If you enjoy painting, drawing, and coloring like I do, then the watercolor brush pens should be a must-have addition to your creativity kit. Compared to traditional painting kits, these brush pens are preferred by both amateur and professional artists because of their excellent precision, convenience, portability, and mess-free application. Brushes are also expensive, so you need to buy the fewest number of brushes capable of performing the widest range of jobs. In looking at the different brush shapes for watercolor painting, I've split them up into three main catagories: versatility, detail work, and wash work. Silver Black Velvet Basic Watercolor Set (The Susan Louise Moyer Selection) These watercolor brushes for beginners come in three sizes: 4, 8 and 12. Made in New York, the bristles have a blend of squirrel hair and black synthetic. ★ Featured Art Supplies Creative Inspirations Dura Handle Brushes Try it/Individuals Sets. Discover the joy of painting with these easy watercolor painting ideas for beginners. Find easy tutorials plus helpful printable watercolor coloring pages. Like the rest of the world, I’ve found myself discombobulated with the recent world news and the reality of “self isolating”.
- Best Watercolor Paint Brushes For Beginners
- Best Paint Brushes For Watercolor
- Watercolor Paint Brushes For Beginners Youtube
Kids love watercolor painting! It’s an easy and fun art medium for kids to explore. You don’t need a lot of supplies to get started, a few inexpensive but great quality items are all you need.
These beginner watercolor supplies will get kids started painting and having fun!
There are so many great watercolor techniques for kids to explore and paint with! Take a look at my collection of watercolor painting for kids for some fun and creative project ideas.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you would like more information please review my privacy & disclosure policy.
Watercolor Paper
Using real watercolor paper for art projects makes all the difference and is so fun for kids to explore! And it can be quite affordable if you choose the right one.
There are so many different types of watercolor paper out there, however, that it can get confusing! Watercolor paper comes in different weights, in pads or on its own, in different textures and hot or cold press.
Keep on reading for a brief explanation of how to pick the perfect paper.
Weight
The weight of watercolor paper is measured in reams or 500 sheets of paper. So 140lb paper refers to 500 sheets of paper weighing that much altogether.
For the beginner and especially for kids, 140lb watercolor paper is the best. This paper can be cut or torn easily and is great for all types of watercolor projects.
Cold press or Hot press
This simply refers to the texture or surface of the paper. Hot press paper is smoother and cold press has more of a bumpy texture to it, which is great for holding paint and water.
Cold press paper is the most common type and the type of paper that we use.
Single sheet or pad of paper
Watercolor paper comes in large single sheets and also in pads of paper. The single sheets offer more options in the types of weight and texture but are more expensive.
I like to use watercolor pads, they are inexpensive, and work great for kids projects!
Canson XL Series Watercolor Textured Paper Pad, 11 x 15 Inch, 30 Sheets
This is the watercolor paper that we use the most. I like the flexibility of the larger size. You can use the whole sheet for some projects and cut the paper smaller for other projects.
Strathmore (360-111 300 Series Watercolor Pad, 12 Sheets
We have also used this brand of watercolor paper and it is another great option!
Plain white cardstock
Sometimes we will use plain white cardstock for our watercolor projects.
This is usually for a multi-media art project that uses liquid watercolor paints to do a flat wash of color like in this Christmas tree art project or for craft projects like in this Father's Day popsicle card craft.
Darice GX-2200-06 Core'dinations 50-Piece Card Stock Paper
We use plain white cardstock for liquid watercolor washes when doing multi-media art projects.
Watercolor Paint
There are three main types of watercolor paint to use, a pan set, liquid watercolors and watercolors in tubes. For kids, using a watercolor pan set or liquid watercolors is the best option.
Watercolor pan sets
Watercolor pan sets are inexpensive, come in a variety of bright colors and are easy to store and transport.
Most art and craft stores will have a few of these sets to choose from. This is the type of watercolor that we use the most.
You can use these watercolors straight from the set to your paper, or dilute the color with water in a paint palette depending on how dark you want your colors to be.
36 Color Fundamental Watercolor Pan Set with Paint Brush by Artists Loft
This is the watercolor set that we use the most and I love it!
The colors are bright, there are 36 colors to choose from and they look great painted on watercolor paper either diluted in a paint palette or straight from the paint set.
