Artists tend to draw inspiration from various things and places. When you have been painting for a long time, you will find that you are better at depicting different things, and may decide to stick with one genre. You might even decide to shift from making pencil or charcoal sketches, to
watercolor marine art prints. This way, you will be able to paint the sea creatures and landscapes, in more vivid hues.
You cannot start painting, before you have gathered all the necessary paraphernalia. If you seriously plan to do this, whether as a source of income or even as a hobby, you need to have the right materials. This will mean going out to buy the brushes, paints, paper, and all the other items needed. Before you start buying, you need to do some research, in order to get good quality items.
When you go shopping for brushes, refrain from buying many, even if you think it will be cheap. Good quality brushes are a bit expensive, and you might limit you from buying many. Ideally, even with five good ones, you should be able to get started. The best brushes are made from natural fibers like squirrel and sable. You can also look for those made of synthetic materials, but they should be soft. Make sure that you also get the right sizes.
Most people may think that selecting the paints is an easy job, but in actual sense it is not. You need to decide which type you are more comfortable using, between the liquid, tube, and pan varieties. After you have made your choice, you will then need to select the colors. If this is your first time, it is advisable to choose a variety of colors. As you progress, you should be able to single out the ones you use more often, and then buy different shades of them.
Another thing you will need to get is the surface on which you will paint. You may choose to get watercolor paper as you start, then later progress to canvas. This paper should be thick, so that it does not buckle or start to fold, as the paint dries. These papers come as individual sheets, as a block, or in a pad. For convenience purposes, it will be better to buy a pad, or a block of them.
A pallet will also be another thing you need to buy, in order to have all the crucial items for this art. This can be the professional type, which is covered in a metal or plastic surface. This kind will be easier to clean and also to mix the colors on. Before you get one, you may opt to use a plate to mix the colors.
To mix water colors, you need water. If you trust your tap water, use it for mixing, but if you are hesitant, you should use bottled water. There are additional mediums like Arabica and ox gall, which are used to make your print more transparent, or glossy. You should, however, make sure you master the basics, before suing these mediums.
After you have bought the basics, you should invest in buying a steady easel, on which you can mount your art while working. You also need to find a covering, to protect your floors and surfaces. You can choose to wear old clothes or buy and overall, so that you do not stain your clothes.