Beginner Watercolour Supply Guide!

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Etchr Lab Cold Pressed Sketchbook: etchrlab.com/collections/sket...
The following are Amazon affiliate links of all my supplies that I use. By using these links, I receive a small commission of every purchase (AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU). This helps to ensure I can keep my channel going! Thank you so much for all of your support!
PAINT:
Winsor & Newton Professional Tubes:
To find the colour you are looking for, click the link and select the colour from the drop down menu under Colour Name:
USA - amzn.to/3LTuCQf
CANADA - amzn.to/3xZ12Dg
The colours in my palette:
Lemon yellow, Cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, cadmium orange, Winsor red, alizarin crimson, perylene maroon, opera rose, permanent rose, quinacridone magenta, perylene violet, Winsor violet (dioxazine), olive green, hookers green, sap green, perylene green, Winsor blue, French ultramarine, phthalate turquoise, cobalt turquoise light, cobalt blue, indigo, Paynes gray, lamp black, neutral tint, sepia, burnt umber, and brown madder.
Winsor & Newton Cotman tube set:
Sets are a great option if choosing colours overwhelms you. These are great options:
USA - amzn.to/3E0ER3f
CANADA - amzn.to/3SxOKd6
Top 5 W&N Cotman Colours To Start With As A Beginner:
(The are the individual colours I would start with when purchasing individual tubes)
- Permanent Rose
- Cadmium Yellow
- Turquoise
- Cadmium Red Deep
- Hooker Green Dark
My next 5 choices would be:
- Dioxazine Purple
- Sap Green
- Prussian Blue
- Burnt Umber
- Black
PAPER SUGGESTIONS:
Arches Cold Pressed Watercolour PAPER:
USA - amzn.to/3DWiPPj
CANADA- amzn.to/2VFAYYa
Wonder forest sketchbook: USA - amzn.to/3Ch6ST3 CANADA - amzn.to/3UK9vny
Paul Rubens watercolour Sketchbook: USA - amzn.to/3PGdMoy
CANADA - amzn.to/3ocNYES
Paul Rubens 50% Watercolour Paper: USA - amzn.to/2TDKyzo
CANADA - amzn.to/3zIZeg7
BRUSHES:
Princeton Snap brushes: USA - amzn.to/3CeogrC
CANADA - amzn.to/3LNpNrL
EXTRAS:
Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser: CANADA- amzn.to/37yIKvZ USA-amzn.to/2J3aM9d
Tombow Pencils: CANADA- amzn.to/3baUirj USA- amzn.to/2L5y3bx
Paint Palette:
USA- amzn.to/2UFO9s8 CANADA- amzn.to/2UF5npv
Music: Type of music: R&B & Soul
Mood: Happiness
Soundcloud: / enjoy
Download: theartistunion.com/tracks/2931b6

[@debmarie55]

Good suggestions. As someone who started my watercolor journey 6 years ago, do as Emma suggested and don't spend a lot on your supplies at first. You may find that watercolor isn't your thing. You can always upgrade. The one suggestion I would change is the brushes. I would definitely suggest the Princeton Snap brushes to start. If your brushes don't have a nice point, you will get frustrated trying to follow tutorials.

[@jsunbeam]

Huh? Princeton Snap brushes are exactly what she recommended at around 16:00.

[@annenglish2935]

I started with Winsor Newton Cotman... actually started with Arteza... ha! Now little by little kept upgrading ... once I liked it! I just couldn't believe how beautiful it was to use yourself but also a bit more difficult than I thought! Almost 70 and enjoying the journey and the fabulous lessons from Emma!!! God bless you from a California Gramma ❤️

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

I agree Ann that Cotman are good, and they go a long way. Some of the new Japanese colors are more intense though, like Kuretake, and they make a good addition to a beginner’s palette 😊 Hi from a Gramma over the pond!

[@annenglish2935]

Hi Diane!!! Love your videos and keen insight!!! Just bought a set of Kuratake to use along with my granddaughters! Big set & good price!!! Cheery hello from across the pond...

