Paints I Love

Choosing Watercolour & Gouache Without the Overwhelm

Choosing watercolour paints can feel surprisingly confusing — especially when you’re new to painting. With so many brands, price points, and opinions online, it’s hard to know which paints are actually worth using and which ones might hold you back.

Over time, I’ve learned that the paints you start with really do matter. Using low-grade, chalky paints or paints with weak pigment can make watercolour feel frustrating and difficult, even when your technique is improving. Good-quality paints don’t have to be expensive, but they should feel vibrant, responsive, and enjoyable to use.

That’s why I’ve created a simple guide called Paints I Love — to take some of the guesswork out of choosing your paints.

Why Your Choice of Paint Matters

When you’re learning watercolour, your paints play a huge role in how the medium behaves. Poor-quality paints can:

• look dull or muddy
• feel difficult to control
• make techniques harder than they need to be
• affect your confidence and enjoyment

Using well-pigmented, reliable paints allows colours to flow more beautifully, mix more cleanly, and respond better to water. This makes learning techniques — and enjoying the process — much easier.

What’s Included in the Paints I Love Guide

The Paints I Love PDF is a clear, beginner-friendly recommendation list based on paints I genuinely enjoy and use regularly in my own work.

Inside the guide, I share:

• four different paint sets I recommend
• options for both watercolour and gouache
• what I enjoy about each set’s vibrancy and behaviour
• how each palette performs on paper
• a look at price points and overall value

These are paints I’ve used consistently and achieved great results with — not just sets I’ve tested once, but ones I return to again and again.

A Simpler Starting Point for Beginners

If you’re new to watercolour, choosing your first palette can feel like a big decision. This guide is designed to gently narrow your options so you can:

• start painting with confidence
• avoid poor-quality paints
• enjoy stronger colour and better flow
• focus on learning rather than second-guessing supplies

I also share which palettes I personally enjoy using most, as well as which I’d recommend if you’re just getting started.

Where to Download the Paints I Love PDF

The full Paints I Love guide is available as a downloadable PDF on my Patreon.

On Patreon, I share extended guides, tutorials, and resources to support your watercolour journey in a calm, encouraging way.

🌿 Download the Paints I Love PDF on Patreon here

New to Watercolour?

If you’re just starting out and haven’t yet downloaded my free beginner guide, Welcome to Watercolour, you can receive it by signing up to my newsletter on my website.

It covers:

• getting started with watercolour
• beginner techniques
• brushes, paints, and paper basics
• helpful tips to build confidence

Choosing the right paints can make a huge difference to how watercolour feels. I hope this guide helps you start with confidence and enjoy the process from the very beginning.

Happy painting,

Michelle 🌿