BRUSHES

I am now a brand ambassador for Princeton Brush Company and for the first time I have found synthetic brushes that really do perform as well as the natural hair equivalents. I use the synthetic squirrel NEPTUNE range, size 8 Mop and 12 Round as well as the synthetic kolinsky AQUA ELITE range, size 6 Quill, 12 & 8 Long Round and 10 Rigger. The constant factor is that all brushes should have a good point and release the paint gently and evenly. Avoid bristle brushes. They are designed for oils and are much too harsh for watercolour. Don’t use them for lifting out - with my ancient size 8 worn sable I can lift out the finest line. Ignore the often repeated idea that a good sable brush will last a lifetime. It won’t. The point will begin to wear away within a few months of regular use.

PAINT

I recommend artist’s quality tubes from the major manufacturers They stay moist for longer, have more pigment and often seem more transparent. Like most people, I love a bargain but please avoid the really cheap sets of paint that cost the same as a tube of decent stuff - they are horrible and completely useless even for practice. Colours are very personal - use what you like. I am a MaimeriBlu brand ambassador: BLUES: Ultramarine Deep(warm), Primary Blue Cyan (Phthalo GS)(cool) Cobalt Blue (neutral) REDS: Cadmium Red (warm) Quinacridone Magenta (cool) YELLOWS: Cadmium Yellow (warm) Primary Yellow (cool) SPECIALS: Burnt Sienna - A dull orange that is a great mixer, dulling too bright greens reds and blues. I prefer the Transparent Mars Red from MaimeriBlu as this is warmer and very transparent. White Gouache or Titanium White watercolour is perfect for highlights and occasional mixing but use in moderation.

PAPER

Use only reputable makes and find one or two that you like and stick to them. Different weights and surfaces of the same paper can behave in very different ways. I use Bockingford 200lb NOT (cold pressed), Saunders 200lb NOT and rough, Millford 140lb NOT, and Bockingford 140lb HP for pen and wash, all made by St. Cuthberts Mill , for whom I am an official ambassador. With heavier paper I just tape it to a lightweight plastic board and I make my own blocks with lighter paper. Blocks are handy because they do not need a board and although the paper will cockle when wet, it will dry flat as long as you do not remove it from the block until it is completely dry. Hot pressed paper is not recommended for beginners as the paint tends to stay on the surface, making it very difficult to paint a smooth wash.

MY MATERIALS