range of colours so you don't need to mix your own to begin with, and they are bright and vibrant on paper!
If you're looking to start with slightly higher quality paints (which will cost a little over S$20), with more pigment (i.e. a more opaque look on paper), try a Koi palette (top right) - the 24 colour palette is perfect. Buy it from another of our favourite art shops called Umi Strong (but you can get this one at Art Friend too). As a beginner, it is friendly, durable, lightweight (to carry around), and the colours don't fade as fast over time compared to the Jovi palette. It also comes with a water-brush (more on this later), in-built removable palette and sponges to clean your brushes.
Pro tip: Ditch the paint brush that comes in the Jovi palette and don't bother using it!
2. Paper
Many websites will start explaining the distinction between hot and cold pressed paper, and while this is good to know for your knowledge...it's really not necessary when you're just starting! So, here is our recommendation on a S$6 multi-medium pad of paper by Daler & Rowney, also available at Art Friend or Umi Strong.
The pages hold up well using the paints from both the palettes mentioned above well.
Pro tip: Have a folded piece of A4 paper with you at all times so you can slot it in between pages you've just painted on - this way, colours don't run!
3. Brushes
Here's where it's easy to get carried way. Stick to a few common sizes. A round brush is the easiest to start with. There are so many to choose from, but we love the Daler & Rowney's round brushes. You can start by buying a size 5 or 6 (or both!). Below, you'll see 4 brushes that we love, and they're great for painting florals, some detail too.
Alternatively, many love water brushes (on the right below) - they're especially useful for painting on-the-go, as the water is in the barrel of the brush, and you can screw on the actual bristles separately. This particular waterbrush came with the Koi palette we talked about above, but they are available in sets - even in Daiso, for S$2!
Pro tip: Depending on what you want to paint - be it florals, or landscapes, test different brands and sizes of brushes to see what you like best.
4. Pencils, eraser, and a sharpener
Seems intuitive, doesn't it? But, not everyone can put brush to paper right from the get go. It's always useful to use a light and easily erasable pencil ranging from H-HB to do some quick sketches before you paint.
Pro tip: So you don't have to carry multiple things, try to find a combined sharpener and eraser like our red Faber Castell model below. It's great because you don't need a rubbish bin to throw away the pencil shavings immediately - it has a barrel where it gathers.
5. Tissue, and a cup
These are two items you should be able to find in your own home - kitchen roll (or any type of tissue), and a mug you don't mind dipping a paint brush into for your water mug!
Pro tip: Choose a bright coloured cup, or clearly label it so that when you have your cup of tea next to your water pot, you don't dip your brush in your tea by accident! (It's happened to the best of us...oops!).
There you go: the 5 items you need, coming to a sound total of S$20-30!
Ready to get painting? How about some basic brush strokes? Download your very own how-to guide!
