What are the essential tools to start painting with watercolor?

If you’re just starting to paint with watercolors, there are several essential tools you’ll need to get started:

1. Watercolor Paints: You will need a set of watercolor paints. There are various options available in the market, including tubes and pans. For beginners, it is recommended to buy a basic set of colors, typically including a warm and cool version of each primary color (red, yellow, and blue), as well as some secondary colors such as green, orange, and purple.

2. Watercolor paper: You will need watercolor paper, which is designed to absorb water without warping. There are different types of watercolor paper available, including hot-pressed, cold-pressed, and rough. As a beginner, you can start with cold-pressed paper, which has a slightly textured surface that is suitable for most watercolor techniques.

3. Brushes: You’ll need a set of brushes in a variety of shapes and sizes, including round, flat and fine brushes. Natural hair brushes are generally preferred for watercolor painting, but synthetic brushes can work well too. Make sure to get a variety of brush sizes to allow for different types of strokes and details.

4. Water containers: You will need a container or two of water to clean your brushes between colors and to thin the paint if necessary. You can use any clean container, such as a jar or a plastic cup.

5. The palette: You will need a palette to hold and mix your paint. A traditional palette with separate wells for each color is ideal, but you can also use a ceramic plate or a plastic lid.

6. Masking tape: You can use masking tape to create clean edges and protect certain areas of your painting.

7. Pencil and Eraser: You will need a pencil and an eraser to sketch your painting before you start painting.

8. Optional: If you want to experiment with different watercolor techniques, you can also bring along various materials (salt, sand, paper towels, plastic, etc.)

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