You want to create paintings with watercolors, but you're not quite sure how to begin or which colors to choose? Then you're in the right place! In our comprehensive watercolor guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know to enjoy painting with watercolors to the fullest!

What is Water-Based Paint?

What's the difference between watercolor paint and water-based paint? Watercolor paint contains higher-quality pigments and is more concentrated than regular water-based paint (often called tempera or poster paint). Water-based paint typically contains cheaper color pigments and binding agents. This is why water-based paints aren't as intense and vibrant as professional watercolors.

If you compare both types side by side, you'll immediately notice that watercolor paint has a more intense luminosity and transparency. The pigments in watercolors are finely ground and suspended in a water-soluble binder (usually gum arabic), creating brilliant, transparent washes of color. That's why painting with watercolors is so rewarding!

In principle, you can paint on watercolor paper with both types, just as you would with any water-based medium. So if you spontaneously feel like painting and only have water-based paint on hand, go ahead and enjoy being creative. However, we recommend starting with a small selection of quality watercolors so you can experience the joy that the luminous quality of watercolor brings to your artwork.

For paint by numbers projects, water-based acrylic paint is typically used for its opacity and ease of use.

How Much Watercolor Paint Do You Need to Start?

If you were to buy an enormous range of colors, perhaps even effect colors like gold, silver, and glitter, you might feel overwhelmed at first, not knowing what to use because the choice is so vast. That's why we recommend starting with a small selection, for example, with the basic colors: yellow, blue, and red.

If you want to expand slightly, you can buy these colors in both cooler and warmer tints:

• Yellows: Cadmium Yellow (warm) and Lemon Yellow (cool)
• Blues: Ultramarine Blue (warm) and Cerulean Blue (cool)
• Reds: Cadmium Red (warm) and Alizarin Crimson (cool)

You don't need to buy green separately, as it can be mixed from blue and yellow. Add black (or better yet, a dark brown like Burnt Umber), and you're perfectly equipped to begin. With these basic colors, you can mix an enormous color spectrum!

Pro Tip: Looking for quality brushes for watercolor painting? Check out our Super Deluxe Nylon Brushes (10 pieces) or our Premium Brushes (5 pieces) perfect for watercolor techniques!

Discover Your Favorite Colors

Over time, you'll notice which colors you use most frequently. You'll quickly realize that not all colors in your paint set wear down equally. Some you'll dip your brush into repeatedly, while others remain barely touched.

This is another reason why it's worth starting with a small selection. Observe which colors you mix together particularly often and apply to your watercolor paper. You can then expand your watercolor collection accordingly. This way, you can gradually build your favorite color palette. Additionally, you'll save money initially by not buying unnecessary colors that might never get used.

Keep a color mixing journal to track your favorite combinations:

• Note the proportions used for each mix
• Create color swatches for reference
• Write down which subjects each color works best for
• Track which brands and pigments you prefer

Must-Have: A Mixing Palette

Before you start painting, we recommend having a mixing palette ready, alongside brushes, water, watercolor paint, and paper towels. You can use a small porcelain or plastic plate, or purchase a dedicated mixing palette from an art supply store to mix your custom colors.

Types of palettes for watercolor:

• Plastic palettes: Lightweight, affordable, easy to clean
• Porcelain palettes: Don't stain, colors mix true, professional choice
• Folding palettes: Great for travel, often include mixing areas and wells
• Butcher trays: Large mixing area for big washes

Try it out, get to know the colors as you mix them, and see what new hues emerge. Experimentation is key to mastering watercolor!

What to Look for When Buying Watercolors?

Watercolors come in two main forms: tubes and pans (also called cakes). Each has its own advantages, and many artists use both depending on their needs.

Tubes contain moist paint that you squeeze out and dilute with water as needed. The paint can be applied undiluted to paper and then activated with water for various effects.

Pans contain dried paint cakes that you activate by adding water with your brush. They're compact and convenient for travel.

The difference lies in consistency and convenience. The excellent quality and luminosity of colors are equal, as long as the watercolors are of good quality. Every artist can decide for themselves whether they prefer working with watercolors in pans or tubes.

