6 Top Rated Watercolor Painting for Beginners ( Tutorials & Tools )
Watercolor painting is a beautiful art that expresses the painter's creativity, emotions, and personality in a magnificent way. You are making the right decision if you are thinking of becoming a watercolor artist. However, you may face the challenge of starting – which tutorials should I start with? Which brushes to use? How to pick a watercolor palette and so much more. And I can't blame you because there are tons of information online that makes it hard for beginners to navigate the world of water painting. I understand the frustration, and that's why I am writing this detailed article to take you on a step-by-step journey of starting your watercolor painting as a beginner.
I have carefully handpicked the best tutorials, tools, and everything you need to start your journey and become a pro in no time. Stay with me as I dissolve your watercolor worries and confusion.
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Supplies for Watercolors
The best way to get better in watercolor painting is through practice, and you need good supplies for that. Just like Benjamin Franklin said:
“ The best investments are in the tools of one's own trade.“
Having the right brushes is a big determiner of how your drawings will turn out. It can enhance or deter your creativity. I pay attention to brushes and find good brushes that will make the designs stand out, and you should too.
A brush set I have found very useful is this Artegria Water Color Brush set. It comes with all the necessary brushes to start as a beginner, from flat brushes to dagger stripper and round brushes. It also maintains the consistency of your drawing. It has a good water holding capacity to make sure you get that perfect intensity of color, and that's one of the main reasons I love it so much.
Tips for Watercolor Brushes
Try sitting down when drawing, or use your little finger to anchor the paper to achieve precise strokes.
Lay your brushes to dry. Most brushes are made of wood, which means they expand and contract when exposed to moisture. So, leaving your brushes standing to dry will make the wood get weak quickly.
Keep your brushes away from water when not painting. The fastest way to spoil a brush is to soak it in water consistently. Make sure your brushes are stored in a dry place and ensure they are not choked up.
Your brush set isn't complete if you don't have a set of squirrel hairbrushes. Squirrel hairbrushes are a life-save to watercolor painters because of their color-holding capacity. It saves you from the stress of dapping a brush into your Watercolor several times when painting a large area. It is also the ideal brush for mop and wash techniques.
With a Squirrel hairbrush, you can paint large areas and get that smooth, uniform flow. I love natural squirrel hairbrushes, and I will recommend this Dugato Professional Water Color Squirrel Hairbrushes to you. They are made from natural squirrel hair, and their retaining capacity is second to none.
Water Color Paper
The texture and quality of your watercolor paper are just as important as your brushes and paints. It is important to pay attention to the watercolor paper you are getting.
Getting the right color paper is also one important thing to consider. Watercolor paper is different from other paper types because of its ability to dry out your paint without absorbing it. Your watercolor paper must withstand multiplying washing, environmental factor and retain its color without yellowing. You must consider the texture, weight, and surface in choosing watercolor paper.
The most important characteristic you should pay attention to is the surface type. Watercolor papers come in three different surface types – the hot-pressed, the cold-pressed, and the rough. The hot pressed is the smoothest of all and gives a fine, clean consistency when painting, while the cold pressed is in-between. I like to use cold-pressed watercolor paper because it absorbs paint quicker and gives you enough time to add extra layers. The Arteza watercolor paper is what I will recommend because of its high quality and extra sheets. It comes in 9×12 inches and can stand multiple washes without bleeding out. You also get four times the normal sheets contained in a standard watercolor pack.
As a beginner, watercolor sketchbooks are one of the ways to practice your craft and unleash your creativity. Having a sketchbook is important in various ways. Apart from having the chance to practice without actually coming up with real paintings that everyone will see, it also allows you to unleash your creativity, try out different color palettes, helps you paint your worse paintings in your journey of becoming better without eyes seeing it, and keeps your skill sharp. I always recommend getting a sketchbook for every beginner.
Of course, I won't leave you without recommending one of the best sketchbooks that you can get started with. Arteza isn't only great at creating watercolor paper; it also creates badass sketchbooks. The Arteza Watercolor Sketchbooks that comes in 8.25x8.25 is one of the best sketchbooks you can get. You have access to 64 sheets with a hardcover journal-like look that can fit into your purse and bags to make it easy to sketch wherever you find yourself.
Watercolor painting kits for beginners
Getting the right painting kit can save you the stress of souring for individual supplies from different places. Painting kits provide you with the necessary supplies to start your watercolor painting journey. However, getting the right painting kit can be a hard row to hoe. There are many painting kits out there, some good, while some are a total waste of money. I came up with three painting kits that you can get started with if you are a beginner, or you can give as a gift to a fellow beginner.
I'd quickly go through some of the kits' important supplies that I want you to understand their uses.
Tube Paint: Watercolor paints are likely in two types; tube and pan. The tube paint comes in the moist form, so you don't have to worry about adding water when painting, while the pan paint requires dipping your brush into water to moisten it. If you are a beginner, I won't advise you to choose one over another if you've not given both a try.
Palette: Palette is where you mix your colors. There are different types of palettes, but the plastic-type is lighter to carry
Sponge: the use of a sponge is multifaceted. You can dip it into the paint to apply its texture, can be used it to clean extra paints, or wet the surface of the paper before painting.
Palette knives: They come in different shapes and are mainly used to mix colors.
Easel: Painters use Easels to support their drawings when working or when allowing them to dry.
Palette: Palette is a dish-like plate with dividers that allows you to spread out the colors you will be using for a particular drawing.
Now that we've outlined some important supplies you may find in most of the painting kits, it's time for me to give you my top 3 painting kits.
