Watercolour is one of the most rewarding art mediums to pick up — and one of the most misunderstood. It's not just for fine artists. It's for anyone who wants to slow down, make something beautiful, and enjoy the process. Here's everything you need to get started, with picks from what we carry at CzipLee.
1. Start with the Right Paint
Not all watercolours are equal. Student-grade paints are cheaper but have lower pigment concentration — colours look washed out and don't mix as cleanly. Artist-grade paints cost more per tube but go further and produce richer results.
We carry watercolours across a range of price points and quality tiers:
- Blockx — our top-of-the-range recommendation. A Belgian brand with over 150 years of history, Blockx watercolours are made with the finest pigments and honey-based binders. Exceptionally smooth, intensely pigmented, and built to last. Available in half pans and 15ml tubes, including a full metal module system for serious collectors and artists.
- Sennelier L'Aquarelle — French artist-grade watercolour with a honey binder for exceptional flow. The iridescent sets add a beautiful shimmer — a step up for those who want something special.
- White Nights — a Russian artist-grade brand beloved worldwide for excellent pigment load and vibrant colours at an accessible price. Available in pan sets and tubes, with curated palettes including Landscape and Fantasy colourways. A great starting point for serious beginners.
Browse our watercolour paint range →
2. Choose the Right Brushes
You don't need many brushes to start — you need the right ones. We carry two categories: traditional watercolour brushes for painting, and brush pens for illustration and lettering.
Traditional Watercolour Brushes
- Silver Brush — our premium brush range. The Black Velvet Voyage travel rounds are our top recommendation for beginners — they hold a beautiful point, carry a generous amount of water, and the travel format protects the tip. Size 8 is the most versatile starting point. The Ruby Satin Pointed Triangle is great for texture and expressive mark-making; the Crystal Short-Angle handles washes and clean edges.
- Mont Marte — squirrel mop brushes for soft, broad washes. A good value entry point for beginners who need a large wash brush.
- Nevskaya Palitra — squirrel short-rounds, excellent for controlled wet-on-wet work and soft blending.
Brush Pens
Brush pens have ink already inside — no water or palette needed. Great for illustration, lettering, and journaling.
- Pentel Brush Sign Pen Artist UF — flexible brush tip with ultra-fine control. Available in a wide range of colours. The go-to for illustration and hand lettering.
- Pentel Brush Sign Pen Twin — dual-tip with a brush end and a fine liner end. Versatile for journaling and sketching.
- Pentel Arts Colour Brush — individual ink-filled brush pens in vivid colours. Great for expressive mark-making and colour work.
- Jacques Herbin Creapen — a refillable brush marker that works with any fountain pen ink. For those who want to use their favourite ink in brush form.
3. Paper Makes or Breaks Your Work
This is the most overlooked part of a beginner's setup. Thin, cheap paper buckles and warps the moment it gets wet. Watercolour paper should be at least 200gsm — 300gsm is the standard for serious work.
Paper also comes in three surface textures: Hot Press (smooth, good for detail), Cold Press (slightly textured, the most versatile), and Rough (heavily textured, great for expressive work).
We carry a strong range of watercolour surfaces from the brands we trust most:
- Clairefontaine — our core paper brand. Their watercolour learning pads (300gsm) are ideal for beginners who want quality paper without committing to a full block. Smooth, consistent, and made in France.
- Arches — the gold standard in watercolour paper. 100% cotton, French-made, available in blocks that keep sheets flat while you work. The choice of professional watercolourists worldwide.
- Bockingford — reliable and affordable Cold Press pads. Great for practice and everyday painting without the premium price tag.
- Syamal — large-format practice pads (A2) at excellent value. Good for loose, expressive work where you need room to move.
- Canson Barbizon — individual sheets for those who prefer to work on loose paper rather than pads or blocks.
Browse our watercolour paper and surfaces →
4. Your Starter Setup
| What you need | Budget pick | Step-up pick | Top range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint | White Nights 24 Pans | Sennelier L'Aquarelle Iridescent Set | Blockx Half Pans |
| Round brush | Mont Marte Squirrel Mop | Silver Brush Black Velvet Travel Round 8 | Silver Brush Ruby Satin Pure Red Sable |
| Paper (practice) | Clairefontaine Learning Pad 300g | Bockingford 300g Cold Press Pad | Arches 300gsm Block |
| Paper (large format) | Syamal A2 200g Pad | Syamal A2 300g Pad | Arches 300gsm Block |
Come and Try Before You Buy
Not sure which set is right for you? Visit us at Bangsar Village II and our team will walk you through the options. Or browse our full watercolour range online.
If you're also choosing a sketchbook, our Sketchbook Guide covers size, paper weight, and binding in detail.