A Beginner’s Guide to Watercolor Paints: What Every Artist Should Know

Watercolor painting has a reputation for being light, fluid, and effortlessly beautiful — but behind every luminous wash or expressive stroke is one essential ingredient: the paint itself.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your materials, understanding watercolor paints is key to unlocking the full potential of this versatile medium. Here’s a breakdown of what makes watercolor paint unique, what to look for when choosing your paints, and how to find the right fit for your creative process.

What Makes Watercolor Paints Different?

At its core, watercolor paint is made from three simple components:

• Pigment: The colored substance, either natural or synthetic.

• Binder: Usually gum arabic, which helps the pigment stick to the paper.

• Additives: These control texture, flow, and shelf life.

What sets watercolor apart from other paint types is its transparency and interaction with water. Unlike oils or acrylics, watercolors rely on the whiteness of the paper to reflect light through the pigment, creating that glowing, luminous effect artists love.

Types of Watercolor Paints

Watercolor paints come in several forms, each with its own strengths:

1. Pans (Half or Full)

• Small cakes of dry paint activated with water.

• Ideal for travel and sketching on the go.

• Long shelf life and low mess.

2. Tubes

• Moist paint with a creamy consistency.

• Better for larger works or when you need more pigment.

• Can be re-wet if dried on a palette.

3. Liquid Watercolor

• Highly concentrated, vibrant, and fluid.

• Great for bold washes and mixed-media work.

• Often used in illustration and design.

4. Sticks, Crayons & Pencils (Water Soluble)

• Can be used as-is or with a brush

• Great for details.

• Great for travel.

Student Grade vs. Artist (Professional) Grade

Choosing between student and professional-grade paints depends on your goals and budget.

• Student GradeLess expensive, but made with lower pigment concentration and more fillers. Great for practice, but colors may be less vibrant or lightfast (meaning they fade faster).

• Artist GradeHigher pigment load, better permanence, and richer colors. They mix well and behave more predictably, making them worth the investment as you advance.

Popular brands for artist-grade watercolors include Winsor & Newton Professional, Daniel Smith, Schmincke, Holbein, and M. Graham.

Key Terms to Know When Shopping for Paints

• Lightfastness: How resistant the color is to fading over time.

• Transparency: How much the white of the paper shows through.

• Granulation: Some pigments settle into the paper’s texture, creating a grainy look.

• Staining vs. Lifting: Staining colors soak into the paper and are hard to remove; non-staining colors can be lifted or adjusted.

Understanding these qualities helps you select paints that match your style — whether you prefer smooth gradients or textured, layered effects.

My Tip as a Mixed-Media Watercolor Artist

Don’t feel like you need to buy a huge set to start. A small, curated palette of high-quality paints — even just 6 to 8 colors — can be more powerful than a full student-grade kit. Learn how your colors behave, mix them intentionally, and expand your collection as your style evolves.

I always recommend beginning with a warm and cool version of each primary color — red, blue, and yellow — plus a favorite neutral or two. This gives you amazing flexibility without being overwhelming.

In the End, It’s About the Experience

Watercolor paint is unlike any other medium. It’s responsive, alive, and often surprising. The more you get to know your materials, the more they’ll reward you with vibrant washes, delicate textures, and that signature watercolor glow.

Whether you paint from a New York studio, a California coastline, or your kitchen table, the right watercolor paints can bring your vision to life — one brushstroke at a time.