What Watercolour Kit To Have with Oliver Pyle

In this insightful tutorial, esteemed landscape artist Oliver Pyle guides viewers through assembling an essential watercolour kit, perfect for newcomers to the medium, hobbyists, and students looking to build their supplies.

Must-Have Items & Why They Matter

• Aquafine Watercolour 12-Half-Pan Travel Set
  Oliver recommends this compact palette of 12 vibrant, transparent, and free-flowing paints as a superb starting point. Paired with a size 4 Aquafine brush, it offers an excellent balance of portability and performance, encouraging exploration with minimal fuss. The colours also boast solid lightfastness, with most rated 3 to 4 stars.

• Aquafine Watercolour Brushes
  Opting for these synthetic-bristle brushes, which mimic natural sable, ensures durability and excellent shape retention. A versatile choice for both watercolour and gouache techniques.

• Aquafine Texture Watercolour Artbook
  This cold-pressed, acid-free paperbook, 300 gsm and FSC-certified, is spiral-bound for convenience. Its lightly textured surface offers ideal absorbency and resilience, inviting experimentation and forgiving repeated washes.

• Aquafine Gum Arabic Medium
  A simple additive that enhances the gloss and transparency of your watercolours. Recommended starting mix: two parts paint to one part Gum Arabic, though you can tweak based on your preference.

Why It Works

This kit provides a strong foundation that balances affordability with artistic flexibility. The portable pan set empowers on-the-go creativity, while the brush, artbook, and medium accommodate a range of expressive techniques. Oliver’s selections reflect his focus on harmony between tools that are reliable, student-friendly, and encouraging of exploration.