Cheap and Cheerful Supplies to Get You Started
It’s true not all art supplies are made equal, however, not all cheap supplies are bad! Today I’m going to share with you some brands that I started out with and used for years before finally treating myself to some professional tools.
A bit of back story…
I used to not like watercolours. I found them difficult, washed out and frustrating. I also associated them with the faded prints you see at the doctor’s office or some waiting room like that. It wasn’t until I discovered Stephanie Law’s work that my eyes were opened to the incredible magic of watercolour. That’s when I dove completely into the world watercolour and had to get my hand on some supplies (on the budget of a 13 year old).
Here is my list of supplies that got me started with watercolour painting:
Reeves Watercolour Tube Set of 12
Plastic flower paint palette
Cheap store brand paint brushes, size 2 and 4
Canson XL watercolour paper
Canson XL Mixed Media Sketchbook
It’s a small list but it was all I needed. Oh, there were times when it was definitely a struggle, especially with the mixed media paper (I don’t recommend that now), but back then it was all I knew!
Now that I know more about watercolour supplies I definitely see the value in spending a little bit more. More expensive paint usually means brighter and more pigmented colours; better brushes last longer; better paper can handle more layers. That said, I also understand that it can be daunting to invest if you are still unsure that watercolours are the right medium for you.
Here is a second, broader list of supplies that are on the lower end of the price scale that won’t break the bank and still allow you to have a better experience with watercolours:
Paints:
Reeves Watercolours $
Traditional Chinese watercolours $
Royal & Langnickel $
Yarka $$
Winsor and Newton Cotman $$
Paper:
Canson XL watercolour paper
Brushes:
Royal & Langnickel brushes
Grumbacher
Basically any brush that doesn’t shed
Paint Palette:
Plastic palette from the dollar store will do just fine
Even better and just as cheap: a ceramic plate from the dollar store or Ikea (the cheapest one is around $1.25)
So you see, watercolour supplies don’t have to be expensive when you start out. In a side by side comparison you will definitely notice a huge difference in paint quality but at the end of the day, watercolour painting comes down to technique. I’ve seen an artist do amazing work with Crayola washable watercolours!
I hope this starter list helps!
Thank you so much for reading!
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