Chinese Calligraphy Brushes are my must-haves! It's the same brush we use at my workshops and art classes. I can sing long songs about this brush, how versatile and handy it is, plus it's only $10.99 for 3 brushes!
You can buy it on Amazon
A Hake Brush to wet paper in a few sizes at OPUS and my favourite set of affordable brushes from Opus - Galiano Brush Set
My beloved brushes from Silver Brush Black Velvet Collection - Set of 3 Round, Script Liner Brush for fine branches, grass, fur. I've been painting with these for a few years now and they are still in amazing shape!
And last, but not least, a set of Travel Brushes for plein air painting and sketching on the go.
2. The Essential Sketchbook
If you’re like me, you LOVE a good paper sketchbook. I use this one to sketch outside, try new ideas and experiment with new colours — this sketchbook goes with me any and everywhere. If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen me fill the pages on hikes and trips or painting in my studio. I also bring it my classes and workshops.
Grab yours here
3. Watercolour Paper
Your watercolour painting will be as permanent and as good as the paint and the paper you use. What do I mean by a good paper? I mean 100% cotton, professional watercolour paper. These types of paper are more expensive, but a cheap paper cannot respond to treatment like a good one, and your paint and brushes will get only as good a response as your paper will allow. Here are a few of my favourite cotton papers Arches Cold Press, Baohong Cold Press and Khadi Square Paper
This Opus Cold Press paper is great to start with before you are ready to switch to 100% cotton.
4. Watercolour Paints
To do justice to good quality paper, you need good paints. Students’ paints are great if they are made by reputable manufacturers – Van Gogh by Royal Talens for example or Cottman series by Winsor & Newton. Your palette or choice of colours will mainly depend on the subjects of your paintings. I suggest starting with prepacked sets and then slowly adding more colours. You can buy those in pans or tubes.
Here are a few sets Van Gogh 10 Paints Tube Set , Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set
Some of you know how much I love the Original Green paint from White Nights. I couldn't find it separately, but here it is in a set with 3 other paints
My favourite colours from Opus line are Phthalo Blue, Cobalt Turuoise, Ganboge, Hansa Yellow, Opera Rose, Dioxazine Violet and Perylene Green, from Van Gogh Olive green, Turquise Blue, Pyrrole Orange, Madder Lake Deep, Lavender, Oxide Black (granulating). And here are a few of my favourite colours from Daniel Smith - Moonglow, Indanthrone Blue, Cascade Green, Green Apatite Genuine
5. Masking Liquid
This one is not essential but I find it very useful when I need to protect the white of the snow on mountain peaks, or add the highlight into the eye or fur on my animal paintings.
This one is my favourite
6. Palettes
I have a couple of palettes where I squeeze my paints into and carry it around with me. I mean I take this little palette everywhere! It's light and compact that I can paint while hiking and having my full set of colours with me.
At home I often use my heavy ceramic plate as a palette, and if you are looking for some fancier options, here they are Large Ceramic Palette with lid and Small Ceramic Palette with Lid
7. Paint Brush Roll Canvas Pouch
This pouch is perfect to hold your brushes and protect them from damage when you move around, but it also lets them dry naturally. It's durable and washable, I have mine for many years and it still looks like new. Grab yours here
8. Portable Water cup
Something that I always take with me on plein air and also use at my studio - my portable Water Cup. This one is the best
9. Books on Drawing
A very important skill to develop that will greatly improve your watercolour painting is Drawing. Mastering the tone values, strokes and details will affect the way you paint. So here are a couple of books that I found easy to follow and instructional - Drawing: Landscapes
10. Desk Easel
When you think about watercolour painting, easels very rarely cross your mind. And I didn't realize I needed one for my desk until I developed Carpal tunnel syndrome and could no longer hold my paper pads or boards. I bought one that's adjustable, light and easy to store. I love that you can adjust it to any angle which is crucial for watercolour painting.
Get yours here
Full Amazon Shopping List - click here
If you prefer to shop at OPUS Art Supplies. Use this link and code MARKELOVA at checkout for 10% Off on anything!
Happy Shopping,
Elena
It's nice and sunny outside which means it's the perfect time to do some plein air sketches and studies! The French term 'plein air' means out of doors and refers to the practice of painting entire finished pictures out of doors. I believe it is crucial for artists of all levels to go outside and do sketches and studies in nature for several reasons:
Not understanding the properties of watercolor paint. Watercolour paint behaves differently than other types of paints, and beginners may not understand how to work with its unique properties, such as its transparency, granulation, and staining qualities.
Using too much water. Beginners may use too much water when mixing and applying watercolour paint, which can cause the colors to become too light, runny, and hard to control.
Not layering colors correctly. Watercolour paintings often require several layers of paint to achieve the desired effect, beginners may not understand how to properly layer colors, which can result in a flat, unfinished look.
Not using a good quality paper. Watercolour paper is different than other types of paper, and beginners may not understand the importance of using good quality paper that can handle the amount of water needed for watercolour painting.
Not using the right brush. Watercolour painting requires specific types of brushes to achieve different textures, beginners may not be familiar with the different types of brushes and their uses.
Not practicing enough. Like any other skill, watercolor painting requires practice and experimentation, beginners may not have the patience to put in the time and effort to improve their skills.
On my workshops and classes we cover all of these. I wish there could be just one time practice to figure it all out, but it all comes to the last point - PRACTICE. Only by practicing yourself again and again you can build a deeper understanding of the properties of the paint, using the right amount of water and brush for specific washes and techniques, layering colors correctly, etc.
Always remember, that it takes time to master something, and even small steps in improving your watercolor painting skills are important!
Best of luck on your watercolour journey,
Elena
Here are a few tips for buyers to choose the right art for their home:
Consider your personal style and taste: Choose artwork that speaks to your personal style and taste. This will ensure that the artwork will complement your existing decor and that you will enjoy looking at it for years to come.
Think about the room where the art will be displayed: Consider the room where the art will be displayed, and choose artwork that will complement the style and color scheme of the room.
Consider the size and placement of the artwork: Think about the size and placement of the artwork. Make sure that the artwork is the right size for the space and that it will be placed in a location where it can be easily viewed.
Consider the lighting of the room: Lighting can greatly affect how an artwork looks, so it's important to consider the lighting in the room where the artwork will be displayed.
Consider the budget: Set a budget for your art purchase and stick to it. You can find great art at various price points, so don't be discouraged if you're working with a limited budget.
Invest in quality art: Investing in quality art can be a great way to add value to your home. Consider buying pieces by established artists or artworks with a good provenance.
Research the artist and artwork: Research the artist and the artwork you are interested in, it will give you more insight and context to the work.
Get a professional opinion: If you are uncertain about your choice, seek the advice of an art professional, such as a gallery owner or art consultant.
Ultimately, the most important thing is that you love the art you choose and that it brings you joy every time you see it.
If you have any questions about my artwork, please don't hesitate to reach out - hello@elenamarkelova.com
I might have more pieces available that are not listed on the website, and I also do custom work.