[@maremacd]

Pre-beginner here. 😂 I am just looking at videos and wondering if this is something I would enjoy in retirement. I’ve never painted before, so the whole thing will be new to me. Could somebody explain how it is safe to use cadmium in paint? The first set she recommends contains cadmium red and cadmium yellow.

[@lyndanickerson1373]

I just bought a set of Ohuhu Watercolour and I swatched them today! Hello from Vancouver Island BC 🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@taylorholloway__]

I'm so happy to see you posting so often! It definitely motivates me to paint more.

[@mumzthewurd1]

I’ve seen the tubes everywhere but I had no idea how to use them. Thanks!

[@1yoshitube]

I definitely added watercolor colored pencils to my supply list! They’re gorgeous and I saw in a video that instead of outlining a picture in pencil before you color, draw the outline in water color colored pencil. You need to find a color that would be similar to the color you’re going to wash with but the pencil line literally disappears like MAGIC and it makes it so much easier!!

[@brandyfoster3432]

Thank u for this tip

[@frithar]

I was up until after midnight because your videos are so addictive. Thank you!!

[@Winstonsmom]

I really prefer watercolour blocks for paper. They are so convenient and dry beautifully flat. DeSerres has good pricing and free delivery starts at a relatively low price point.

[@judysteunenberg6428]

Thank you for making these amazing tutorials. I just started dabbling with watercolour this summer, not knowing what I was doing and having all sorts of problems but loving it anyway. Then I found you on instagram and started watching your videos and they are so helpful. I had bought a set of the hard pallet paints but am now starting to buy some better quality supplies. I actually feel like I can do this now. Thank you for being so detailed in your instruction, I look forward to making my way through all your videos.

[@tinis-channel8244]

Fan from Germany. Love your channel and your content.

[@kerryhall7506]

Hi Emma here in Australia the A4 is $60 and for the A3 it’s $100 a lot different in price as to where you are cheers Kerry

[@maybee...]

Thank you for mentioning Windsor Newton, they are my favorites as well, I have Daniel Smith, I like them too.

[@annenglish2935]

Thank 😊 you Emma! Just linked to Amazon and bought the Wonder Forest sketchbook!!! Like that you have recommended it!!! I have an Etchr, but since I'm not that experienced, I keep saving that and my Arches til I'm better. Everyone keeps telling me it's like you're playing with kid's plastic golf set when learning to golf... except for making charts and swatching I have to keep it in my granddaughter's supplies! You're the one that inspired me to try watercolor over a year ago... after viewing your tutorials for a good year before that!!! God bless you and your sweet family! With love from a California Gramma ❤️

[@artericson]

Great suggestions for a beginner watercolorist. I love that watercolor is so portable!

[@flyinghaggertys9362]

Great video ! I love having these to link friends to when they ask about starting watercolor. ❤

[@anuhjarpe1812]

Thank you Emma, you have learnt me so much about colors and mixing them 💖💖💖

[@carolbrown3054]

Thank you! This video was just what I needed! Great timing! ❤

[@GrandmaMuggy]

Thanks Emma! Great information. Just get the basics and get started. It’s a wonderful journey!

[@devonmccarroll6509]

I got the Mei Liang 36 pallet when I started a few months ago, and it's wonderful! Then I bought the Paul Rubens (Mei Liang is Paul Rubens beginner set that is less colorfast), and it's fantastic as well! I wanted the Paul Rubens set for paintings that would be set out and exposed to light, as opposed to doing greeting cards.

[@LuchaCatDIY]

Thanks Mike. Beautiful work I love your workspace

[@amandahodgin9316]

Thanks for talking about the Paul Reubens paper. I have been wanting a watercolour sketchbook for ages and they either have cellulose paper in them or are really expensive. Decided to order one and give it a try. Threw a Medeen cold press block in 100% cotton to see how it works, too.

