Splash of Color: How to Paint with Watercolors

Watercolors have been around since the days of cave art — and they remain one of the most accessible, affordable, and beautiful mediums for beginners today. With just a few brushes, good paper, and your favorite colors, you can dive into painting soft washes, rich layers, and expressive details.

Why Choose Watercolors?

Watercolors are simple to set up, easy to clean, and travel-friendly. The pigments are the same high-quality ingredients found in oil and acrylic paints — they’re just ground finer and mixed with gum Arabic, a natural binder that keeps the colors vibrant and flowing. Some professional grades also include glycerin for extra moisture.

Student vs. Professional Watercolors

Student-grade paints are budget-friendly for learning and practice.
Professional-grade paints use higher-quality pigments for stronger color and smoother blending.

Watercolors come in:

• Pans: Compact, convenient, and great for travel.

• Tubes: Perfect for mixing large batches of paint.

• Liquid Concentrates: Good for big washes, but they act more like dyes — with less subtlety than pans or tubes.

Choosing Watercolor Paper

Your paper choice makes all the difference. Watercolor paper comes in blocks, pads, rolls, or sheets, and varies by weight and texture.

Weight: Ranges from 70 lb. (lightest) to 300 lb. (heaviest).
Surface Texture:

• Cold-Pressed: Most popular — medium texture (tooth) for versatile techniques.

• Hot-Pressed: Very smooth — best for fine details.

• Rough: Has deeper pits that create unique texture but can grab your brush unexpectedly.

Brushes for Watercolors

One of the best parts about watercolors? You only need a few brushes to get started!

Brush Sizes: Smallest = 0000; Largest = 14.
Brush Type: Soft hair or synthetic brushes work best.
Cleaning: Water does the trick! A tiny dab of dish soap now and then is okay, but overuse can damage bristles.

Masking Techniques

In watercolor painting, white areas are usually preserved by leaving the paper untouched. This requires planning ahead — or using masking tape or masking fluid to block out those areas.

Tip: Always apply masking fluid with an old brush, and remove it gently by rubbing with your fingers or a rubber cement pickup.

Mediums to Try

While not required, watercolor mediums like gum Arabic solution or ox-gall liquid can help you control how the paint flows and how transparent or vibrant your colors appear.

Other Useful Supplies

Keep these extras handy:
Pencils & erasers for sketching
Palette for mixing
Water cups & spray mister
Watercolor tape
Easel or tote board
Sponges for blotting & texture
Brush case or roll for storage
Masking fluid & rubber cement pickup

Final Thoughts

Watercolors are a beginner’s best friend — light, bright, and full of creative possibilities. With just a few supplies and a bit of practice, you’ll build the confidence to paint anything from gentle landscapes to bold abstracts.