Unlocking the Art of Flow: Essential Watercolor Supplies for a Mindful Practice

Watercolor painting is a beautiful and relaxing way to express creativity and connect with yourself. You can begin your journey into this soothing art form with just a few essential supplies. In this post, we’ll dive into everything you need to start—from choosing between tube and pan paints to selecting the right paper, brushes, and more. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your practice, these supplies will set you up for a mindful, enjoyable experience with watercolor.

If you want to learn more and explore watercolor in a calming, creative way, join me for The Art of Flow, a free watercolor and mindful meditation class. In this course, we’ll focus on simple watercolor exercises designed to help you relax, reduce stress, and enjoy the art of painting without the pressure of perfection. Now, let’s explore the tools to help you start this journey!

Watercolor Paint: Tube vs. Pan

Watercolor paints are unique because they are water-soluble, which means they can be activated and reactivated with water. This feature allows us to reuse dried paint, making watercolor both flexible and eco-friendly. But you may wonder—what’s the difference between tube and pan paints?

Tube Paints: These are soft and ready to use straight from the tube, offering intense pigment right away. Tube paints are perfect if you want to cover larger areas or if you prefer mixing your colors to achieve different values and effects.
Pan Paints: These are compact, dried cakes of paint that you activate by wetting them with a brush. Pan sets are super portable and great for beginners. They give you more control over pigment intensity, as you can build up layers slowly by adding more water or paint.

Both types are completely reusable—just let them dry and rewet when you’re ready to paint again!

Paint Quality: Student vs. Artist Grade

Watercolor paints come in two main grades:

Student Grade: These are more affordable and contain less pigment and more fillers. They’re great for beginners or practice, but the colors may be less vibrant.
Artist Grade: These are higher-quality paints with more pigment, giving you intense, long-lasting colors. For our class, either grade will work.

Paper: Why Watercolor Paper (or Sketchbook) Matters

Unlike standard paper, watercolor paper is designed to handle the absorbent and watery nature of this medium. Regular paper, like printer or drawing paper, will buckle and tear under water, while watercolor paper holds up well and lets the paint flow smoothly.

Weight: Watercolor paper comes in different weights, typically measured in pounds (lb) or grams per square meter (gsm). For instance, 140 lb (300 gsm) paper is a popular choice as it’s sturdy enough for most projects without requiring stretching. For more water-heavy techniques, consider 300 lb (640 gsm) paper, which is thicker and won’t buckle as easily.

I recommend using cold-pressed watercolor paper for our class, which has a slightly textured surface that gives a beautiful, organic look to your artwork.

Alternatively, consider using a watercolor sketchbook. Sketchbooks are fantastic for developing a daily watercolor practice, as they allow you to keep your work in one place and see your progress over time. They’re also convenient for exploring different techniques and compositions without pressure. You can read more about my love for watercolor sketchbooks and how they support my mindful practice in this blog post.

Choosing the Right Sketchbook for Your Watercolor Practice

There are a few things to consider when choosing a sketchbook, especially if you're working with watercolor. Here are my top recommendations:

Watercolor Sketchbooks: I recommend using a watercolor-specific sketchbook with 140 lb (300 gsm) cotton paper. This weight is sturdy enough to handle the water and pigment without warping too much. Look for cold-pressed paper with a bit of texture (or “tooth”). The texture allows the paint to grip the paper, enhancing your brushstrokes and creating depth in your work.

Mixed Media Sketchbooks: A mixed media sketchbook might be a good option if you want to experiment with more than just watercolor. These books typically have smoother paper, but they can still handle wet media like watercolor, ink, and gouache. They're versatile, especially if you like switching between different paint or drawing materials.

Size and Format: Watercolor sketchbooks come in various formats—hardbound, softcover, spiral-bound, etc. I like to keep a few moderately priced sketchbooks on hand so I can explore freely without worrying too much about the cost of materials. You can find affordable options online, often in packs of two or three, which is perfect if you, like me, enjoy working in multiple books at once.

Brushes: Types, Sizes, and Care

Brushes are where the magic of watercolor really happens! There’s a wide variety of brushes to choose from, so let’s break down the essentials.

Brush Types

Round Brushes: These are the workhorses of watercolor. They come to a fine point for detail work and can also create broader strokes. Rounds are versatile and highly recommended for beginners.
Flat Brushes: Great for broad strokes and washes, flat brushes are rectangular and allow for more coverage.
Detail Brushes: These are very small round brushes used for fine lines and intricate details. They’re perfect for final touches.

Brushes are sized by numbers, typically ranging from 000 (very fine) to 20+ (very large). For beginners, I recommend starting with a size 6 or 8 round brush, which is small enough for detail work but also holds enough water for washes.

Brush Quality: Synthetic vs. Natural

Synthetic Brushes: Made from artificial fibers, these brushes are generally more affordable and durable. They don’t hold as much water as natural brushes, but they’re perfect for beginners and easy to maintain.
Natural (Squirrel) Brushes: Squirrel hair and other natural fibers hold a lot of water, making them ideal for fluid strokes and washes. However, they are often more expensive and need gentle handling to maintain their quality.

For our class, either type of brush will work—choose what feels best for you and fits within your budget.

Brush Anatomy and Care

A watercolor brush has three main parts:

Bristles: The working end that holds and applies the paint.
Ferrule: The metal part that secures the bristles to the handle. A high-quality ferrule is crucial for brush longevity.
Handle: This is where you grip the brush, typically made of wood or plastic.

To keep your brushes in good shape, rinse them thoroughly after each session and reshape the bristles with your fingers. Store them bristle-up in a container or lay them flat to prevent water from seeping into the handle and loosening the ferrule.

Water and Paper Towels

Two simple yet essential tools in watercolor painting are water and paper towels. You’ll need a container of clean water for rinsing brushes and diluting paint, as well as paper towels to dab excess water or paint from your brush. These are crucial for controlling the amount of water on your brush and for creating lighter or more textured effects.

Optional Supplies for Creating Texture

In our class, we’ll also talk about a few optional supplies to help you add unique textures to your work. Salt, sponges, and even cling film can create beautiful, organic effects when combined with watercolor paint. These are optional but can be fun to experiment with as you explore the medium.

Your Starter Kit for The Art of Flow

Here’s a quick summary of the basic supplies you’ll need to join us in The Art of Flow:

Watercolor Paint: Either tubes or pans, in any color you love (or try just one color to focus on values and techniques).
Watercolor Paper or Sketchbook: 140 lb cold-pressed paper or a watercolor sketchbook for practicing and tracking your progress.
Brushes: A round brush (size 6 or 8) is perfect, and if you want to try more, grab a flat brush and a detail brush.
Water and Paper Towels: To rinse brushes and control water levels on your brush.
Optional Supplies for Texture: Salt, sponges, or cling film if you want to get creative with textures.

By gathering these supplies, you’ll be ready to explore how watercolor can bring a sense of calm and presence into your daily routine.

Join Us for Free!

Our Art of Flow class is a mindful, meditative journey into watercolor, where we embrace the process of painting, release expectations, and discover the joy in each brushstroke. This class is designed for anyone who wants to explore creativity in a relaxed, welcoming space. Plus, it’s completely free! So gather your supplies, bring an open heart, and let’s paint together.

Sign up today, and let the magic of watercolor flow into your life. Happy creating! 🎨

Flow into Creativity: Your Essential Guide to Mindful Watercolor Supplies