A Beginner’s Guide to Watercolour: The Five Essential Tools You Need to Start Painting
You may have noticed that I am rather new to watercolour painting! Through my daughter and artist friend Jennifer (read A Mentor Appears!), I found that beautiful colourful adventures were waiting for me in this genre. The best news about starting watercolour painting is that you don’t need to invest in a gazillion new products, as a few carefully selected materials will get better results from the get-go. You can read another Sara’s Stories post for top art shops here and online, however, here’s what I (and my teachers) would recommend:
1. Quality paper
It’s actually really important! Low-quality paper buckles, tears, and makes your colours look dull, even if you are the most skilled artist in the world. The best paper to look for is 100% cotton paper, at least 300 gsm in weight. You can use either cold-pressed (with natural indentations in the paper for a gentle texture), or hot-pressed (very smooth, like ‘ironed’ paper for finer detail). Another option is a watercolour sketchbook (see the image below).
2. Artist-quality paints
Initially, I found it really surprising that you don’t need every colour under the sun to produce colour-filled work. Learning colour mixing from the three primary colours is a great starting point, as knowledgeable mixing will produce almost any colour that you want. It’s such fun doing this, and there are online or in-person courses available. A small palette of six to eight colours is a great starting point, but make sure that you buy the best quality paints your money can buy.
3. Use brushes that hold water and their shape
Well-chosen brushes will be your best friends. Selecting brushes that hold plenty of water and retain their shape makes all the difference. Shapes include a multipurpose round brush (size ~6 or ~8), a flat brush for large washes, and a fine liner brush for more detailed work. An important “don’t do this” message (from experience) is: don’t leave your brushes sitting in jars of water between painting sessions, as the shape and integrity of your brushes may change. Your fine liner straight brush may end up with a parrot nose at the end! Rinse them thoroughly after use and dry flat, i.e., take really good care of them ;-)
4. The FREE fundamentals – plate, water, cloth
These are probably already in your home! They include a large clean white plate, so that you have room to mix your colours; and two jars of water – one with fresh water to mix colours or to wet your paper, and the other for rinsing your brush. Top up the jars regularly with fresh water. Also, keep a paper towel, old flannel or cotton rag handy to dab up excess water.
5. Plus, patience, perseverance, a positive attitude, and time to practice
Watercolour painting rewards regular, short, regular sessions rather than occasional or long ones. If you can set up an area in your home just for you and your art, you are more likely to spend 10-15 minutes a day or a few times a week visiting your art hub. Buy a couple of ‘how-to’ books, join online tutorials or sign up for classes run by artists who can provide hands-on help or try Gordon Harris, The Ribbon Rose, The French Art Shop, National Art Supplies, and Takapuna Art Supplies, etc, for knowledgeable advice.
My key recommendation is not to worry about what you produce – just have fun doing it. The more you practice, the more you’ll learn how much water, paint, and pressure to apply to achieve the style you want. Roll your shoulders, take some deep breaths, open your mind, and dive in!
Best wishes, Sara
Looking for something special? Visit my Christmas Collection for lovingly painted or crafted Christmas gifts!
Explore more of the Sara Meade Design Shop to find exquisite watercolour prints, elegant festive felt ornaments, stunning 2026 calendars, and a gorgeous range of greeting cards, plus much more, proudly created here in Aotearoa.
Shop early to make sure your favourites arrive in time for Christmas!
My creative hub
A (cropped) example of my watercolour work station, with watercolour paints in a tin, a plate/palette for mixing colours, a watercolour sketchbook, and a background A3 piece of card that could tell many stories! Paintbrushes, water jars and cloth are AWOL. The finished image is available to purchase (A4/A5), and shows the front and back of the daisy duo images having magically swapped sides!
The finished product!
The front and back of my Daisy Duo. I love the layering of the back of the bud and its bright, sunny disposition.
