Guides14 min
How to Clean Watercolor Brushes: 7 Steps, 3 Ways to Dry
How to clean watercolor brushes, with mild soap and water that is never hot. Seven steps, why brush makers disagree on drying, and what they all forbid.
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Supplies & Reviews Editor
Arthur Sterling
Arthur Sterling covers supply reviews, paper and brand comparisons. His articles compare products on what the makers publish (pigment codes, paper weight and fiber, sizing, tube sizes) and on price.
- Covers
- Paper Weight & Fiber, Sizing & Absorption, Paint Brand Comparisons
- Articles
- 9, in 2 categories
- Latest
- November 8, 2026
Writing
Articles by Arthur Sterling
Features11 min
Watercolor Block vs Pad vs Sheets: Cost per Square Inch
Watercolor block vs pad comes down to flatness against price. Arches blocks, pads and full sheets compared per sheet and per square inch, with Blick prices.
Features13 min
Best Watercolor Paints for Beginners: 5 Sets Compared
Best watercolor paints for beginners are six artist-grade tubes, not a 24-pan box. Five sets ranked by what is inside, with pigment codes and Blick prices.
Guides11 min
How to Stretch Watercolor Paper: 3 Methods by Weight
How to stretch watercolor paper in three moves, soak it, tape it wet to a board, let it dry overnight. Soak times by gsm, plus staples and frames.
Features10 min
Synthetic vs Kolinsky Sable Brushes: What You Pay For
Synthetic vs kolinsky sable brushes differ in hair, supply and care. What Kolinsky hair is, how synthetics copy it, and when a sable round is worth buying.
Features12 min
Watercolor Paper Weight GSM: 190 vs 300 vs 640 Explained
Watercolor paper weight gsm is the number to trust, because lb labels depend on sheet size. How 190, 300 and 640 gsm behave wet, and when to stretch.
Features12 min
Ceramic vs Plastic Watercolor Palette: 5 Differences
Ceramic vs plastic watercolor palette comes down to how paint pools and how much weight you carry. Beading, staining, sealing and the fixes for new plastic.
Features10 min
Student vs Artist Grade Watercolor: 6 Pigments Compared
Student vs artist grade watercolor differs most in pigment load and in which pigments each line uses. Six Cotman and Professional colors compared by code.
Guides16 min
Best Watercolor Brushes for Beginners: 3 Shapes to Buy
Best watercolor brushes for beginners are a synthetic round, a flat and a soft mop. Why a size 8 differs by brand and how to test a brush before you buy.