Recent writing

On technique, materials, and artists.

  • What watercolour pigment codes actually mean and why they matter

    By the end of this article you will be able to read any tube label, understand what the codes tell you and, just as usefully, what they do not.

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  • Best watercolour paper for beginners in the UK

    By the end of this article you will know which paper to buy, why the specs on the label matter, and where the standard online advice goes wrong.

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  • The five mistakes watercolour beginners make in the first month and how to avoid them

    Most early frustrations with watercolour come down to the same handful of problems. Understand what they are and why they happen, and the medium becomes considerably less mysterious.

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  • Best watercolour set for beginners: what to buy and what to leave out

    By the end of this article you will know exactly what to spend your money on, what to ignore, and why the conventional advice about starter kits is sometimes wrong.

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The Letter

New writing from the site, the occasional material recommendation, and brief notes on painting. Sent monthly, nothing more.

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