Getting started with watercolour
Where to begin depends on where you are.
Choose the situation closest to yours and follow it to the guide that answers it. Each guide deals with one question in full, so you can read what you need now and come back for the rest.
Three common first questions
Before you buy anything
Start with what each supply does, then choose a set and a paper. Buying in this order keeps a first kit small and makes it easier to see what is missing later.
- What each beginner supply is for
The job of each supply, and when it becomes useful.
- Which set to start with
Choosing a first set, and what can be left out.
- Choosing paper in the UK
The first paper purchase, from the Materials guides.
When water and timing feel unpredictable
Water and timing are where many first paintings go astray. These guides show what to look for at the palette, on the brush and on the paper before the next stroke.
- How much water to use
Reading the water at the palette, brush and paper, without a fixed ratio.
- How long to wait between layers
Signs that a layer is dry, and safe ways to shorten the pause.
- Five mistakes in the first month
Common early problems, and how to avoid them.
Mixing colour and correcting mistakes
Mixing and correcting both reward small, deliberate steps. Begin with a simple two-paint mix, then learn what can still be changed on the paper and how to keep the whites you planned.
- Colour mixing for beginners
A first mixing procedure with two paints.
- How to fix mistakes without overworking the paper
Choosing the smallest useful correction, and when to stop.
- How to keep whites without white paint
Painting around, masking, lifting or adding opaque accents.
Coming back, or building a routine
If you are returning after a break, or deciding how to begin each painting, these guides help you settle into a working rhythm without starting from scratch.
- Returning to watercolour after a long gap
What has changed in materials and advice, and what has not.
- Whether to sketch before you paint
How much drawing helps, and when to paint directly.