WATERCOLOR SUPPLY LIST
BRUSHES
Please be aware different companies have their own numbering systems as to brush sizes. This means a #2 from one company may be a different size than a #2 from another company. The numbers listed are meant only as a guide.
Rounds
Small (#2, 5) Medium (#8, 10): The smaller numbers are generally for detail. The larger sizes are for washes. Look for the brushes that are made of synthetics but not nylon. Nylon brushes carry less paint and water than the synthetics
Mops
Large (#3, 4): This brush is good for large washes. The design of the hairs makes the brush carry quite a bit of paint. Look for the brushes that are made of synthetics but not nylon. Nylon brushes carry less paint and water than the synthetics
Paint
Cadmium Red
Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Yellow
Lemon Yellow
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue
Sap Green
Hooker's Green
Payne's Gray
Sepia
Burnt Sienna
What you want is warm and cool reds, (Cadmium Red & Alizarin Crimson) yellows, (warm Cadmium Yellow & cool Lemon Yellow) and blues (warm Ultramarine Blue & cool Cerulean Blue) as well as colors for the landscape like the Greens (warm Sap Green & cool Hooker’s Green). Colors to be used for shadows and earth tones are covered by Payne’s Gray, Sepia and Burnt Sienna.
PAPER
Paper comes in two forms: pads & blocks. The paper’s weight should be 140-pound weight and a cold press type. This information is on the paper cover. Brands of paper to look for are Aches and Fabriano. The reason for these two is that you can use both sides of the paper. With a number of inferior brands, you can only use one side.
A block is a pad that has adhesive on all four sides save a small section. The block eliminates the need for a stiff backing. You should know the block is more expensive than the pad because of the added labor. A watercolor pad, on the other hand, has adhesive only on the top. The pad would need to be supported with tape and a stiff backing.
Palettes
Get the white plastic palettes for watercolor. They come in a rectangular or circular shape. You can see your colors better with these than the metal palettes.
MISCELLANEOUS
Use a non-paper stiff backing for taping watercolor paper to it. A cutting board or Masonite is a possibility.
Masking tape
Pencil
Kneaded eraser