For watercolour painting you can use either tubes or pans. Prices are similar. The pans are small cubes of solid paint and are usually set in a box or tray for convenience. Either will do. But the tubes are quicker for mixing up paint, so I recommend them . The student quality are adequate. ‘Fine Artist’ quality are very good but more expensive.

Recommended minimum colours are:

Ultramarine Blue(violet blue), Cerulean Blue(greenish blue), Cadmium Red(Orangey red), Alizarin Crimson(violet red)*, Lemon Yellow(greenish yellow), and Cadmium Yellow(orange  yellow)  Permanent Rose (or Alizarin Crimson.)

In addition the following colours are very useful for their convenience, and are widely used :   Raw Sienna (golden yellow), Burnt Sienna,( brownish orange) Pthalo. Blue,(Greenish blue) (or Prussian Blue) Burnt Umber(brown), and a  white(A Gouache white).

SAA paint supplies. I use materials from this mail order site. saa.co.uk  I can get a discount for students on amounts over £10.

Paint Suppliers near Plymouth.

 Top of Mayflower St. is the most helpful.  also is OK. 'The Range' as it is now called ( on the left over Laira Bridge from town) They seem about the cheapest. Other supplies can be obtained from Ham & Sewell( Armada Centre) , Chaplins’, and  Trago Mills is also cheap.

 Avoid WH Smiths own paints and ‘The Works’ paints. ‘The Works’ has some bargain materials, but avoid the paints; they contain filler.  Reeves used to be a good paint, but not any longer. Crimson Blake and Boldmere are the same low quality materials. and the brushes also, are not suitable for any of my courses. The cheaper the materials, the more difficult to use effectively.

White Mixing Tray with wells for mixing paint. A small real sponge for trees. Difficult to get the right ones. See me. Trago had the right ones, and the Range

Water Carrier- 2 preferred ( to keep mixes clean) Jam jars will do. A board to rest on( hardboard is fine)

Brushes. These can be very expensive. Synthetic ones are fine. You need about 4 sizes of brushes. Don’t buy expensive brushes, but avoid bristle brushes, or very cheap sets of brushes)

Hake or decorating brush 1-2inches wide.

A flat brush about ½ inch wide.

A round brush medium size 8-10 (springy pointed)

A fine detail brush, called a rigger.

Papers

You will get the best results, and grow in confidence if you use paper designed for watercolours. It is easier to buy in a pad. Bockingford is fine. Thicker paper doesn’t cockle when water is applied. Cotman paper has caused a few problems for some students, so I do not recommend it. A4 size paper is fine. Masking tape is useful for taping down the paper.

Sketchbook. Always very useful for observations and ideas.

Pencils 2B and HB   and a soft 4B or 6B graphite stick is useful. Sharpener, rubber.

Ink (any sort) + any type of nib pen, wax crayon or sharpened candle.

If you bring a hair dryer for drying a watercolour. It can save you loads of time. I always stipulate that I take no responsibility for students own electrical goods.

Another contact for paints of top quality is Michael Wilcox Paints Gibbet Lane,Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 OBX on 01275 835500 Send for a catalogue,or see me

Don’t worry if you haven't managed to get all the above items. You can manage with a minimum of good quality to start with:. 3 brushes, 3 paints, a few sheets of good paper.etc.

Neil Mawdsley 

www.mawdsley.co.uk