Watercolour
Enter an art store and be prepared to be overwhelmed. I remember that even as an art student I was intimidated by not only the products and sales staff, but by my own ignorance in what I wanted, needed and more importantly what I didn’t need.
Here is a list that will make you feel confident that you are acquiring enough of the right tools and none of the wrong ones.

For watercolour:

Paper
Arches Cold Press 140 lb (which is also 300gsm)
This paper has a nice lightly textured surface and is a medium weight. You can buy it in single sheets, size 22″ × 30″ or it comes in watercolour blocks, which is a pad of 20 sheets bound on the edges. The single sheets are the least expensive but the blocks allow you to paint larger paintings without having to staple or tape the paper down to prevent buckling. Smaller paintings don’t need to be taped.
One thing I always tell my students is to use the best paper and paint that you can afford. You will be amazed at what a difference this makes.

Paint – Tubes
Colbalt Blue, Prussian Blue, Hooker’s Green, Permanent Sap Green, Olive Green, Lemon Yellow Deep, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Indian Red, Alizarion Crimson, Scarlet Lake, Windsor Orange (Red Shade), Ultramarine Violet.
The paints I like to use are either Windsor Newton, Holbein or Da Vinci. Cotman is made by Windsor Newton but is a student grade so is priced lower. The quality is good for beginners.

Brushes
1” flat square
# 12 round
# 8 round
#3 rigger – a smaller brush for signatures and detail
2” hog hair flat (bristle) brush like you would use for house painting
Synthetic and sable mix called Sabelite

Other
Palette – white plastic with wells
Spray bottle
Pencil and eraser

Okay so there are the supplies. Now head on over to the art store like you mean business.
Next I will write about how we are going to use these supplies.