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Beginning Watercolor with Leslie Watkins

Basics
John Pike watercolor palette or a white dinner plate to get started
Two plastic water containers, pint size
A new cellulose kitchen sponge
A clean terry cloth washcloth or bar mop
Bounty paper towels
Plexiglass or a smooth clean surface that can get wet

Paper
DickBlick.com carries this paper and most of the other items on this list. If you purchase 10 sheets (20” x 30”) or more you’ll get a discount and avoid paying the handling fee. Check the deal of the day for codes.
Saunders Waterford HP watercolor paper, 90#

Brushes
Good quality brushes are expensive, but make a big difference. If you can afford only one brush, get a size 7 or 8.
The synthetic brushes are good substitutes.

Windsor & Newton, series 7, round sables: #4, #7
W&N Sceptre Gold 101 round, #8 or
Princeton Heritage round, #8 or similar
Robert Simmons, Skyflo Wash or similar, #2, optional

Sketching
A spiral sketch book approximately 8” x 10” that will take light washes. I like Aquabee’s “Super Deluxe” or similar
Soft 2B drawing pencil
A kneaded rubber eraser
A Pencil sharpener or single edge razor blade

Watercolors
Windsor & Newton professional quality tubed watercolors (not Cotman). Start with the four colors in bold type, then add the others as you’re ready.

Cadmium Lemon
Permanent Rose
French Ultramarine
Burnt Umber
Cadmium Scarlet
Cobalt Blue
Raw Sienna
Light Red
Burnt Sienna
Designers Gouache Permanent White