Paints

It is very easy when starting watercolours to end up with a large number of paints which it takes ages to master, if at all.

My advice would be to keep initial purchases to a minimum, but to buy the best quality you can afford.

Paint comes in two forms tubes or pans and in two qualities - student and artist. Whether you use tube or pan is really a matter of personal preference. I use tubes mainly, but have a small box of pan paints which I carry with me in case a painting opportunity arises.

If you have not already purchased paints then I would suggest buying just 3 - Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber and French Ultramarine. They are all transparent and permanent. To give you an idea of cost, the 3 paints in Winsor & Newton Artist quality whole pans would be £10.20 and in the same quality in 14ml tubes would be £14.47. In Winsor & Newton Cotman Range (student quality) the cost would be £2.67 for half pan, £3.96 for 8ml tubes and £7.14 for 21ml tubes (prices quoted are Ken Bromley as at 31st January 2004).

In thin washes they look like this:

Ruth Grinstead © 2002-2010 All rights reserved