Paper

• 300 GSM (140 lb) watercolour paper, 100% cotton, Cold Pressed or Rough

• Paper size: 38cm × 56cm, 4 sheets per day should be enough

Recommended brands:

• Baohong masters choice watercolor paperCP/Rough (Excellent value, available in AUS & NZ). The paper of the same name available on Temu is NOT ideal.

• Arches CP/Rough

Consistency matters more than brand. Choose a brand that works and stick with it till you get the hang of it.

Brushes

Keep it minimal, these are enough for almost everything:

• A large hake or mop brush for washes

• A med-large round brush (your primary brush - natural hair or mixed, avoid synthetic-only brush if possible).

• A small brush for details

The goal is to use one primary brush for most of your painting. Over time, it becomes an extension of your hand, and builds intuitiveness with water control, pigment loading and strokes.

Colours

You only need 6 colours maximum (for most of my paintings I use just 3-4).

Core Palette:

• Blues (Warm & Cool):

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Cobalt Blue

• Reds:

  • Crimson Lake/ Permanent Rose / Rose Madder (preferred over Alizarin)

• Yellows (Warm & Cool):

  • Yellow Ochre or Raw Sienna

  • Transparent Yellow / Aureolin / Indian Yellow

• Burnt Sienna

Colour Selection Tips

• Choose transparent, single-pigment colours wherever possible

• Avoid opaque & semi opaque pigments

• Avoid colours made of more than 1 pigment. E.g. sap green (3 pigments)

• A limited palette leads to colour harmony and fewer pigments overall creates cleaner mixes

• Avoid cake/pan sets. Prefer professional watercolour tubes.

Recommended Brands

• Daniel Smith

• Winsor & Newton

• Schmincke

• Camel Artist Watercolour (great value, perfect for everyday practice)

Dont Forget

Mixing palette, water container, towel, masking tape or clips, spray bottle and a backing board to paint on.