[@cordulapieper3858]

Oh please, could you draw with us the picture with the rose mountains from your sketchbook? 😍🙏

[@beccabrinkley1230]

Thank you thank you! I just ordered the last 6 of the top 10 you recommend and they were 40% off at our local art place. I grabbed some brushes on Amazon too. So excited to start!

[@sandrabeasley3482]

Thank you for these tutorials. I’m a beginner and this is very helpful.

[@rebeccafrancis8227]

Thank you so much for this information!!! You have been very helpful!!

[@annsmith4739]

Hi Emma thanks for another great video lv Ann uk 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧❤️❤️❤️

[@marimarmaranti2670]

Just in time. Thanks a lot Emma!!

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

Such great suggestions! I’m not new to watercolor, but still, this was great just to know some things I could try

[@carollegros6304]

I have the Paul Rubens and Mei Ling and some Winston and Newton, Paper is so expensive. Lol. But so true is better Thanks for review

[@roxannerosecrans4441]

Thanks for being so honest And did use Walmart brushes, ugh just got some Princeton brushes👍😊

[@purenatures4755]

Thank u for this informative video to help out budding/beginner watercolour enthusiasts.

[@chantalmassin1756]

Thank you for your awesome advice

[@patriciamoar8440]

So grateful for this today. I need to be using better paint and paper but i love and use them all Emma.

[@kineiya]

Bee watercolor paper is 30% cotton and is 140lbs 300 and nice paper for beginner's

[@timh7246]

I didn't see your pan set recommendation mentioned in your supply list. Maybe you wanna add that? Mei Liang pallet 36 colors (or 48 if you want to add the metallics). I found at a decent price on Amazon.

[@karenpruis501]

Thank you so much for this video.

[@bonniedennis7961]

Thanks for such an informative video. I really like the Princeton Snap Brushes which I purchased about 2 years ago because you suggested them. They are still working well and still have good points on them. I find I use the 6, 2, and 1 a lot because I usually paint on 4x6 paper (sometimes 5x7). I often cut large paper down to the size I want, so even though Arches is expensive, it goes a long way. And even very inexpensive paper like Artist Loft (at Michaels) works for painting where I’m doing more of a drawing with watercolor and pens. I really like how you say to use what you have. It’s really good advice. Thanks.

[@amph4474]

I wish I had known this before I bought a bunch of random supplies.

[@maryhazlett]

Thanks, Emma. You don't mention Hahnemühle paper. It now comes in 100% cotton, but even the blend is good. I tend to buy sketchbooks because I can use the same paper at home or out; sadly, Arches doesn't have sketchbooks. A decent, relatively inexpensive brand of brushes is Princeton, the velvetouch and Neptune lines. And, several good US, non-Amazon online stores besides Dick Blick are Cheap Joe's, St. Louis Art Supply, and Jerry's Artarama. Hope it's ok to add some sources here.

[@rgporter1957]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[@maryjones3369]

Excellent information..thank you sooooo much❤

[@karendirmish2696]

Excellent video, I’ve watched it several times! My question is, where to get the Etcher Sketchbook! I’m is Elmhurst Ill USA! I have used Arches paper and love it! Thanks for always teaching me something new whenever I watch one of your videos! Karen Dirmish

[@ductape723]

Etchr sells them online through their website in 3-packs, but you can also find singles on Blick, Art Supply Warehouse, and Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff if you’re not ready to commit to 3 😂 the price differences between the different websites are very minor (like difference of cents minor) 😊

[@antondoorman5214]

Good suggestions. But is there much difference between the winston & newton proffesional and cotman except the price. Kind regards Anton from the Netherlands

[@EmmaLefebvre]

Honestly why I first compared them, I couldn’t tell much of a difference. Now being a bit more experienced I’d say I notice that the professional are a bit more saturated in colour. They use less binder in the mix. But honestly, to the untrained eye, you probably couldn’t tell

[@mehreenali5475]

Thanks for these suggestions. How many brushes and what sizes are good for beginners?

[@EmmaLefebvre]

My go to brush sizes are 12 and 6 round!

[@carolporter8148]

Very informative, thank you!

