Keeping whites as the white of paper in watercolor can be a challenge, but with the right tools and know-how, as well as some practice you can learn different techniques to make sure your whites stay bright

So, what’s the deal with describing paper in gsm or pounds? What does it mean? What type of paper do I need? The “lb/gsm” on the front of your sketchpad is the weight of the paper.

The weight of the paper is the most important factor in determining what you can do with your picture and what medium is best used.

One of my favorite exercises for beginning watercolorist is a watercolor doodle. This can be done with any color media – crayons, colored pencils, markers. It’s easy, looks cool when you’re done, and you learn a lot -- about your pigments (paint), their interactions with each other, different brushes, and how the water interacts, all without “ruining” a labored drawing.

What tools and materials do you need to have in front of you when you sit down to paint? Here’s some of my favorites. A space of one’s own, pens and pencils, inks or waterproof pens.