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Watercolor materials and equipment divide into two groups of supplies. Those that must be replenished and those that you can use time and time again. Paint and paper are items in the first group and an easel and brushes are examples of the second. The first type must be replenished with fresh stock.
Selecting the proper easel is a good starting point. Some are designed to be light and portable. Others are heavier and offer greater stability. You can find easels manufactured from many different types of wood or metal. Some artists store extra supplies on the lip of their easel, others do not.
Some artists like to use a palette to mix color washes. Some use paint cutters to dab the pigments. Cups to rinse brushes and hold clean water may also be necessary. A box for clean brushes and a place to store extra paint for next time is also convenient for doing watercolors.
One of the key supplies for painting watercolors is pigment. Pigments come in student or professional varieties. Tubes or pan colors are the top choices. Tube varieties allow the painter to mix color washes more quickly. Both are water soluble. It is also a good idea to carry a pencil in your kit.
Advice from professional artists recommends investing in the best quality brushes instead of a large variety of brushes of lesser quality. The difference is the type of bristle. Red sable is the premium brush. Camel hair or squirrel is also for sale. Imitation red sable may be available. These are for tapered brushes. A few rectangular headed brushes in different sizes may be useful as well.
A good supply of paper or canvas are also important supplies not to overlook when preparing to paint watercolor. Getting together watercolor materials and equipment requires a little planning. But, then when you have time to paint and are inspired, you are ready to go.
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