This particular painting kit takes the award home for very important things that will make watercolor painting easy and quick. You get access to 24 watercolor paint tubes, so you don't have to worry about moistening your colors. There are palette and palette knives for you to choose from and different paintbrushes to draw with. There's an easel to support your drawings, sketchbooks, drawing pads, sponges, etc. This particular painting kit was designed to get you started on your watercolor journey without hassle.
Another painting kit I find interesting is this Premium Watercolor Paint Set. While it may be the cheapest and lesser tool, it is still great for any beginner. To spice up your design, you get access to 49 watercolors, including fluorescent and metallic colors. It comes equipped with a painting brush pen, swatch sheets, sponge, pencil, erasers, watercolor papers, etc. Another reason I like this kit is its attention to detail. For example, the watercolors that come with this kit are enough to get whatever colors you are looking for, and tools like sketching pencil and erasers are also good considerations.
Tavolozza painting set is a comprehensive painting kit that will get you started in your painting journey. It also contains an acrylic painting set, just if you are interested in acrylic painting in the future. It comes with an iron easel, 24 watercolor paint pants, sketch sheets, a canvas, erasers, drawing sheets, sketch pens, etc. You cannot exhaust the supplies this painting set comes with.
In my opinion, these painting kits are affordable, and anyone you choose to go with will set you up as a watercolor painting beginner.
Watercolor painting ideas for beginners (Video Tutorial)
Practicing your skills as a beginner in watercolor painting is likely the most popular advice you will hear from everyone. Still, the question is, 'What should I paint to practice?'. I understand that you may be confused about what to paint. Should you paint flowers or abstract things?
This Easy Watercolor Painting Ideas for Beginner Step-by-Step video will take you through the journey of what to paint, how to get started, and how to paint these ideas. The tutor also shared useful dos and don'ts when painting. A detailed and well-explained course that I will recommend any time of the day.
Watercolor painting Tutorials for beginners
There are different watercolor painting lessons and tutorials on the internet. With each tutor sharing different techniques and expertise, it can confuse a beginner. Imagine learning about advanced watercolor painting techniques when you haven't exhausted the basics. That won't be very clear!
I have handpicked beginner-friendly, detailed and understandable courses for you. Each course has its unique teaching style and methods, so you can start with anyone you'd like.
In this video I will show you how to create a beautiful watercolor painting using a Colour Wash texture in Procreate. This technique creates an amazing effect with color and makes the painting look like it was created in an abstract style. It's so much fun, and easy to do! Making use of procreate app to design watercolors paintings and looking for the best procreate brushes, check this out.
Doodling is a great way to loosen your creative side and create magical drawings. This Easy Doodling and Painting course will teach you everything you need to know about doodling and creating flora illustrations that will wow your audience. It comes with projects that you can mimic to learn and create. A straight-to-the-point course that teaches you what you need to know without wasting your precious time. So, whether you are a newbie or a professional wanting to expand your skills, this course is suitable for you.
Learning the basics of any craft is the beginning of mastery. How good you become depends on your practice and understanding of the basics, which this course gives you. I'm not going to lie; this course is one of the most detailed courses I have come across. It also covers each basic of Watercolor in an explanatory and understandable way. The tutor takes a great approach by going through each tool that you will need to become a watercolor pro. Part of her course covers watercolor paper, brushes, paints, and other supplies, so you have a full guarantee that you'd know how to use your tools well. She further taught you all the basics you need to know to become a watercolor artist. She touches on aspects like; What supplies to get, Adding white to other media, How to layer and blend, and so much more. If you are new to watercolor painting, this course will turn you into a good artist.
Another beginner's course to get you started on Watercolor Painting. Taught by Katie Rodgers, a fashion illustrator and a founder of Paper Fashion, the course focuses on the basic skills you need to start as a watercolor artist, especially if you are interested in drawing fashion illustrations. However, it is great for any watercolor niche you want to venture into. She will take you through the best supplies to go for, the best watercolor surface to use, how to paint on dry and wet surfaces, mix colors from primary colors, and so much more. You also get to work on a shoe project together with the instructor. Therefore, you have nothing to worry about. This course will teach you everything you need to know to start as a watercolor artist.
Looking to start with Self-Portraits? Then this course is for you. Maria-Ines Gul went all out in this course that teaches you everything you need to become good at portrait drawing. She pays attention to every detail and process to develop unique designs. You learn how to choose your palettes, how to sketch, and details to pay attention to. You are also taught how to use Gouache and Pencils to create beautiful portraits. This course doesn't just teach you portrait design; it gives you a deeper insight into how therapeutic portrait designs can be.
Watercolor textures for Graphic Design teach you how to add real, handmade watercolor textures to your graphic design project on Photoshop and other design softwares! How cool! You get to learn how to create unique watercolor textures that fit the mood of your graphic design project, how to use watercolor supplies to create the right texture, and ways to scan your real watercolor texture to photoshop, and how to tweak the textures to get different effects. Lastly, you get a bonus PDF file with links to resources.
Tips for getting the best out of the courses
Practice every step: Try to practice whatever the illustrator teaches as fast as you can. If possible, you can watch the videos with your watercolor supplies ready for practice.
Complete projects and assignments: For courses that have projects or assignments, make sure you pay attention and complete the projects
Learn without distractions: To get the best out of the courses, ensure you are not in a distracting place, and you are not multitasking.
Watercolor Painting for Beginners Tutorials
The watercolor painting stands out from other paintings because of its vibrancy of colors and the unique, natural punch it gives to elements. Learning Watercolor can be a walk in the park if you use the important information I have outlined in this blog. If you are interested in moving your watercolor skills to Procreate, you can check out my 80+ Procreate Brushes. You will surely find great watercolor brushes to start with.
I wish you a great learning experience. Can't wait to see you win!
