Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Couldn't Paint Anything Until This Watercolor Set Came With a Tutorial Book
36
items Staring at a blank watercolor pad with zero clue where to start — that was me for three years. Bought paints twice, watched half a YouTube video, gave up both times. If you've got art supplies collecting dust because nobody taught you the actual basi...
Sections
9
Beginner Watercolor Paint Sets That Actually Teach You
Watercolor Tutorial Books That Don't Talk Down to You
Watercolor Paper That Won't Buckle and Ruin Everything
Watercolor Brushes That Make Beginner Strokes Look Good
Watercolor Mixing Palettes That Keep Colors Clean
Reference Photos and Printable Guides for Painting Practice
Beginner Watercolor Paint Sets That Actually Teach You
Every set I bought before assumed I already knew what I was doing. These ones come with guidance or are organized so a total beginner won't panic looking at 47 unlabeled pans.
Grab this if you've never touched watercolors — the colors are labeled clearly and blend without turning to mud. Went from accidentally making brown blobs to actual gradient skies in a weekend.
Arteza® Watercolor Paint
Splurged on this after my cheap set dried out in two months. The pigment is so rich that even my sloppy technique looked intentional. Worth it if you're past the ‘do I even like painting’ phase.
Paul Rubens Watercolor Paint Set, 48 Colors
Keep this one around for when you want colors that feel soft and dreamy — perfect if you're into painting florals or anything that needs a gentle touch. Bought it for the aesthetic, stayed for the quality.
MozArt Japanese Watercolor Paint Kit 40 Colors 10
Toss this in your bag when you want to paint at a coffee shop without hauling a whole kit. Paper-thin paint sheets that activate with water — my travel-obsessed friend hasn't used anything else since I showed her.
Colorsheets - Original 16 Colors
Watercolor Tutorial Books That Don't Talk Down to You
Most art books either assume you went to art school or treat you like a five-year-old. These hit the sweet spot where I actually learned technique without wanting to throw the book across the room.
Switch to this if YouTube tutorials move too fast — Jenna breaks down every single brushstroke with photos. Painted my first decent wreath following chapter three and literally texted everyone I know.
Companion Guide 12 Days of Christmas Cards | A Watercolor Journey Through Christmas with Jenna B Studio
Snag one of these handmade zines if big textbooks intimidate you. Short, friendly, and I finished the whole thing in one afternoon with a glass of wine. Felt like a friend teaching me.
A Trainer's Guide To Brew 'Em All Watercolor Art Zine, Recipe Book
Use this if you learn by doing, not reading — it's basically a workbook with exercises on each page. Filled it out over two weeks and the difference between page one and the last page shocked me.
Watercolor Cat Painting Workbook for Beginners | Step-by-Step Guided Lessons | Travel Size Art Practice Book
For anyone who keeps saying 'I don't have time to paint.' Each project is genuinely fast and the results look way more impressive than the effort. Did three in one evening while dinner was in the oven.
15-Minute Watercolor Masterpieces
Watercolor Paper That Won't Buckle and Ruin Everything
Ruined my first painting because I used printer paper like a fool. It warped, the paint pooled in weird wrinkles, and I almost quit. Paper matters more than paint — learned that the expensive way.
Ditch whatever thin paper you're using — this stuff stays flat even when you soak it. Pricey but I stopped wasting paint on paper that buckled, so it actually saved money long-term.
Arches Cold Press 140lb Watercolor Paper Bright White, 2"x3.5",3"x5",4"x6",5"x7"and
Try these handmade sheets when you want something with texture and character. Each one feels slightly different, which sounds annoying but actually makes every painting feel one-of-a-kind.
Handmade Cotton Rag Paper , Pack of 5
Pair this with any beginner set and your paintings instantly look better — not kidding. The paper absorbs pigment so smoothly that even my wobbly lines looked deliberate. Wish someone told me sooner.
Watercolor Paper-watercolor Paper Block-watercolor
Bring this if you want a sketchbook that can actually handle wet media without pages gluing together. Took it on vacation and painted every morning at breakfast — the binding held up perfectly.
Arches Cold Press Watercolor Sketchbook – Portrait Art Journal, 100% Cotton
Watercolor Brushes That Make Beginner Strokes Look Good
Spent my first month using a brush from a kids' craft kit. The bristles splayed out like a broom. Decent brushes made the biggest single difference in how my paintings turned out.
Grab these if you want one set that does everything — thin lines, broad washes, details. The snap-back on these brushes is wild and they hold a point forever. Replaced five random brushes with just these.
Black Velvet Silver Brush - Round - 3000S - Watercolor Brush
Keep a set of these around for when you want loose, organic strokes. They don't give you perfect control and that's the whole point — my landscapes got so much better when I stopped trying to be precise.
Handmade Bamboo Paint Brush for Outlying
Use this as your everyday workhorse brush. Affordable enough that you won't cry if you accidentally leave it in the water jar overnight, but good enough that your strokes look clean.
Princeton Heritage Brush Watercolor Round 4050R - 12
Toss these in your bag for painting on the go — the barrel holds water so you don't need a cup. Painted at the park last week and a stranger asked what brand they were. That's when you know.
3X Pentel Aquash Water Brush-broad/medium/fine Point
Watercolor Mixing Palettes That Keep Colors Clean
Was mixing colors on a paper plate for months and wondering why everything looked muddy. Turns out a real palette with wells actually keeps your colors separate. Revolutionary, I know.
Swap your paper plate for this — ceramic doesn't stain and the paint beads up so you can see true colors. Cleaned it once with a sponge and it looked brand new. Paper plates could never.
