Discover my complete guide to choosing your watercolor materials with confidence, created by watercolor artist Caroline Venencie.

Choosing watercolor materials can quickly become overwhelming. There are hundreds of papers, brushes, pigments and palettes to choose from, and the same color name can refer to very different formulations depending on the brand.

This 56-page guide will help you understand what you’re buying, why it matters and how to choose materials that truly suit the way you paint.

I share the materials I personally use and love in my studio, including my favorite watercolor papers, brushes, pigments, palettes and tools, along with practical explanations to help you make informed choices.

You’ll learn how to read watercolor labels, understand pigment codes, lightfastness and transparency, compare different formulations, choose your paper, build your own palette and understand why some colors behave so differently from others.

I also share my favorite colors, interesting alternatives from different brands, and practical tips gathered over years of painting and teaching watercolor.

This guide is much more than a shopping list. It’s a practical reference to help you understand your watercolor materials and make confident, informed choices.

Whether you’re just starting out or have been painting for years, I hope this guide will help you discover new materials, avoid unnecessary purchases and build a watercolor palette that truly works for you.