Watercolors made their mark in art as far back as 30,000 BC when they were used in cave paintings. Today, they are also the most convenient and approachable painting applications for beginning artists, though it cannot be said that they are the easiest to master. Watercolor paints are easy to apply – just add water and a bit of creativity. The only other items you really need are brushes and paper.

The pigments used in creating watercolors are similar to those used in oil and acrylics; some are natural and some are synthetic. These pigments are ground and mixed with a natural sap binder called gum Arabic. The most sophisticated watercolors also contain glycerin as a moisturizer. Watercolor paints are sold in grades created for both the student and professional. Student paints offer an economical way to experiment with the media while professional paints are more expensive because they contain a higher concentration of better quality pigments. Watercolor paints can be bought in pans, which offer the most convenience, and tubes are especially useful when mixing large amounts of paint. Watercolors are also available in concentrated liquid form that come in bottles with dropper tops. These are useful for large washes but, because they are essentially dyes, they lack the subtle qualities available with pans or tubes.

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