Watercolor art supply list
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor paper is available in three distinct textures: rough, hot-pressed or HP (smooth), and cold-pressed or NOT (semi-smooth). It's recommended to experiment with all three textures to determine your personal preference.
Watercolor paper can be purchased in either single sheets or a block pad. The paper in a pad is already secured at the edges, eliminating the need to stretch it, and it helps to prevent the paper from warping while you're painting.
For my artwork, I prefer to use rough watercolor paper when painting landscapes and seascapes, while cold-pressed paper works well for general painting and illustrations. When it comes to surface design, I find hot-pressed paper more suitable as it is easier to scan and digitize the artwork.
Here are the links and paper choices ;
Watercolor Paint
I highly recommend using Daniel Smith artist quality watercolor paints. To get started with these paints, I suggest the Daniel Smith watercolor set which includes a few warm and cool colors. This set is an excellent choice for those who want to try using artist quality watercolors for the first time. I addition is use Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolors and love Opera Rose from the professional watercolor. Also included is my preference for gouache.
Watercolor Brushes
The essential quality of a good watercolor brush is its ability to hold water effectively. While synthetic hair brushes can perform well, those made with natural hairs have superior liquid-holding capacity due to their fibrous anatomy. Here are some of my preferred watercolor brushes: