I still remember my first set of Pentel watercolours. The pigment intensity was, and honestly still is, something I love, vivid, vibrant colours that blend into water so easily. I didn't start with artist-grade tubes. I started with what was accessible, and it served me well for a long time.
The shift to artist-grade paints happened gradually, not because I decided beginner paint "wasn't good enough," but out of curiosity. Trips to art supply stores exposed me to more brands, more pigment options, and I found myself wondering what actually made them different. I bought one tube, then another, slowly building a collection over time. It wasn't a decision, it was a drift.
I share this because I think a lot of beginners assume the paint tier they start with is a bigger decision than it actually is. So let's talk openly about what the difference really is, and more importantly, whether it matters for you right now.
What's Actually Different Between Beginner and Artist-Grade Paints
Artist-grade pigments are genuinely richer, bolder, and more vivid than beginner-tier paints like Pentel. If you set them side by side, you'll notice it. The colour intensity, the way pigment settles and blends, it's a real, tangible difference, not just marketing.
But here's what I want to be clear about: beginner-tier paints like Pentel are not "lesser" in a way that holds you back from learning or enjoying watercolour. Pentel's pigments are still intense and vivid in their own right, they blend beautifully with water, and they taught me everything I needed to fall in love with this medium in the first place. The difference between tiers is real, but it's a difference in degree, not in whether you can learn, practice, or create something beautiful.
When (and Why) I Made the Shift Myself
I didn't switch to artist-grade paints because I outgrew Pentel or decided it wasn't good enough. It happened slowly, through curiosity. As I spent more time in art supply stores and got exposed to different brands, I started wondering what set them apart. I bought a tube here, a tube there, and over time, without any single deciding moment, my collection shifted.
I mention this because I think beginners sometimes imagine there's a "right time" to upgrade, some threshold of skill you need to cross first. In my experience, it's rarely that deliberate. It's more often curiosity and gradual exposure, which happens naturally the more you paint, not something you need to plan for in advance.
Should You Buy Artist-Grade Paints as a Beginner?
If it were purely about the paint itself, artist-grade pigments are the better choice, richer, bolder, more vivid. But I don't think that's actually the right question for a beginner to be asking.
Here's what I genuinely believe: if you're just starting out, use what you already have on hand. You don't need to go out and specially buy a new set of artist-grade pigments before you've even picked up a brush. What matters far more than the paint sitting in front of you is whether you actually start. I've seen it happen, someone buys a beautiful set of artist-grade paints, fully intending to begin, and it sits on the desk, untouched, because the buying became a substitute for the doing. The commitment to start is worth more than the tools you start with.
Begin with what's accessible to you. Upgrade later, if and when curiosity pulls you there, the way it did for me. There's no rush, and there's no "wrong" tier to start on.
The Real Misconception: "I Need Good Paint to Make Good Art"
This is the belief I most want to gently push back on. It reminds me of photography, having an expensive camera doesn't automatically make someone a good photographer. Composition, framing, a sense of what makes an image interesting, none of that comes from the equipment. It comes from the person behind it, and their own sense of what "good" even means to them.
Watercolour is the same. Good art doesn't come from the paint tier, it comes from showing up, practicing, and developing your own eye for what you find beautiful. Artist-grade pigments can enhance a piece once you've built some skill and intuition, but they can't manufacture that skill for you. If you're waiting to feel "ready" with better supplies before you start, I'd gently say: you're already ready. Start with what you have.
If you're just beginning and wondering what to paint with, don't let the question of "which paint tier" hold you back from starting at all. Bring whatever you have to your first workshop, and we'll take it from there together.
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FAQ
Do beginners need artist-grade watercolour paints to learn?
No. Beginner-tier paints, like Pentel, are vivid, blend well, and are genuinely capable of teaching you everything you need to start enjoying and learning watercolour. Artist-grade paints offer richer pigment intensity, but they're not a requirement to begin.
What's the actual difference between beginner and artist-grade watercolour paints?
Artist-grade pigments tend to be more vivid, bolder, and richer in colour intensity compared to beginner-tier paints. The difference is noticeable, but it's a matter of degree, not a barrier to learning or creating meaningful work.
When should I upgrade to artist-grade watercolour paints?
There's no fixed point at which you "should" upgrade. For many painters, it happens gradually and out of curiosity rather than necessity, often after they've already built comfort and enjoyment with more accessible supplies.