WATERCOLOUR SUPPLIES IN AUSTRALIA : what to buy ?
Watercolour is a fantastic medium to paint with, but it can also be quite frustrating. I have been practicing for a while now and I can tell you a little artistic secret, which is not - supplies ! Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying practice is not the key, but you’ll find using proper material, qualitative paper, brushes and bright pigments - is a “game changer” that let your practice grow !
Most of the times, finding watercolour supplies in Australia can an issue and reason why you can’t really achieve what you have in mind. Whether you are a beginner or have been practicing for a while, here is a list to help you understand and find what you need as well as the place I shop !
WATERCOLOUR PAPERS
Paper texture in watercolour
cold press - medium texture
hot press - smooth
rough - high texture
All very thick, at least 300gr/m2, because watercolour uses a lot of water. If the paper you have is slimmer, please upgrade, this paper is not meant to be used for watercolour and will buckle and wrap as soon as you put water on it.
Watercolour papers are made of 2 types of material :
cellulose which is a beginner or draft medium
cotton which is “la crème de la crème” for wet on wet as it hold the humidity for a long time
Some papers are made of a combination of cotton and cellulose, which upgrades it but the best is to go with cotton only.
What paper am I using ?
cellulose
Hahnemuhle Harmony Watercolour Block Cold Pressed - I still have some left from when I started watercolour - good training paper but dry fast and less colour vibrancy.
cotton
Baohong paper cold press - This is my favourite, it is a very budget friendly cotton paper, made in China with a traditional method.
Arches paper cold press - This one is expensive but it comes in very large sheets of paper, so for bigger artworks.
TIP - Experimentation is the key ! It is a bit hard because you have to spend money to test. All paper textures are a bit different, in terms of response to the brushes, pigment vibrancy, texture pattern... so the key is to experiment and find what YOU truly love.
If you are in a big city, like Sydney or Melbourne go to you local art shop and buy large sheets of paper called “Jesus”. Then cut it to size, this is a very economical way to acquire excellent paper.
PAINT BRUSHES
Type of brushes
The other game changer in your practice is the type of brushes you are using. Not every brush is good for watercolour, only the ones that can hold lots of water, being flexible and reactive, thin and thick at the same time by adjusting the pressure.
A lot to ask for, so price is often the key to a good quality, cruelty free, hand made brush. Also you will need different sizes depending on whether you are painting large scale or adding details. But you can start with just one to test the quality at a reduced price. If you like it, you can then go for the whole set.
What brushes am I using ?
I have two sets I acquired after 2 years of practice and I am just in love with them.
Black velvet - perfect for precise painting, as they are very accurate and thin at their extremities.
Princeton heritage set - those are the ones I use the most, they are rounded brushes that hold hips of pigments and are lovely to paint with. This is my second set already as brushes don’t last forever unfortunately. Even if very careful, they tend to become less precise with time.
I also have some specialised brushes I acquired progressively for really specific needs
soft aqua 20mm- Raphael
soies pures n12 - Leonards
vario-tip 12 - DaVinci
TIP - Brushes are pricy and extremely fragile, NEVER let them sit in water ! When painting, always use the horizontal brush holder. Then, they have to be gently washed after each use and dried upside down, suspended in the air.
I don’t think there is any watercolour brushes made in Australia, please let me know if I am wrong, so I got mine online links are in the text.
WATER-BASED PIGMENTS
Pigment quality
Some people go a bit wild with pigments, but remember you can create almost everything with a few colours by mixing them ! Apart from pink and turquoise you can recreate almost every shade of colour with a simple palette when you understand how hue, value and tone work.
So don’t go too fast and start small ! This is the best way to save money as “aquarelle” is a very expensive hobby !
Watercolour paint is made of finely grounded water-soluble pigments mixed with a binding agent, like arabic gum or honey. For example ultramarine blue was made of Lapis Lazuly stone finely crushed <3
There are two types of pigment quality depending of the purity and permanence (UV resistance) of the pigments.
Student grade (fine)
very good to work with, there are less pigments in the mix resulting in less vibrancy and they are not as long lasting.
Professional grade (extra fine)
way more expensive, as there are more pigments in it so they are more vibrant and intense.
Pigments come in 2 different shapes :
Pans
are solid blocks which come in trays and require a small drop of water to activate and use them. They are an economical option that is great for small paintings and for outdoor use.
Tubes
hold watercolour paints in paste-like form. You can use them as is if you are already familiar with water dosage. If not don’t hesitate to buy tubes to refill your pan and let it dry. Tubes are useful for large scale painting.
Did you know ? There is a trend at the moment with granulating watercolour which adds a lot of grainy texture to the paintings. Daniel Smith is the leader in this field. Be careful, those pigments are beautiful but expensive and a bit difficult to handle.
What pigments am I using ?
I am using several brands of watercolour pigments now. Each artist has his or her very own palette, created with time and sensitivity. Here are the brands I am using at the moment.
Winsor & Newton - made in England, excellent quality of paint, large choice of colours.
Sennelier - Made in France with honey, so they are very creamy in the tube. A lot of choices and vibrant colours but unfortunately very hard to find in Australia.
Kuretake Gansai Tambi - Made in Japan for Sumie, they can be used for watercolour and can be found at officework in Australia. They are very vibrant and tend to move less than watercolour pigments.
TIP - start small and build your own palette along the way ! You can also support your local makers, and buy handmade watercolours made in Australia !
and much more !
OTHER WATERCOLOURS SUPPLIES
Here are the other items I regularly use
Handmade ceramic palettes (I have a few if you are interested and can take orders <3)
Black pen (pigma micron) water resistant
Pencils
Kneadable eraser
Masking fluid
Old cloth
Lots of water for me and my paintings !
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MY FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP IN AUSTRALIA
Those are the shops I use or was used to shop in ! I have been living in many place in Australia but not everywhere so please don’t hesitate to share your favourite shop near your place.
Sydney
Perth/Fremantle
Wollongong
Canberra
MY BEST TIP !
Limit your watercolour supplies, choose quality over quantity and practice, practice and practice with love and mindfulness. And tell me what you use and let me know if you have questions.
Colourfully
Sabine