Watercolour is such an enchanting medium, but it can also be challenging for beginners. The fluidity of the paint, the way it interacts with water, and its unpredictability are what make watercolour so magical, but these same qualities can frustrate new artists.

When I first began my journey with watercolour, I quickly realised there are a few key practices that make all the difference in achieving beautiful results. With a few foundational tips, you’ll be on your way to creating beautiful paintings with confidence.

Here are my top five tips for anyone starting their watercolour journey.

1. Invest in Quality Materials

When you're starting out, it's tempting to buy the cheapest supplies available – after all, you’re just experimenting, right? But here's the thing: quality materials can make all the difference in how your artwork turns out and, more importantly, in how you feel while painting.

Using inferior products often leads to frustration. Cheap paints might lack vibrancy, brushes could shed hairs, and low-quality paper may cause you frustration. These issues can make it hard to achieve the results you're after, which can leave you feeling disappointed. Starting with quality materials gives you the best chance to see your potential and enjoy the process, without getting bogged down by preventable setbacks.

Watercolour paint

Let’s start with the paints. Artist-grade watercolour paints have a higher pigment load, meaning the colours are more vibrant, easier to mix, and produce more beautiful layers compared to student-grade paints. Student-grade paints often contain fillers, which can result in duller colours and a chalky finish. They can also be more unpredictable, making it difficult to achieve the subtle transitions of colour that watercolours are known for. You’ll notice the difference immediately in how the paint moves and layers on the paper.

When you're just starting out, it's tempting to buy a large, inexpensive set, but with watercolour, less is more. It’s far better to invest in a small set of high-quality paints. You don’t need every colour in the rainbow. In fact, part of the beauty of watercolour is learning to mix your own colours. With just a handful of paints, you can create an incredible variety of hues.

Some of my absolute favourite brands are Schmincke, Winsor & Newton, and Daniel Smith. Each of these brands offers rich, highly pigmented colours that flow beautifully on the paper and are known for their consistency and vibrancy.

• Schmincke Horadam watercolours are a personal favourite for their smooth texture and remarkable clarity. Their colours remain vivid, even after drying, and they rewet easily, making them a great choice for both beginners and professionals. The range includes some truly unique shades that are difficult to find elsewhere.

• Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolours are another excellent choice. They have a wide range of colours and are known for their transparency and splendid lightfastness, meaning your paintings will stand the test of time. Winsor & Newton’s colours are easy to blend, which is key when you’re working with a limited palette.

• Daniel Smith Watercolours are famous for their highly pigmented colours, particularly their range of granulating pigments. Granulation creates beautiful textures on the paper, perfect for adding depth to landscapes or other natural scenes. Daniel Smith also offers some unique shades, like their Primatek line, made from actual mineral pigments.

If you're looking to start your collection, I recommend picking up a few key colours like a warm and cool blue (such as French Ultramarine and Phthalo Blue), a warm and cool red (Scarlet Red and Ruby Red), and a warm and cool yellow (Transparent yellow and Indian Yellow). With these six paints, you can mix an incredible array of secondary and tertiary colours. Adding a tube of Payne’s Grey or Burnt Sienna for shadows and neutrals is also a great idea.

Investing in these higher-quality paints will make your painting experience smoother and more enjoyable. You’ll notice how effortlessly they blend and layer, and their intensity will bring your artwork to life. Even a small investment in a few artist-grade paints can make a world of difference in the results you achieve.

I've worked with Jackson's to create a range of 12 Schmincke Horadam 5ml watercolours, which you can find here. I will create my next tutorials while using these colours, but l will also continue to supply you with their equivalents from Winsor & Newton as well as Daniel Smith.

Watercolour paper

Next, consider the paper. Watercolour paper is just as important as your paints and brushes, and it can have a huge impact on the final look of your work. Watercolour paper comes in various weights, textures, and qualities, but I always recommend opting for 100% cotton paper, 300gsm/m2 in weight. Cotton absorbs water evenly, which is essential for achieving smooth colour transitions and beautiful, even washes. Cheaper, wood-pulp papers might buckle, warp, or cause your colours to bleed uncontrollably, making it difficult to maintain the fine control you need.

Watercolour paper comes in three main textures: cold-pressed, hot-pressed, and rough. Cold-pressed paper, also known as “not” paper (meaning it's not hot-pressed), is the most commonly used and is a great option for beginners and experienced artists alike. It has a subtle texture that adds depth and character to your work without being too rough on your brush. This texture is perfect for landscapes, floral work, and general subjects. The slight texture allows the paint to settle into the paper beautifully, creating natural-looking effects.