[@karing2171]

Great video! Thanks!

[@LoriF25403]

I got rid of all my Winsor Newton pro and the cotman paints as soon as I was able to see that other paints were able to give better color with less paint. I'll say that I got my Winsor Newtons paint in the clearance section of Michaels so it wasn't as if I wasted a lot of money to get them. I always recommend the Sennelier French Artists' Travel Watercolor Set, 8 Count it's only $22 US on Amazon and the colors are the best

[@sayurisama]

That was really interresting! I let the tubepaints dry first too, and that was a good suggestion, because I tried it first without letting them dry and it was a mess😅 I bought recently another cotton cold pressed paperpad, but from another Brand and it felt like the paper didn't soak my paint up... it was only a few bucks cheaper than the Arches pad, but it wasn't nearly as good. I thought as long the paper is 100% cotton and cold pressed it would be fine but that isn't the Case right? I would love to try the Wonder forest sketchbook, but sadly it isn't available at Amazon in Germany😖

[@maryannhydinger8961]

Hi Emma, thank you so much for this video. A friend recommended I start with M. Graham paints. Can I mix M. Graham paints with Winsor Newton on my palette?

[@carolyncarter6987]

Thanks Emma. After your first video on beginner supplies I found Princeton Snap brushes at Joann Fabrics! Using my coupons for 50% off allowed me to buy my first three sizes quite inexpensively. Michaels is still the best source for paper especially when buying Arches on a BoGo special or when I have a 40% off regular price coupon. Plus I get an additional 10% off for being a Senior citizen. One question I have: Could you give us a tutorial on Mop brushes and which brand you prefer. Also, do you like Black Velvet Silver series brushes or are they overhyped???

[@annenglish2935]

Winsor Newton Professional watercolor 24 pan set is $65 on US Amazon today!!!

[@NWalker2010]

Great video! Can you share the scanner information with us?

[@user-xi1ey6fy6f]

hola Emma, muchas gracias por compartir. Quiero comprar Mai Lang, W y N. En las referencias de tú página al checar para la compra no lo tienen. Lo malo de buscar fuera de tú página si los tienen aunque a un precio más alto.

[@janetsmith9380]

Thanks!

[@EmmaLefebvre]

Thank you so much!!

[@amandastratton8242]

A good video Emma , thank you and very informative xx

[@annsmith5625]

⚾️ thanks, this was informative

[@sandjune2753]

hmm I wouldn't recommend Cotman, it can put you off as they are weak. you better off getting a good 12 pan set of professional paints to keep you interested.

[@DarylCreates]

❤❤❤

[@MarieM-PinkArt]

Im starting to try lettering with watercolor,what brush is best?

[@EmmaLefebvre]

I’d say try a size 2 round! That’s what I use!

[@MarieM-PinkArt]

@@EmmaLefebvre thank you I will give it a try 😘

[@carolyncarter6987]

Could you do a tutorial on squirrel Mop brushes and how to use them please?

[@EmmaLefebvre]

I’ve actually never used them. I also prefer synthetic brushes. I also like stiffer snappier brushes to work with

[@brandyfoster3432]

Question- What is the purpose of a sponge in a watercolor palette? I've seen several pallets have a sponge but i have get to see anyone explain what it is used for. I've always been interested in using watercolors and just recently decided to take the leap & start learning. If anyone wants to share any tips or had any other good video recommendations, all would be welcome & greatly appreciated. Thanks in advanced 👍🏻

[@barbaragibson612]

You can use the sponge like a paper towel to absorb water, or you can use it to lift paint, or to give the paint texture. I'm sure there are other uses but those are the ones I know.

[@brandyfoster3432]

@@barbaragibson612 Sorry, I hadn't been on in awhile so I didn't know someone had answered my question. I appreciate the info. I haven't been able to paint for over 1.5 months, I fell, dislocated my knee, & almost my back again. Ouch

[@VicaLegionaria]

i uso paint von gogh dare do good

[@JessicaCEP]

I might be the only person on the planet who doesn’t like arches…