Simple Watercolor Materials I Recommend for Beginners

Simple Watercolor Materials I Recommend for Beginners

When people first begin watercolor painting, they often ask me what materials they should start with. The truth is, you do not need expensive supplies at the beginning. What matters most is enjoying the process and painting consistently. Still, a few good materials can make watercolor much more enjoyable and help colors shine beautifully on paper.

One of my favorite tools is a ceramic watercolor palette. Unlike plastic palettes, ceramic keeps colors clean and allows the paint to mix smoothly and naturally. It is simple, elegant, and easy to wash after painting. Here is the palette I recommend:
Watercolor Ceramic Palette

I also recommend using watercolors with strong pigmentation. Good colors help even simple paintings feel vibrant and alive. When the pigments are rich, the colors remain luminous even after the water dries. Here is a watercolor set I enjoy using:
Highly Pigmented Watercolors

Recently, I have also been enjoying tint-based watercolor colors. These colors create soft, glowing layers and can produce dreamy atmospheres in paintings. They are especially beautiful for skies, flowers, reflections, and gentle lighting effects. You can see them here:

Tint-Based Watercolors
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As for brushes, I always tell my students not to worry too much in the beginning. Start with any brush that feels comfortable in your hand. The most important thing is becoming familiar with watercolor and learning how water, pigment, and paper work together.