Handmade Leaf Ceramic Watercolor Palette, Artist Paint Mixing Tray, Portable Ceramic Paint Palette, Gift for Painters, Unique Artist Gift
Splurge on this if painting is becoming your actual hobby and not just a phase. Each one is slightly unique and the weight keeps it from sliding around. Feels like real artist equipment.
Ceramic Watercolor Palette with Brush Rest – Porcelain Mixing Tray for Artists
Get this if you want something cute on your desk that also works perfectly. The petal wells are the ideal size for mixing small amounts. My daughter keeps trying to steal it so I bought her one too.
Little Daisy | Non Ceramic Paint Palette
Bring this one when you paint outside — it folds shut so nothing spills in your bag. Learned this lesson after a regular palette leaked cerulean blue all over my favorite tote. Never again.
Clip-on Large Folding Watercolor Palette: 24 Wells
Reference Photos and Printable Guides for Painting Practice
Staring at a blank page with no idea what to paint killed my motivation every single time. Having a reference in front of me removed the decision paralysis and let me just start.
Try this the first time you attempt a sunset — it breaks the sky into like four layers and tells you exactly when to let each one dry. My first sunset looked legit and I nearly framed it on the spot.
10 Lake Sunset Clipart Bundle, Serene Waterscape Illustration, Printable Watercolor Clipart, High Quality JPG, Paper Craft, Junk Journals
Use these when you want to paint something pretty but don't want to figure out composition. Each card has a photo plus color suggestions. Painted six flowers in a week and filled a whole wall.
Watercolor Cattails Blank Note Cards | Watercolor Botanical Stationery | Gardener Nature Lover Gift | Boxed Set of 8
Perfect if you freeze up at a blank page — these have faint outlines you paint over. Feels like training wheels but honestly who cares, my mountains actually looked like mountains for once.
Pre Printed Watercolor Practice Sheets Coastal Watercolor Pages for Beginners Watercolor Painting Practice with Reference Images
Snag this before you waste half your paint trying random combinations. Printed it out, taped it to my desk, and stopped accidentally making that gross olive green that haunted every painting.
Watercolor Mixing Chart Printable
Desk and Studio Setup for Small Space Painting
Started painting on my kitchen table and ruined it with water stains within a week. These things let me set up a proper painting spot in my tiny apartment without taking over the whole room.
Prop this on any table and suddenly you have a real workspace — tilts to the perfect angle so paint flows down naturally instead of pooling. Folds flat and slides behind my bookshelf when I'm done.
Adjustable Art Display Easel Stand Metal Frame Holder for Artwork Prints and Photos Tabletop Easel Home Decor Galleries Gift Art Mount
Keep your brushes in this instead of that mug on your desk where they get crushed. Rolls up tight, protects the tips, and looks way better than the ziplock bag I was using before. Adults deserve nice things.
Handmade Leather Brush Roll: Artist Travel Case
Throw this under your palette and stop panicking about water rings on your table. Caught a full jar of dirty water when I knocked it over last month — the mat saved my rental deposit honestly.
Cowhide PU Desk Mat, Custom Size and Shape Desk Mat, Large Leather Desk Mat, Waterproof Table Surface Protector, School Gaming Desk Mat
Get this if your supplies are scattered across three drawers and a shoebox. Everything fits in one spot and I can carry it from desk to couch to patio. Painting happens more when setup takes ten seconds.
Art Caddy / Art Supply 3 Compartment Storage Box
Finishing Touches and Detailing Supplies
My paintings looked flat until I started adding small details at the end — white highlights, fine lines, little splatters. These are the things that made people say ‘wait, YOU painted that?’
Use this to add tiny white highlights after your painting dries — stars, light reflections, water sparkles. One pen turned my flat sunset into something that actually looked like it had depth. Under five bucks too.
Buy Uni-ball Signo White Gel Pen: Broad Line
Dip a fine brush in this for bright white details that watercolor alone can't do. Fixed a painting I'd given up on by adding white clouds and suddenly it was my favorite piece. Actual rescue ink.
Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White Ink
Pair this with any finished painting for metallic accents — I added gold to a botanical piece and it went from ‘nice’ to ‘where can I buy that.’ A little goes a very long way so one pan lasts forever.
Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour Revival Collection 8 Half Pan Tin
Grab these for adding crisp outlines after your watercolor dries. Went through a phase of outlining everything and honestly it made my sketchy technique look intentional and stylized. Happy accidents everywhere.
Micro Fineliner Drawing Art Pens 12/6 Black Fine Line
Framing and Displaying Your First Watercolor Paintings
Painted my first sunset and then it sat in a drawer for two months because I didn't know how to display it without it looking like a kindergarten art project on the fridge.
Stick your first painting in this and hang it up — simple wood frame that makes even beginner work look like you bought it at a market. Framing it made me take my own art seriously for the first time.
Farmhouse 8x10 Picture Wood Frame Rustic Home Décor Solid Wood Frame
Toss your practice paintings on this string display instead of hiding them. Seeing my progress on the wall actually motivated me to keep going. Plus guests always comment on it — instant conversation starter.
Pink Beaded Photo Garland, Kids Artwork Display, Nursery Decor, Birthday classroom display, Photo display, Clothespin photo display,
Use these to store paintings you're not displaying — keeps them flat, clean, and safe from that mysterious yellow tinge paper gets over time. Wish I'd had these before my first few pieces got creased in a drawer.
Plastic sleeves (acid free) and chipboard backing for Art Prints - fits 4x6 or 5x7 inch, and 8x10 or 8.5x11 prints
Try these if you want your paintings to look like they're in a gallery without spending gallery money. The acrylic makes watercolors pop and you can swap pieces in and out whenever you finish something new.
Three Clear Acrylic Floating Photo Frames