Advantages of Watercolor Tubes

Tube colors are gentle on brushes. When you repeatedly scrub your brush in pans, especially when they're running low on paint, the brush tip wears down over time. This doesn't happen with tube paints: You squeeze paint onto your mixing palette and gently brush through it.

Additional advantages of tubes:

• Perfect for mixing large quantities of color for big paintings
• Fresh, moist paint is immediately ready to use
• Easy to create intense, saturated colors
• Better for techniques requiring thick paint application
• Can be more economical for frequently used colors

If you want to mix large amounts of color, for example to paint a large-format watercolor, we recommend using watercolor tubes. Small amounts of paint can easily be mixed from tubes, but when you need lots of paint on a large brush, tubes are more practical.

Advantages of Watercolor Pans

A watercolor box with pans is more practical for travel or painting outdoors (plein air). You have all colors and tools, including brushes and often an integrated mixing palette, directly at hand and can paint anywhere without fumbling with tubes and caps.

Additional advantages of pans:

• More environmentally friendly with less packaging waste
• No risk of tubes drying out or leaking
• Easy to see all colors at a glance
• Perfect for sketching and quick studies
• Compact and organized storage

Aesthetically, we personally find a paint box with pans more appealing. The sight of so many colorful cakes makes us eager to start creating!

Do you want to mix colors with water yourself, or do you prefer colors that are already dissolved? If you're unsure, try both by purchasing one color in a tube and one in a pan. To maximize your painting enjoyment, it's important to figure out what works best for you and what feels most comfortable.

What Do the Symbols on Watercolors Mean?

Professional watercolor paints come wrapped like gifts in paper labels. Have you noticed that the paper is often marked with various symbols? These symbols help you choose colors wisely. Since you can use them as guides in the future, we'll explain what these symbols are and what they mean.

High-quality watercolors are always marked with legends that provide information about the special characteristics of the colors:

1. Square Symbol - Opacity/Transparency

The small squares on watercolor packaging symbolize coverage or opacity:

• Empty square (□): Transparent color. This watercolor provides little coverage when painted on paper and can easily be layered over other colors. Perfect for glazing techniques and creating luminous effects.
• Square with diagonal line (⧈): Semi-transparent. Slightly stronger and more visible than transparent colors of the same hue.
• Half-filled square (◧): Semi-opaque colors. Good balance between transparency and coverage.
• Fully filled square (■): Opaque color. Provides maximum coverage and can hide underlying layers.

Choose transparent colors for:

• Layering and glazing techniques
• Creating atmospheric effects
• Mixing clean, bright colors

Choose opaque colors for:

• Adding highlights
• Correcting mistakes
• Creating bold, solid areas

2. Triangle Symbol - Staining Properties

The triangle symbols on watercolor paint indicate how easily colors can be removed from paper:

• Empty triangle (△): Non-staining. Colors that can easily be lifted from paper, even when dry. Perfect for techniques requiring corrections.
• Half-filled triangle (◭): Semi-staining. Moderate lifting ability.
• Filled triangle (▲): Staining color. Difficult to remove from paper once applied. These pigments bond strongly with paper fibers.

If you want to make corrections or lift colors with a brush and water, choose watercolors with an empty triangle. Staining colors are excellent for:

• First washes that won't lift when layered
• Creating permanent underpaintings
• Intense, lasting color effects

Additional Important Symbols:

Stars (★) - Lightfastness:

• ★★★★ or I = Excellent lightfastness (100+ years)
• ★★★ or II = Very good lightfastness (25-100 years)
• ★★ or III = Good lightfastness (10-25 years)
• ★ or IV = Poor lightfastness (2-10 years)

If you plan to display or sell your paintings, choose colors with high lightfastness ratings. Watercolors with few stars may lose their brilliance in daylight, fade, or even change color over time.

How Much Water Do You Need for Best Results?

The right amount of water is crucial for achieving your desired color intensity on paper. It's best to have a piece of watercolor paper ready as scrap paper to test how much or little water you need for the color to match your vision.

Our tip: Start with less water and add more as needed. You can always add more water, but if you use too much initially, color correction becomes more difficult.