Watercolor Artist Set, 36 Colors, Includes a Variety of 12 Quality Brushes
This looks like a great beginner watercolor set for kids. It also comes with a set of brushes to get you started.
Angora Watercolor Set, 36 Color Pan Set (100510660)
We also have and use this watercolor set. The colors are nice and bright and the quality is really good.
Liquid watercolors
Liquid watercolors come in small bottles and don't have as many color options. But a little goes a long way and they will last for a while.
They are very convenient to use, and the colors are so bright and vivid that they are definitely worth using for the right project.
You can dilute liquid watercolors in a palette and mix the colors together for more options.
I like to use liquid watercolors to cover larger areas, like a sky or if I need a really bright color and my pan set doesn't have it. We used liquid watercolors as well as a watercolor set for this beautiful watercolor poppy art.
Sargent Art 22-6022 6-Count 1-Ounce Watercolor Magic Kit
This is the liquid watercolor set that we have. I really like how bright the colors are and a little goes a long way! The colors are very vivid, I usually mix the paint with water in a palette to dilute the colors a bit.
Sargent Art 22-6010 10-Count 8-Ounce Watercolor Magic Set
This set is larger and comes with 10 color options.
Watercolor brushes
There are so many choices when it comes to picking out a good watercolor brush. Paintbrushes can get pricey but you don't need to spend a fortune to get some nice quality brushes for kids!
Brushes come in numbered sizes that are standard so it makes it easy when looking at all the different options available.
I like to have a mixture of flat brushes and round brushes in a variety of sizes. Flat brushes are great for doing a flat wash and covering large areas.
Small round brushes are good for detail work and larger round brushes are a great all-purpose watercolor brush for kids to use.
We tend to use #12 or #16 size round brushes the most.
Artlicious - 10 Hand Made All Purpose Nylon Hair Brush Set - Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor Paints
This is a great set with a mixture of round and flat brushes that is very affordable.
Artist Watercolor Paint Brushes Set 13pcs - Round Pointed Tip
This round brush set has a great variety of sizes including some larger sized ones.
Marrywindix 9pcs Flat Pointed Tip Nylon Hair Acrylic Watercolor Brush Artists Paint Brush Set Black
This flat brush set has a good variety of sizes, including a couple larger sizes.
Paint palettes
Watercolor paint palettes are essential for mixing your paint in. It's nice to have a palette with a variety of sized compartments or wells to mix larger and smaller quantities.
Darice White Plastic 10 Oblong Palette
This palette is affordable and has a lots of different spots for paint.
Reeves Flower Plastic Paint Palette
This palette has deeper wells that would be suited to liquid watercolors.
Kids love watercolor painting! It’s an easy and fun art medium for kids to explore. You don’t need a lot of supplies to get started, a few inexpensive but great quality items are all you need.
These beginner watercolor supplies will get kids started painting and having fun!
There are so many great watercolor techniques for kids to explore and paint with! Take a look at my collection of watercolor painting for kids for some fun and creative project ideas.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you would like more information please review my privacy & disclosure policy.
Watercolor Paper
Using real watercolor paper for art projects makes all the difference and is so fun for kids to explore! And it can be quite affordable if you choose the right one.
There are so many different types of watercolor paper out there, however, that it can get confusing! Watercolor paper comes in different weights, in pads or on its own, in different textures and hot or cold press.
Keep on reading for a brief explanation of how to pick the perfect paper.
Weight
The weight of watercolor paper is measured in reams or 500 sheets of paper. So 140lb paper refers to 500 sheets of paper weighing that much altogether.
For the beginner and especially for kids, 140lb watercolor paper is the best. This paper can be cut or torn easily and is great for all types of watercolor projects.
Cold press or Hot press
This simply refers to the texture or surface of the paper. Hot press paper is smoother and cold press has more of a bumpy texture to it, which is great for holding paint and water.
Cold press paper is the most common type and the type of paper that we use.
Single sheet or pad of paper
Watercolor paper comes in large single sheets and also in pads of paper. The single sheets offer more options in the types of weight and texture but are more expensive.
I like to use watercolor pads, they are inexpensive, and work great for kids projects!
