How to Use the Right Materials for Watercolour Painting

Having the right tools in your toolkit makes a world of difference. Using quality materials is essential to give you results you’ll be happy with. Poor quality materials often just plain don’t work and cause frustration, wasted time, and wasted money.

It may also deter you from wanting to continue painting as the results just won’t be the same as if you use quality materials. Let’s break it down by paper, paints, and brushes:

Paper

Not all paper is created equally! If you’re going to watercolor, it is essential that you use actual watercolor paper. Copy paper isn’t made in the same way as watercolor paper and results in a buckled, wavy wash. The copy paper also pills, meaning the fibers start to tear and ball up on the sheet. The watercolor paper is heavier and is made with additives called “sizing” that allows it to absorb moisture in the proper way. It remains flat, has an even color tone, and doesn’t pill or tear.

Paint

Watercolor paint comes in both tubes and pans. Either works depending on your preferences, but making sure to use quality brands makes a difference. Low quality paint can become crackly and chalky versus having smooth, even color.

Brushes

You don’t need to start with a huge assortment of brushes, but a few key types will help as you try to achieve different results. A small, medium and large round brush, a flat brush, and a mop brush is a great way to start. Each brush is created for an intended purpose