Water-to-paint ratios for different effects:

• Tea consistency (90% water): Very light washes, sky backgrounds
• Milk consistency (70% water): Standard washes, general painting
• Cream consistency (50% water): Rich color, good coverage
• Butter consistency (20% water): Intense color, dry brush effects

Of course, it also depends on what you want to paint. If you want colors to flow beautifully into each other or paint a background, it's worth working with more water. For very fine lines and details, on the other hand, you need less water.

Watercolor Brush Pens - For Precise Work

Besides traditional watercolor brushes, paint tubes, and pans, you might encounter watercolor brush pens in your search for the right materials. These allow you to apply your subject and precise lines to paper with control, and if desired, blend the color afterward with a damp brush.

Advantages of watercolor brush pens:

• Excellent for detailed line work and lettering
• No need for separate water containers
• Portable and mess-free
• Great for urban sketching
• Perfect for adding details to paintings

Or perhaps the best way to immerse yourself in watercolor painting is to hold a traditional brush and let the colors flow naturally into each other. It's always exciting to see what the wonderful flowing properties of watercolor create on paper!

Take time to decide whether you prefer working with brushes or watercolor pens. The choice naturally depends on the subject you want to create. You'll enjoy maximum creative pleasure when you use materials that feel most comfortable to you.

How to Make Watercolor Paintings Last Longer

There are several methods to preserve and protect your watercolor paintings:

Fixatives and Varnishes

Fixative sprays work similarly to hairspray, creating a protective layer over your painting that provides UV protection. If you choose to use such a spray, ensure you select a high-quality product specifically designed for watercolors. Cheap fixatives can alter colors or cause unsightly spots.

Important: Always test fixatives on scrap paper first to understand how they affect your colors!

Alternative Preservation Methods

• Framing behind glass: The most effective protection against UV light and environmental damage
• Archival storage: Store in acid-free folders or portfolios away from light
• Digital archiving: Create high-resolution scans or photographs for permanent records
• Climate control: Keep paintings in stable temperature and humidity conditions

In our opinion, fixatives aren't absolutely necessary. If you frame pictures behind glass or store them properly in portfolios, you should enjoy them for many years without color changes or fading. For safety, you can also have professional prints made of your paintings while keeping the originals protected.

Essential Watercolor Techniques to Master

Wet-on-Wet

Apply wet paint to wet paper or wet paint for soft, flowing effects. Perfect for:

• Skies and clouds
• Soft backgrounds
• Color mixing directly on paper

Wet-on-Dry

Apply wet paint to dry paper for controlled, precise marks. Ideal for:

• Details and sharp edges
• Layering (glazing)
• Building color intensity

Dry Brush

Use minimal water for textured effects. Great for:

• Tree bark and rocks
• Hair and fur textures
• Grass and foliage

Lifting

Remove wet or dry paint with a damp brush or sponge for:

• Creating highlights
• Correcting mistakes
• Softening edges

Getting Started with Watercolor Painting

Ready to begin your watercolor journey? Here's your essential shopping list:

1. Basic watercolor set (6-12 colors)
2. Quality brushes - Check out our Super Deluxe Nylon Brushes
3. Watercolor paper (at least 140lb/300gsm)
4. Mixing palette
5. Water containers (2 jars - one for clean, one for dirty water)
6. Paper towels or sponges
7. Masking tape (to secure paper)
8. Pencil and eraser (for initial sketches)

Looking for a complete creative experience? Explore our paint by numbers collection where all materials are provided, perfect for learning color relationships and brush techniques!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are watercolor and water-based paint the same thing?

Can watercolor be mixed with water?

What's the best paper for watercolor painting?

Can I use regular brushes for watercolor?

How do I prevent my watercolor paper from buckling?

Start Your Creative Journey Today

We hope this comprehensive guide has given you a clear understanding of watercolor painting! Whether you choose professional watercolors or start with basic water-based paints, the most important thing is to begin creating.

Remember, every master watercolorist started as a beginner. The key is to practice regularly, experiment with techniques, and most importantly, enjoy the process. Watercolor's unpredictable nature is part of its charm - embrace the happy accidents!

Ready to start? Grab some quality brushes and begin your watercolor adventure. Or try our paint by numbers kits for a structured introduction to painting!

Happy Painting!

Share your watercolor creations with #SwynkWatercolors - we love seeing your artistic journey unfold!