Canson XL Series Watercolor Textured Paper Pad, 11 x 15 Inch, 30 Sheets
This is the watercolor paper that we use the most. I like the flexibility of the larger size. You can use the whole sheet for some projects and cut the paper smaller for other projects.
Strathmore (360-111 300 Series Watercolor Pad, 12 Sheets
We have also used this brand of watercolor paper and it is another great option!
Plain white cardstock
Sometimes we will use plain white cardstock for our watercolor projects.
This is usually for a multi-media art project that uses liquid watercolor paints to do a flat wash of color like in this Christmas tree art project or for craft projects like in this Father's Day popsicle card craft.
Darice GX-2200-06 Core'dinations 50-Piece Card Stock Paper
We use plain white cardstock for liquid watercolor washes when doing multi-media art projects.
Watercolor Paint
There are three main types of watercolor paint to use, a pan set, liquid watercolors and watercolors in tubes. For kids, using a watercolor pan set or liquid watercolors is the best option.
Watercolor pan sets
Watercolor pan sets are inexpensive, come in a variety of bright colors and are easy to store and transport.
Best Watercolor Paint Brushes For Beginners
Most art and craft stores will have a few of these sets to choose from. This is the type of watercolor that we use the most.
You can use these watercolors straight from the set to your paper, or dilute the color with water in a paint palette depending on how dark you want your colors to be.
36 Color Fundamental Watercolor Pan Set with Paint Brush by Artists Loft
This is the watercolor set that we use the most and I love it!
The colors are bright, there are 36 colors to choose from and they look great painted on watercolor paper either diluted in a paint palette or straight from the paint set.
Watercolor Artist Set, 36 Colors, Includes a Variety of 12 Quality Brushes
This looks like a great beginner watercolor set for kids. It also comes with a set of brushes to get you started.
Angora Watercolor Set, 36 Color Pan Set (100510660)
We also have and use this watercolor set. The colors are nice and bright and the quality is really good.
Liquid watercolors
Liquid watercolors come in small bottles and don't have as many color options. But a little goes a long way and they will last for a while.
They are very convenient to use, and the colors are so bright and vivid that they are definitely worth using for the right project.
You can dilute liquid watercolors in a palette and mix the colors together for more options.
I like to use liquid watercolors to cover larger areas, like a sky or if I need a really bright color and my pan set doesn't have it. We used liquid watercolors as well as a watercolor set for this beautiful watercolor poppy art.
Sargent Art 22-6022 6-Count 1-Ounce Watercolor Magic Kit
This is the liquid watercolor set that we have. I really like how bright the colors are and a little goes a long way! The colors are very vivid, I usually mix the paint with water in a palette to dilute the colors a bit.
Sargent Art 22-6010 10-Count 8-Ounce Watercolor Magic Set
This set is larger and comes with 10 color options.
Watercolor brushes
There are so many choices when it comes to picking out a good watercolor brush. Paintbrushes can get pricey but you don't need to spend a fortune to get some nice quality brushes for kids!
Brushes come in numbered sizes that are standard so it makes it easy when looking at all the different options available.
I like to have a mixture of flat brushes and round brushes in a variety of sizes. Flat brushes are great for doing a flat wash and covering large areas.
Small round brushes are good for detail work and larger round brushes are a great all-purpose watercolor brush for kids to use.
We tend to use #12 or #16 size round brushes the most.
Artlicious - 10 Hand Made All Purpose Nylon Hair Brush Set - Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor Paints
This is a great set with a mixture of round and flat brushes that is very affordable.
Artist Watercolor Paint Brushes Set 13pcs - Round Pointed Tip
This round brush set has a great variety of sizes including some larger sized ones.
Marrywindix 9pcs Flat Pointed Tip Nylon Hair Acrylic Watercolor Brush Artists Paint Brush Set Black
This flat brush set has a good variety of sizes, including a couple larger sizes.
Paint palettes
Watercolor paint palettes are essential for mixing your paint in. It's nice to have a palette with a variety of sized compartments or wells to mix larger and smaller quantities.
Darice White Plastic 10 Oblong Palette
This palette is affordable and has a lots of different spots for paint.
Best Paint Brushes For Watercolor
Reeves Flower Plastic Paint Palette
This palette has deeper wells that would be suited to liquid watercolors.
Watercolor Paint Brushes For Beginners Youtube