How to Use Watercolor Pencils: A Simple First Exercise
Learn to use watercolor pencils with a three-part exercise: dry drawing, brush activation and finishing details, plus checks for your pencil range.
Read the guide →Art materials, explained
Choose your paper.
Make your mark.
Understand the surface before you start. Practical watercolor paper guides, clear comparisons, and a sheet to record your own results.
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Explore the material guides
Paper, paints, brushes and pencils
How to Clean Watercolor Brushes and Store Them Properly
Clean watercolor brushes gently, reshape the tips and choose a drying position. Learn how to distinguish stained hair from leftover paint deposits.
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Gouache vs Watercolor: Which Painting Approach Fits You?
Compare watercolor, traditional gouache and acrylic gouache by opacity and working approach, then try a small exercise before choosing a paint set.
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Watercolor Pans vs Tubes: Choose Your Painting Setup
Compare watercolor pans and tubes for travel, mixing and refills. Separate paint format from quality and make a fair comparison of purchase costs.
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Watercolor Paper Sizing: What It Does and Why It Matters
Learn what watercolor paper sizing does, how internal and surface treatments differ, and what a simple absorbency observation can tell you.
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Cotton vs Cellulose Watercolor Paper: What to Compare
Compare cotton and wood-pulp watercolor paper by composition, surface, sizing and format, with a practical way to choose your next sample.
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How to Stretch Watercolor Paper with Gummed Tape
Follow a documented method for stretching blank watercolor paper with gummed tape, plus preparation checks and common reasons the tape releases.
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Why Watercolor Paper Buckles, Even at 300 GSM
Understand why watercolor paper buckles and what to check next: wetness, support, released edges and preparation for your next painting.
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Which Side of Watercolor Paper Should You Paint On?
Learn how to choose a side of watercolor paper, interpret watermarks and compare both faces using the guidance for your exact paper range.
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Watercolor Block vs Pad: Which Format Should You Choose?
Compare watercolor blocks, pads and loose sheets. Learn when to keep a sheet attached, how to release it and which format suits your painting routine.
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What Does 300 GSM Mean for Watercolor Paper?
Read the weight label, see a worked A4 example, and separate gsm from surface, thickness and composition.
Read the guide →Hot Press vs Cold Press Watercolor Paper: Which Should You Try?
A smoother surface or more texture? Choose what to try, then compare two small samples with your own tools.
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A paper comparison sheet
Record the paper, repeat the same marks, and keep the results next to each other.