Hot-pressed paper, on the other hand, is smoother and better suited for detailed work or for artists who prefer a more polished, refined look. Because of its smooth surface, the paint sits on top of the paper longer, giving you more time to manipulate your colours. It’s ideal for precise details like botanicals, portraits, or any work that requires crisp, clean lines. I suggest avoiding hot pressed paper when you are a beginner. I think it's a little more difficult to paint on than cold pressed paper.

Rough paper has a more pronounced texture, and while it's not as commonly used by beginners, it can create dramatic effects, especially in landscapes or paintings with lots of texture, like rocky terrain or weathered buildings.

As for brands, I always recommend Fabriano Artistico and Arches.

• Fabriano Artistico is an excellent 100% cotton paper that is highly regarded for its durability and versatility. It handles multiple washes without breaking down, making it great for layering techniques. Whether you’re working wet-on-wet or creating detailed brushwork, Fabriano Artistico holds up beautifully, allowing you to explore the full range of watercolour techniques.

• Arches Watercolour Paper is another go-to favorite. Arches has been a trusted brand for artists for centuries, and their paper is known for its reliability and strength. It’s available in cold-pressed, hot-pressed, and rough textures, so you can experiment with what suits your style best. The paper allows for easy blending and glazing without fear of tearing or pilling.

Watercolour paper also comes in different weights. I suggest working with 300gsm (140lb) paper, which strikes a good balance between durability and flexibility. Lighter paper (like 190gsm) tends to buckle when wet, while heavier paper (like 640gsm) can handle even the wettest washes without buckling. No matter the paper weight, I still stretch my paper before using it, as I prefer to paint on paper that stays flat.

Take time to experiment with different brands, textures, and weights to see what feels right for your painting style. But if you’re looking for a good place to start, Fabriano Artistico and Arches are both tried-and-true choices that will make your painting experience more enjoyable and rewarding.

Less expensive papers I recommend are Saunders Waterford and Baohong Master's Choice.

You can find my favourite watercolour paper here.

Watercolour brushes

Finally, let's talk about brushes. Just like your paints and paper, the quality of your brushes plays a significant role in the control and precision you’ll have in your painting. A high-quality brush holds its shape, carries the right amount of water, and allows you to create a variety of strokes, from broad washes to fine details, without losing its point.

For beginners, I always recommend starting with a good round brush in sizes 2, 6, 8 or 10. The round brush is incredibly versatile – you can use it for large, sweeping washes, or with a lighter touch, you can achieve delicate lines. Investing in one or two high-quality brushes will last you for years if cared for properly. Plus, they’ll give you far more control than a cheaper alternative that may fray or lose its point after just a few uses.

One of my favourite brush brands is Da Vinci Maestro. These brushes are made from high-quality Kolinsky sable hair, known for its ability to hold water while maintaining a sharp point. The Maestro series 35, in particular, offers superb snap and resilience, meaning the brush returns to its original shape after each stroke. This makes them ideal for both fine detail work and fluid washes. Da Vinci Maestro brushes are an investment, but their longevity and performance make them well worth it. They are perfect for artists who want precision and flexibility in their work.

For those looking for a more affordable option, Jackson's Synthetic Watercolour Brushes are a fantastic alternative. Jackson’s offers excellent synthetic brushes that mimic the characteristics of natural hair brushes, but at a fraction of the price. While they may not hold quite as much water as a Kolinsky sable, they maintain a sharp point and perform beautifully across a range of techniques, from wet-on-wet washes to fine detailing. The quality is impressive for the price, making them a great choice for beginners or those looking to expand their brush collection without breaking the bank.

I love the brushes from Jackson's so much, that I have teamed up with them for my own branded range that you can find here. I also made a video review about them on YouTube.

When choosing your brushes, remember that quality is more important than quantity. Start with a couple of versatile round brushes and gradually expand your collection as your skills grow. Also, take care of your brushes by cleaning them thoroughly after each session and storing them properly. A well-cared-for brush can last for years, and with time, it will become an extension of your hand, helping you bring your artistic vision to life.

Watercolour techniques for beginners

2. Learn the Water to Paint Ratio

Understanding the water to paint ratio is crucial to mastering watercolour. It can be tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to achieve everything from soft, subtle washes to bold, saturated areas of colour. I have made a video about it, where I show you how much paint to use. I also simplify the paint consistencies that I use into three main levels and I use my paintings to demonstrate how I use each consistency.

