water color equipment recommendations

[t...@canon.co.uk]

I'm relaying this question for a Japanese colleague in the UK. He's
looking to purchase some good quality water color equipment
(unspecified, but I guess we're talking about the lot, i.e. paints,
brushes, canvas, whatever else is necessary) and would like to get some
recommendations.

Ideally the equipment should be available in the UK, but failing that,
anywhere in Europe or Japan would also be okay.

Thanks in advance,

Tim

PS: Note the cross-post. Followups to poster please. I'll summarize any
replies.

[ChasE9]

I've always found that the Japanese manufactured Holbein brand
watercolors and gouaches are the best.. they're ground finer than
anything else on the market; they have higher quality and quantities
of gum arabic binder. Holbein also calibrates their colors on the
Munsell system, for consistency and for easy color mixing (if you're
into that). And I'm especially fond of their black & white pigments.
Alas, they can be hard to find..
Buying cheap watercolors just doesn't work.. Get used to quality
materials.. It pays in the long run..

[t...@canon.co.uk]

My previous question:

|I'm relaying this question for a Japanese colleague in the UK. He's
|looking to purchase some good quality water color equipment
|(unspecified, but I guess we're talking about the lot, i.e. paints,
|brushes, canvas, whatever else is necessary) and would like to get some
|recommendations.
|
|Ideally the equipment should be available in the UK, but failing that,
|anywhere in Europe or Japan would also be okay.

Thanks to all who followed up (see below for list). Most of the replies
were very detailed and contained many useful and recommendations and
tips. I'll try and summarize the salient points here:

* Watercolor paints: Winsor & Newton (virtually all recommended them),
"Cotman" (student grade) for beginners and artist grade for the more
advanced. There was even a recommendation for a basic spectrum of
14 colours for a beginner to use from <ja...@Ra.MsState.Edu>. Other
brands mentioned were Grumbacher, Lana and Holbein (if Jesus was a
painter, Holbein would have been his only choice apparently).

* Brushes. Again Winsor & Newton were mentioned, their "Series 7" in
particular. However, their "University series" is probably good
enought for a beginner (thanks again to <ja...@Ra.MsState.Edu> for
suggesting a number or brush sizes/types). Sable seems to be the
artists choice, avoid synthetic brushes. (I don't know whether the
"University series" are synthetic or not).

* Paper. Forgive me for mentioning canvas in my question, I was just
guessing. Brands mentioned were: Arches, Montval (cheaper), Fabriano,
Winsor & Newton (again). But sheet paper, not rolls. Various grades
were suggested: 260lb/300lb for the beginner, 140lb for sketching,
555lb for accomplished artists.

If anyone would like a copy of the replies I received then feel free to
mail me.

Finally thanks again to the following (in no particular order):

"ellie" / jcle...@world.std.com (John Clemens)
p...@world.std.com (Peter F Davis)
"jason" / Brother Alphabet <ja...@Ra.MsState.Edu>
dgo...@ksu.ksu.edu (Dan Odom)
Richard Kelly <LE...@utkvx.utk.edu>

Tim