Find Out How Different Watercolor Supplies Work

Numerous tools can be used to create breathtaking watercolor paintings, but if you’re new to the medium, you might be unfamiliar with some of the supplies. Tools like watercolor pencils and watercolor paper can play an important role in getting the perfect watercolor effect if you know how to use them properly. In this post, we’ll show you how these different watercolor supplies work, and explain why you should use them. Whether you’re a novice or starting your very first project, you’ll be able to take your watercolor painting to the next level with these tips.

What Is Watercolor Painting?

Watercolor is defined as a painting method in which the paints being used are made of pigments suspended in a water-based re-wettable binder such as gum arabic. The result is a delicate and subtle look typically created with transparent colors and thin washes. However, because this is such a fluid painting method, there is definitely a learning curve. It takes time to master the art of watercolor, and the artist must accept that there are aspects of the craft that are out of their control. Once you learn to release control and work with the freedom of watercolor, you can create some gorgeous pieces.

How Do Watercolor Pencils Work?

While watercolor paints are arguably the most common supply for this art form, there are other options to try out. Take watercolor pencils for example. These are unique tools that look like regular colored pencils, except that in addition to providing a traditional colored pencil performance, these pencils react to water and create a similar effect to watercolor paints. But how does this work? Well, the binding found in the pigment of these pencils is water-soluble. When water is added, the binding releases more pigment. This results in colors that resemble watercolor paints.

But how do you use these pencils? To start, the process is the same as using regular colored pencils. You begin by drawing and coloring just like you would with colored pencils. Then you’ll move on to activating the color with water. Using a clean watercolor brush, go back over the shapes of your pencil marks, following in the same direction for a cohesive look. If you want to further minimize the appearance of the pencil strokes, you can work the color more with your brush. Once the piece has dried completely, you can repeat the process of coloring/drawing and adding water if you want to make the colors more vivid. Continue to repeat the two steps until you achieve your desired results, and then admire your finished piece.

What Makes Watercolor Paper Different from Standard Paper?

With watercolor, the paper you use is just as important as the other tools, although it's often taken for granted. To get the best results from this painting method, you’ll want to invest in quality watercolor paper. You might be wondering, how is this paper different than regular paper? The answer comes down to four characteristics: the paper’s texture, its thickness, the material it’s made of, and its sizing.

If you were to hold a piece of regular paper in one hand and one meant for watercolor in another, the most obvious difference that you’ll notice is the thickness. Watercolor painting paper is much thicker than standard paper, with the most popular thickness weighing in at 140 lbs. The thickness, or weight, of the paper is important because using watercolors on paper that’s too thin can buckle and warp, disintegrate with water, or bleed through the back. Luckily, numerous brands offer paper in this weight, so you have plenty of options to choose from when you’re ready to get started on your paintings. There are also even thicker 300 lb. papers and watercolor boards that offer a sturdy painting surface that resists warping.

Besides the difference in thickness, the material of these papers is also different. Watercolor paint requires paper that’s more absorbent with stronger fibers, so the best papers are 100% cotton. This helps strengthen the paper so it won’t become warped or buckled as quickly when water is added, standing up to the amounts of water required in watercolor painting. Standard paper is usually made with recycled wood shavings alone or combined with a small amount of cotton, which isn’t enough to hold up against watercolor. However, wood pulp paper made especially for watercolor can be an economical choice for beginners.

Finally, you'll notice that the texture of watercolor paper can vary dramatically. The texture, also known as the "tooth" of the paper, is extremely important when choosing paper to use with watercolor. Paper can be smooth (hot-pressed), bumpy (cold-pressed), or extremely textured (rough).


The smoother the paper, the easier it is to show fine detail. Cold-pressed paper is more commonly used for watercolor as its greater absorbency is suitable for many techniques and the medium physical texture creates interesting effects. Rough paper is ideal for looser techniques and the color will settle darker in the tiny valleys and lighter on the crests, creating visual texture.

What truly sets watercolor paper apart from other papers is the sizing, which is a gelatin or synthetic substance added to the paper during and/or after manufacture. It works like glue to bind the paper fibers together and make it strong enough to withstand washes and scrubbing without disintegrating or pilling. It also balances the absorbency of the surface, allowing colors to be manipulated before they fully soak into the paper. This helps colors remain luminous and not lose vibrancy or go flat. 

Getting Started with Watercolor Art

Our artist community is always prepared with recommendations for favorite watercolor paints and painting supplies, which ultimately come down to personal preferences. We typically recommend getting started with quality watercolor paper, like Arches watercolor paper and a basic palette. Once you decide you want to put a kit together, find out how to build the best watercolor painting kit in one of our previous posts. And if you have any questions about watercolor painting, or about our products in general, go ahead and give us a call!