Watercolour is all about balance – too much water and your colours will appear pale and weak, too little and the paint becomes thick and hard to spread. The key is to experiment. Try loading your brush with more water for a delicate, transparent wash, or use less water for stronger, more vivid colours. You'll also want to pay attention to how much water is on your paper before you apply your wet brush. Wetting the paper first, and working on a wet surface, will give you soft edges, while working on dry paper keeps your lines sharp.

Practice controlling the water and paint on a scrap piece of paper. Try mixing different amounts of water and paint to see how they interact. You’ll soon develop an intuitive feel for it. Over time, you’ll know exactly how much water to use to achieve the effect you want, whether it's a misty, atmospheric sky or a crisp, defined shape.

3. Work from Light to Dark

One of the most important principles in watercolour is to work from light to dark. Unlike opaque mediums like acrylic or oil, you can’t easily cover up mistakes or go back to add lighter areas. Watercolour is transparent, meaning every layer you apply will show the layers underneath.

This is why it’s crucial to start with the lightest areas of your painting. Think about where your highlights are – those bright spots where the light hits – and preserve them by leaving the paper white or applying very pale washes. As you build up your painting, gradually add in mid-tones and finally your darkest shadows. This layering technique will give your painting depth and dimension.

It’s also essential to let each layer dry completely before adding the next. This prevents the colours from blending together and becoming muddy. If you're painting a landscape, for example, start with a light wash for the sky, then work down to the darker tones of the foreground, gradually building up the colour and detail.

Sometimes beginners paint too dark too soon. Avoid this temptation. Gradually build up your darks instead. Dark tones lift easily, so if you add them too early and keep painting around or over them, you risk disturbing the paint and creating a mess.

4. Practice Edges: Soft, Hard, and Broken

One of the unique aspects of watercolour is its ability to create different kinds of edges – and these edges can completely transform your painting. Mastering this watercolour technique will let you create soft, hard, and broken edges, and will give your work a professional and polished look.

A soft edge is created by blending wet paint into wet paper, resulting in a smooth transition between colours. This technique is perfect for creating dreamy skies, misty landscapes, or soft shadows. It’s often used to suggest distance or atmospheric perspective.

A hard edge, on the other hand, is achieved when you paint wet on dry – applying wet paint to dry paper. This creates a sharp, defined line that is ideal for painting objects that need clarity and precision, such as the edges of leaves or architectural details.

A broken edge is somewhere in between. It occurs when the paint skips across the texture of the paper, leaving parts of the surface untouched. This technique can add an expressive, loose feel to your painting, and it’s great for suggesting texture, like rough bark on a tree or rocky terrain.

Take some time to practice these different edges. Experiment with how much water you use and how the paint interacts with the paper. You’ll find that a mix of soft, hard, and broken edges in your painting adds interest and variation, guiding the viewer’s eye and creating a sense of depth.

5. Let the Paper Dry Completely – Patience is Key

Patience might not be the most glamorous tip, but it’s absolutely essential in watercolour painting. Your paper has to be completely dry before you can work on it again. This medium has a mind of its own, and one of the biggest mistakes beginners make is rushing through the process. Watercolour requires you to slow down, to give the paint time to dry, and to let the magic happen.

When you layer wet paint onto an area that hasn’t dried, the colours will bleed into each other, often resulting in muddy or unintended effects. While this can be useful for certain techniques like wet-into-wet, it can ruin the clarity of other areas. So, give each layer the time it needs to dry completely before moving on to the next.

Use this drying time to step back and assess your work. Sometimes, letting your painting sit for a few minutes can reveal what your next steps should be. It’s in these quiet moments that you can plan your next move and allow the painting to breathe.

If you're really in a hurry, you can use a hairdryer on a low setting to speed up the drying process but wait until the paint begins to dry itself or you risk disturbing it. Remember: part of the beauty of watercolour is learning to embrace its slower pace. Patience will not only improve your results but also help you develop a more mindful approach to painting.

With these five tips in mind and a few simple watercolour painting techniques, you’ll be well on your way to creating beautiful, expressive watercolour paintings. Remember, watercolour is a journey, and every painting is an opportunity to learn something new.

Enjoy the process, embrace the unpredictability, and most importantly, have fun with it!

If you are interested in learning to paint in watercolour, I have over 200 online, voiced over watercolour tutorials for all skill levels. I also tell you more about my favourite and branded art supplies here.

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