Which Beginner Watercolour Set Should You Choose? A Buyer's Guide

Dreaming of starting your watercolour journey, but feeling lost in the overwhelming array of available sets? Tubes, pans, themed kits... the choice can quickly become a daunting task. Don't panic! This guide is here to shed some light with practical advice and help you find the beginner watercolour set that fits your ambitions and your budget, all without any unnecessary jargon.

As the Head of Product Recommendations at Joybuy, I'm sharing my insights and analysis to help you make the right choice, with complete objectivity.

How to Choose Your First Watercolour Set??

Before we unveil our top picks, here are a few essential criteria to guide you toward the most suitable materials.

1. Tube vs. Pan Watercolours: Which to Choose??

This is often the first question a beginner asks. Each format has its advantages:

• Pans: Small, solid blocks of dry paint that are "awakened" with a wet brush. Very practical for starting out, they are easy to transport and perfect for adding small touches of colour. A travel watercolour palette is almost always made up of pans.
• Tube Watercolours: The paint comes in a paste form, similar to gouache or acrylic. It often offers more intense colours and is well-suited for preparing large amounts of colour for washes or backgrounds. It's a very versatile format for studio work.

The choice will depend on your painting style: nomadic and spontaneous (pans) or more deliberate and experimental (tubes).

2. The Contents of a Complete Painting Set

To get off to a good start, paint alone isn't enough. A good complete painting set for beginners should ideally include:

• A selection of basic colours: There's no need for 100 colours. A dozen well-chosen shades, including the primaries (yellow, magenta, cyan), a black, a white, and a few earth tones, are more than enough to learn how to mix.
• One or more brushes: A medium-sized round brush (No. 6 or No. 8) is an excellent starting point.
• Suitable paper: Watercolour paper has a heavy weight (at least 300?gsm) to absorb water without buckling. Some kits provide a few sheets to get you started.
• A palette: For mixing your colours. The lid of a pan set often doubles as a palette.

3. A Themed Kit for Targeted Learning

If you have a specific idea of what you want to paint, like flowers or landscapes, a themed kit can be an interesting option. A floral watercolour kit, for example, will offer a suitable colour palette and sometimes even tutorials to guide you. It's an excellent way to learn watercolour with a clear goal and achieve encouraging results right from the start.

Our Beginner Watercolour Set Picks

We have selected kits for you that combine quality, an accessible price point, and ease of use, perfect for getting started.

Talens Art Creation Watercolour Set – 24 × 12 ml

Why It Stands Out

This Talens Art Creation paint set is notable for its extensive colour palette. With 24 tubes, it offers immense freedom to explore shades and mixes without having to create everything from primary colours alone, which is a real plus when you're just starting out.

Advantages

• 24-colour palette: A varied range to experiment with and quickly find the desired shades.
• Practical tube format: Tube watercolours allow for precise paint dispensing and easy preparation of mixes for larger areas.
• Transparent and easy-to-work-with paint: Designed for creating layering effects (glazing), the paint can be reactivated with water even after it dries.

Who Is It For??

The budding artist who wants extensive creative freedom and to learn the subtleties of colour mixing from the comfort of their studio.

Floral Watercolour Kit with Guided Lessons

Why It Stands Out

This floral watercolour kit is more than just an assortment of supplies; it's a complete, turnkey learning experience. It's designed to break down the creative process into simple, accessible steps, making the art of floral watercolour less intimidating.

Advantages

• All-in-one set: Contains everything you need (paint, brush, paper, and instruction booklet) to start painting right out of the box.
• Structured learning: Includes 8 step-by-step lessons for painting specific flowers like roses, peonies, or daisies.
• Targeted creative project: Perfect for lovers of nature and botanical illustration who are looking for a motivating project to get started.

Who Is It For??

The absolute beginner looking for a guided and rewarding project to learn watercolour with a specific theme and quickly achieve encouraging results.

Talens Art Creation Travel Watercolour Palette

Why It Stands Out

The strength of this set lies in its clever design and portability. Everything is designed for the artist on the go: a sturdy case, integrated tools, and a format that slips into any bag.

Advantages

• Portable design: A compact and solid case containing 12 watercolour pans, a reversible travel brush, and a small sponge.
• Integrated functionality: The large lid serves as a mixing palette, which helps to save space and travel light.
• Ready to use: It's the ideal travel watercolour palette for painting outdoors, in a café, or for capturing memories in a sketchbook.

Who Is It For??

The artist on the go or the hobbyist who wants to have their materials always at hand to practice or create anywhere, anytime.

Looking for Other Options??

Our selection focuses on kits that are perfect for getting started. If you wish to explore a wider range of art supplies, more specialised sets, or other brands, feel free to browse our full category. There you will find a greater selection to accompany your creative journey.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Beginner Watercolour Sets

1. What is the difference between tube and pan watercolours??

In short, pans are blocks of dry paint, perfect for travel and small touches of colour. Tube watercolours contain a paste-like paint, ideal for achieving very vibrant colours and covering larger areas. The choice depends on your style and where you practice.

2. Do I need specific paper for watercolour??

Yes, it's absolutely essential. Watercolour paper has a high weight (usually 300?gsm or more) and a texture that allows it to absorb large amounts of water without deforming (this is called "buckling"). Using standard paper will yield disappointing results, as it is not designed to handle moisture.

3. Can I mix the colours in a beginner's kit??

Absolutely. In fact, it's one of the most fundamental and exciting aspects of watercolour. A beginner watercolour set with a dozen colours is specifically designed to allow you to create an infinite number of shades through mixing. Larger sets, like the Talens Art Creation paint set with 24 tubes, simply offer you more shortcuts and ready-to-use nuances.