I started taking online drawing and watercolor classes last September (thank you Skillshare and Creativebug!) and can't believe how much I've learned in the past 9 months. I still feel like a total beginner but I'm a lot more comfortable creating with pencil and paint brushes than I was when I initially started.

20 Watercolor + Art Resources for Beginners

One of my favorite parts of the artistic process is the feeling of accomplishment when I'm done painting or drawing something I didn't know I was capable of. And even when it's something simple (because usually it is), I am grateful for finished products I can feel proud of. Side note: the feeling of personal accomplishment is something I seriously lack now that I'm home with my kids every day. Let's just say there's no "great job on that" feedback like there is in the corporate world :)

I regularly soak up books and classes and podcasts about art hoping to learn as much as I can and then try translating that to paper with my paints and brushes. Below are a list of resources I appreciate and have benefitted from. If you're learning to draw or watercolor (or want to start) and need ideas about where and what to learn, I hope this helps. Have fun!

Skillshare
1 • Ana Victoria Calderon - Watercolor Textures | Watercolor for Beginners
2 • Dallas Shaw Fashion Illustrator - Drawing People
3 • Amarilys Henderson - Expressive Little Faces

Get a free month of Skillshare Premium with my link: http://skl.sh/1N77ltd

Creativebug
4 • Lisa Congdon - Basic Line Drawing
5 • Yao Cheng - Beginning Watercolor
6 • Heather Ross - Drawing + Illustration Basics
7 • Jennifer Orkin Lewis - Illustrative Painting with Gouache
8 • Molly Hatch - Introduction to Drawing
9 • Brush Lettering with Linea Carta

Other Tutorials + Inspiration
10 • Simply Jessica Marie - Weekly Tutorial Series
11 • T he Virtual Instructor

Books
12 • Everyday Watercolor (Jenna Rainey) - comes out in October
13 • 20 Ways to Draw Everything (Lisa Congdon, Julia Kuo, Eloise Renouf)

Instagram Inspiration
14 • August Wren
15 • Carolyn Gavin
16 • Mon Voir
17 • Paints to Brushes

Podcasts
18 • Art for Your Ear
19 • Creative Pep Talk
20 • Savvy Painter

Have fun!!

*update*
Need supplies? Get my recommended watercolor supply list in this post.

When you follow artists on Instagram or YouTube, or take online workshops from creatives, you'll see there are a few brands of pens recommended over and over again. I regularly hear about Microns, Uni, and Faber-Castell.

Drawing Tools: Micron Pens | Delighted Creative Co.

While every artist has their preference, I've been using the Micron Pens because it's what I have on hand—and so far I haven't had a reason to try another brand. They come in a variety of sizes, feel comfortable in my hand and make smooth lines. Maybe as they start drying out I will give another brand a try, just to compare.

I have the following sizes which came together in one pack: 005, 01, 02, 03, 05, 08, 1, and Brush.

The recommendation Lisa Congdon gives in her line art class on Creativebug is to start with a larger tip for more control as you're learning: size 08 or 05. Each size can each be used for different things: 01 for small details, 08 for filling in areas that need to be fully black, etc. but lately I've been gravitating towards the thinner tips when I sit down to draw. There's a daintiness and simplicity the thinner tips give that I like...at least for now :)