Materials

The list is short. Watercolor, pen, paper. Here's what I use. I'll talk to you about them in the video. I use Canson XL Mixed Media paper, a variety of brands of artist quality watercolors, and a couple Micron pens.

In addition to the 9x12" sketchbook I use here, I've started a smaller 5.5x8.5" sketchbook that will be easier to carry when traveling. Use what ever size seems right to you and adjust the size of the brushes you use accordingly.

Brushes are very personal. It would be so nice if I could tell you exactly what brushes you will love, but I can't. Watercolor brushes vary widely in price and spring. If you are just giving this a try, try some decent craft brushes like those from discount stores such as Walmart. If you use those now and want to up your game, by all means do so.

Some people love floppy mop brushes that hold tons of water. I use one here to put clear water on a blank page and then drop paint into it with a different brush but you can do that with a larger size round brush too. Sometimes I use craft brushes. My favorites are these but don't take my word for it. Play around in the store a bit and see which ones you think feel good to you then try one or 2 and see what you think. If possible, dunk them in a bit of water to see if they hold their shape and point. I'm a fan of synthetic brushes. They hold up well and are cruelty free.

Regarding sizes, watercolor brushes are numbered which is handy. The larger the number, the larger the brush. Unfortunately, the numbers are not the same across manufacturers.

My advice is to always use a larger brush that you think you should. The larger the brush the freer the brush stoke and the more flow you will achieve. Try a combo of flat and round, they make different marks, Maybe a 1/4 and 1/2" flat and 2-3 rounds. Avoid those tiny ones. My most used brushes are a 12 and 16. Take a peek at them in the background videos if you like.

Optional items include painter's tape, plastic wrap, and bubble wrap. Anything you place into wet watercolor will draw the pigment to it, so watch the videos and then experiment.

If you are unfamiliar with watercolors, here is a bit of information about how to use them and how to test the colors to see how they mix. 

And a couple more tips about making backgrounds more efficiently and collecting color swatches to remember your best mixes. The photos relate to what was produced and discussed in the video below them.