My Watercolor Materials: What I Use in the Studio
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Watercolor has always been a medium of atmosphere and immediacy for me. It's a way to chase light, capture a moment, and let the paper breathe with the painting. Over the years, I've refined the tools I rely on — materials that support the kind of edges, washes, and textures I love.
Below is a list of the brushes, paints, papers, and studio essentials I use every day. These are the exact items I trust in my own workflow. Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
🖌️ Brushes
I use a mix of quill and traditional watercolor brushes. The quills hold a generous amount of water, perfect for expressive washes, while the Silver brushes give me the control I need for edges and detail.
🎨 Paints & Sets
Holbein Professional Watercolors are my go-to — the pigment density is exceptional, the colors stay true and luminous, and they reward both careful layering and loose, expressive work. I use the 24-color set as my foundation and supplement with individual tubes as needed. I also enjoy the character of Gansai Tambi and keep the Sakura Koi set on hand for travel and field sketching.
- Holbein Watercolor Set (24 colors) — my primary palette
- Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Set — 36 Colors
- Sakura Koi Watercolor Field Sketch Set — 36 Colors
📄 Papers
Paper is everything in watercolor. I use a range depending on the subject, the level of detail, and the surface quality I'm after. Arches is my workhorse, but I also enjoy New York Central blocks and Magnani for their unique textures.
- Arches 10×14 Cold Press 140 lb Block
- Arches 12×16 Cold Press 140 lb Block
- Arteza 5×8 Watercolor Journals (great for practice/sketching)
- Lightwish Watercolor Swatch Book
- New York Central 9×12 Cold Press Block
- New York Central 10×14 Hot Press Block
- New York Central Handmade Watercolor Paper (deckle edge)
- Magnani Portofino Hot Press Round Block (6.3")
- Magnani Portofino Hot Press Block (7×10)
✒️ Pens & Detail Tools
I use pens sparingly, mostly for sketching, notes, or mixed‑media studies.
🎨 Palettes
A good palette makes mixing intuitive. I prefer airtight palettes for keeping paints fresh and folding palettes for travel.
🛠️ Studio Essentials
These are the small but important tools that make watercolor work smoother and more enjoyable.
- Artist Tape (White)
- Lightweight Hardboard Drawing Board with Handle
- Fine Mist Spray Bottles — 2 oz
- Pentel Mechanical Pencil — 2 Pack
- Faber‑Castell Kneadable Eraser — Pack of 3
🌿 Closing Thoughts
Watercolor rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to let the medium lead the way. The best materials are the ones that get out of your way and let you paint — everything I've listed here does exactly that. These materials help me create the atmospheric, place‑based paintings I love and I hope they support your own creative journey as well.
If you'd like to follow new work, exhibits, and studio notes, you're welcome to join my Collector's List on my website.
Warmly, William Palm