My Garage-Approved Watercolor Toolbox

Here’s everything I use for watercolor. Don’t stress, it’s all affordable and built to last.

No sponsors, no promos, just the gear I’ve used for years in my converted garage studio. After two decades of painting professionally, I’ve tried the cheap stuff, the gimmicks, and the “must-haves” everyone pushes. Most of it isn’t worth your time or money.

Paints: Holbein Artists’ Watercolors

Holbein has been my go-to for almost twenty years. They’re reliable, vibrant, and mix cleanly. You don’t need 40 colors cluttering your palette, just eight solid hues that cover everything:

• Yellow Ochre
• Cadmium Lemon Yellow
• Ultramarine Blue
• Cerulean Blue
• Alizarin Crimson
• Cadmium Red Light
• Neutral Tint
• Burnt Sienna

With these, you can mix almost anything. Less confusion, more painting.

Okay, okay, I do occasionally sneak in Opera, Viridian Green, and Peacock Blue. But that’s it. Pinky swear.

Brushes I trust

I’m not a brush hoarder. A few solid tools do the work:

• Silver Black Velvet Quill #2: my wash brush for big areas and wetting the paper.
• Princeton Neptune #12 Round: handles medium washes, trees, and skies. Holds a point for years.
• Princeton Neptune #6 Round: for smaller shapes, edges, and details.
• Princeton Neptune ½" Dagger: my secret weapon. Versatile enough for washes, details, and expressive marks.

That’s it. Four brushes can carry you through landscapes, still lifes, even portraits.

Paper: Fabriano Artistico 140 lb Cold Press

Paper matters. Cheap paper buckles, pills, and makes watercolor miserable. Heavy 300 lb paper? Overkill, no thanks.

Fabriano Artistico 140 lb cold press is the sweet spot. It’s strong enough to take layers, forgiving enough for beginners, and affordable if you buy in bulk. I’ve burned through stacks of it in my garage and never looked back.

Palette: Masterson Aqua-Pro

I’ve tested plenty of palettes. The Masterson Aqua-Pro just works: lots of wells, wide mixing areas, and a lid that snaps shut when I’m done. It’s rugged, stain-resistant, and has survived years of abuse in my studio.

Board: Gator-Foam

Forget flimsy masonite. Gator-foam is lightweight but firm enough to tape paper onto. Buy a large sheet, cut it in half, and you’ve got two boards that handle 11" x 15" paper with no warping.

White gouache: Holbein

Yes, I cheat a little. White gouache is my go-to for highlights and sparkle. I use Holbein because it’s thick, matte, and reliable. Sometimes I add a touch of Jaune Brilliant #1 for sunny accents.

What I don’t use

• $200 brushes: synthetics today are excellent. Save your cash.
• Endless paint colors: stick with eight and learn to mix.
• 300 lb paper: overpriced and unnecessary for most work.
• Fancy containers: ziplocks and mason jars work just fine.

Final thoughts

This is my entire watercolor setup. No hidden extras, no fluff, just the paints, brushes, and paper I actually use in the garage.

You don’t need much to get started. What you do need is to paint consistently, make mistakes, and tape those “failures” to the wall. That’s where the real growth happens.