Recommended Watercolor Supplies for Absolute Beginners 🎨

What You Actually Need to Start Painting Today — From a Self-Taught Watercolor Artist :)

✅ Quick Overview

• 🎨 Learn exactly what watercolor supplies you really need as a total beginner.

• 🛒 Includes links to budget-friendly paper, paint sets, brushes, and more.

• 🚫 Find out which items you can skip (for now) — and why that helps you start faster.

• 💡 Grab the free printable checklist to keep your setup simple and stress-free.

• 💜 Supportive, no-fluff advice from a self-taught watercolor artist who’s been there.

💛 Introduction: Let’s Keep It Simple

When I first started watercolor, I remember feeling excited… and totally overwhelmed.
There were so many supplies to choose from — brushes, papers, palettes, paints — and I had no idea which ones were actually necessary for a real beginner like I was.

The good news? You don’t need a huge art haul to start painting with watercolor.
In fact, all you really need are a few simple tools and a little bit of curiosity.

This guide is here to help you:

• Know exactly what to buy (without overspending)

• Skip the supplies you don’t need right away

• Feel more confident setting up for your very first painting session

Let’s take the guesswork out of getting started — and help you build your first watercolor supply kit with clarity and ease.

Please know Mary Moreno Studio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through affiliate links — at no extra cost to you. I promise, I only recommend products I personally use and love.

🖌️ What You Really Need to Begin Painting

Here are the essential supplies I recommend for true beginners — basic, affordable, and exactly what you need to start making your first joyful brushstrokes.

✅ Watercolor Paper (Cold Press, 140lb)

Choose watercolor paper labeled cold press, which has a slight texture and is perfect for beginners. Look for 140 lb (300 gsm) weight so it won’t warp with water.
💡 Tip: You don’t need the most expensive brand to start — just make sure it’s labeled 140 lb watercolor paper.

👉 My recommendations:

1. 120 Sheets 7x5" cold-press 140 lb (300 gsm) watercolor paper

2. 30 sheets Canson XL 9x12" cold-press 140 lb (300 gsm) watercolor paper

✅ Watercolor Paint Set (Pan Set Recommended)

A pan set (small cakes of dried paint in a tray) is ideal for beginners — it’s portable, easy to use, and lasts a long time. Start with a basic set of 8–12 colors.

👉 My recommendations:

1. Kuretake Gansai Tambi 12-Color full pan set

2. Winsor & Newton Cotman Pocket 1/2 Pan Set

✅ Watercolor Brush (Round Brush, Size 6 or 8)

You only need one brush to start. A round brush in size 6 or 8 is versatile enough for most beginner painting techniques — from washes to small details.

👉 My recommendations:

1. Winsor & Newton Cotman Synthetic Round 6

2. Princeton Heritage Synthetic Sable Round 6 

✅ Water Container (Any Cup or Jar)

No need to buy anything fancy here! A clean jar, mug, or even a recycled glass works perfectly. If your set-up has space, two jars of clean water is best.

💡Back when I started watercolors, I didn't have any clear glasses/cups and didn't want to use a coffee mug. I picked up this set and find them super useful!

👉 My recommendation:

Stackable plastic set of 6 juice tumblers, 5 oz.

✅ Paper Towel or Absorbent Cloth

Used for blotting your brush and managing water. Grab whatever you have on hand — a folded paper towel or soft kitchen cloth does the job.

💡If you choose cloth, you may want to hand-wash when the time comes (there is a chance of color-bleed if machine-washed).

✅ (Optional but Helpful) Palette or Plate for Mixing

If you're using tube paint or want to mix custom colors, a white mixing surface is handy. You can use a ceramic dish, a plastic palette, or even a white plate from your kitchen.

💡I’ve used a beautiful flower-shaped ceramic palette since my early days of painting — it’s perfect for mixing smaller amounts of color without wasting paint. A few years in, I added a larger rectangular palette to my setup, which works beautifully when I’m using bigger brushes or need to mix more paint for larger projects.

👉 My recommendations:

1. Meeden flower-shaped 6" round ceramic palette

2. Meeden rectangular 10x7" ceramic palette

🎁 Want a checklist to take shopping or hang by your workspace?
Download the free Watercolor Beginner Supplies Checklist here

✨ Extras to Add as You Grow or as Needed

These aren’t must-haves — but they can be helpful or fun as your practice expands:

• Additional brushes in other sizes

  • 👉 My recommendations:

    • Princeton Snap 4-Brush Set (Round 0, 2, 6, Angle Shader 3/4")

    • Winsor & Newton Cotman Short-Handle 5-Brush Set (Round 0, 2, & 6, Rigger 1, One Stroke 1/2")

• Masking tape (to secure paper or create clean borders)

  • 👉 My recommendations:

    • Scotch Painter's Tape, Green, 0.94" x 60.1 yards

    • Duck Washi Crafting Tape, Silver Stripe, 0.75" x 15 yards

• A sketchbook or scrap paper for testing colors

  • 👉 My recommendation:

    • 24-page (48 sheets) 5.5x5.5" Watercolor Sketchbook cold-press 140 lb (300 gsm) watercolor paper

• A spray bottle to moisten paints

  • 👉  My recommendaton:

    • Fine Mist Spray Bottle, Small, 2.5 oz

• A small pouch or case for travel painting

🚫 What You Don’t Need Right Now — and Why

It’s easy to feel like you need everything at once. But honestly, you can skip these for now:

• Expensive, artist-grade paints (student-grade is perfect to learn with)

• A full brush set (just one good brush is enough)

• Paper stretching boards or high-end watercolor blocks

• Complex mixing palettes with 20+ wells

• Specialty tools like masking fluid, fan brushes, or sponges

The fewer decisions you have to make at the beginning, the more freedom you have to just paint.

🌱 Final Thoughts:

Start Simple. Start Small. Just Start.

Whether you’re working with a brand-new brush or using whatever you have around the house, you’re already taking the most important step:
You’re showing up to paint.

You don’t need fancy tools or perfect technique to begin — you just need a little guidance, a little encouragement, and a willingness to try.

And if that sounds like you, you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. 💜

🎨 Want help with your very first brushstrokes?
Coming mid-July, the Absolute Beginner’s Watercolor Confidence Kit will walk you through how to prep your brush, wake up your paints, and start painting for the joy of the process.

💾 Don’t forget your printable checklist to keep things simple:
Download the Watercolor Beginner Supplies Checklist

Keep it simple. Keep it joyful. Keep painting — one brushstroke at a time.

🎨 Recommended Posts

Still unsure about paper, paint, or brushes? These beginner supply guides dive deeper:

• How to Choose Watercolor Paper for Beginners
• 7 Beginner-Friendly Benefits to Using a Watercolor Sketchbook
• Beginner's Guide to Choosing Watercolor Paints

✍️ About the Author

Written by Mary Moreno, self-taught watercolor artist and creative blogger at Mary Moreno Studio. I share tips, tutorials, and encouragement for beginners exploring watercolor — because I’ve been where you are, and I’m here to help.