Watercolour materials for painting flowers are very much a personal choice.
You might already have your paints, brushes and other watercolour materials, but if not and you are starting out from scratch, I have put together a list of the basics.
Watercolour Paints
Watercolour paints are available in tubes or pans of solid paint.
There are different qualities of watercolour paints.......if possible buy the Artists' Quality paints in preference to the Student Quality.
The extra cost is worth it for the superior pigments and thus better results!
The three primary colours - red, yellow and blue can be blended to make any colour you need, but we will start with a few more, to make it easier to get the colours right.
Reds - Cadmium, Permanent Rose, and Alizarin Crimson Yellows - Cadmium, Lemon, Indian and Aureolin and Yellow Orche Blues - Cobalt and Ultramarine Also Violet, Indigo, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna and Sepia "Shadow" which is a watercolour in the Terry Harrison range (www.terryharrison.com) is very useful for painting shadows
Watercolour Brushes
Rigger - for fine trailing lines Fine Brush for small details Size 3 Round Brush Size 6 Round Brush 1/2 inch Flat brush
These brushes are what I would recommend if you are starting out, but if you have brushes around this range and you are happy using them, then no need to change!
Watercolour Paper
I love to use heavy, thick paper (600gsm/300lbs) but unless you are using very wet washes medium weight paper (300gsm/140lbs) is perfectly adequate. Choose NOT paper which is medium rough.
Stick you paper down on a board with masking tape before you start painting. There is no need to stretch the paper - just don't work too wet or let water run under the paper, which will cause it to "buckle".
Other Bits and Pieces
Pencils - use a 2B good quality pencil for sketching and a soft rubber. China or Plastic Palette Masking Fluid White Wax Candle Toothbrush Black Pen (waterproof) Natural Sea Sponge Graphite Transfer Paper
This little book "10 Minute Watercolours" is a wonderful quick reference, which covers all aspects of watercolour painting.
I really recommend you get your copy today...........
Reds - Cadmium, Permanent Rose, and Alizarin Crimson
