Best Watercolor Workbooks for Beginners: What to Buy and Why

What a Watercolor Workbook Actually Is (and Isn’t)

We’ve touched upon this, but I want to make it even clearer, because this was super confusing when I got started with watercolors.

A watercolor workbook is made of watercolor paper with the designs directly printed on the page. It’s made to tolerate all kinds of watercolor paints and wet washes. With this book, you paint directly on the page. No need to be good at drawing or figure out what you want to do. This means you get a little help when you get started, and it’s less intimidating because you won’t be staring at a blank page, wondering what happens next (we’ve all been there and it takes away a bit of the fun). You also won’t need to buy the paper separately since it’s already the book itself. So it’s one less thing to spend money on.

The other kind of book is all about theory. You learn the techniques behind painting with watercolors. It’s a typical book, printed on normal paper, and you still have to get the actual watercolor paper separately. This is a book you use to study, not paint. So you’ll have to factor in the extra cost of purchasing the special watercolor paper.

How to Know If It’s a Workbook or Theory Book

There are some special criteria for a beginner workbook. To make it easy, ask yourself these questions:

• Is the paper made for water? Cold-press paper, ideally cotton, or at least heavyweight 300 gsm (140 lb) paper drink up the water instead of buckling. Thin paper pills and warps the second you decide to paint on it. Not ideal.
• Are the designs pre-printed? A real workbook gives you a line drawing to paint over. Blank pages mean you’ve bought a sketchbook or a textbook, not a workbook.
• Is it honestly for beginners? You don’t need super advanced stuff when starting out. Just some simple and pretty shapes that make it easy to add your own color and personal touch.
• Theme range. Botanicals, seasonal sets, enough variety to get you excited every time you open it.
• Do you need to buy anything else? Some workbooks come with everything included (like ours!) and some assume that you already have what you need, such as paint, a brush and paper.

The Best Watercolor Workbooks for Beginners

Here’s how the three stack up before we get into the details.

• Tobio’s Beginners Workbook — paintable and guided, printed on cotton watercolor paper made for a wet brush. Supplies are included as part of the kit. Best for total beginners who want to start today.
• Emily Lex themed workbooks — paintable and themed, on watercolor paper. Paint and brushes are sold separately. Best for buyers who already own supplies and want variety.
• Sarah Simon, Watercolor Workbook (Paige Tate & Co.) — paintable and project-based, on cold-press paper. Paint and brushes are sold separately. Best for beginners who want structured botanical projects.

Tobio’s Beginners Workbook (Our Pick for All-in-One Beginners)

To be transparent, this is the one I’ve founded (and Tobio is the name of my cat). I wanted to create something specifically for beginners. Something I wish I had when getting started. So with a beginner in mind, the Tobio’s Beginners Workbook has 30 pages with beautiful yet simple motifs, and the other half is left blank to give you some space to experiment and try your own thing.

When I got started, the blank pages used to make me nervous. I didn’t know what to paint and it all felt a little… overwhelming. I had bought one of those books on techniques, but I didn’t have the material and I didn’t know which paper or brushes to buy, not to mention the paint. What a process!

That’s why I designed a guided workbook. So no first-timer would have to sit like I did, questioning their decision to even get started with watercolor in the first place. It’s also made to work with the kit. This means you get the workbook plus everything else you need to get started right away - without needing to purchase anything else. But more about that in a minute.

There are still many advantages to a technique textbook. You get drills, tips and tricks, and learn everything from scratch so that you understand not just what to do but why. There’s real value in that. I love the textbooks I have and they have helped me improve a lot. But for a beginner, the workbook is usually an easier place to start. You don’t need to read ten pages before placing your first brushstroke.

If you want in-depth color theory, wet-on-wet practices and a full curriculum, a teaching book like Jenna Rainey’s Everyday Watercolor will serve you really well. I’d rather tell you that now than have you expect a textbook and get line drawings.

Tobio’s is more about the daily little wins and removing the barriers that stop you from getting started.

Emily Lex Themed Workbooks

Emily Lex is a well-known name in the watercolor world. She creates themed workbooks that people tend to love, and for good reason. The motifs are gorgeous and she offers a wide range of seasonal and botanical titles in her catalog. They cost around $24 each and that’s great value for what you get. If you want a book that gives you clear instructions and a place to start painting, this workbook is amazing. But what you have to know is that this is not a full kit. You still need to shop for the paint and the brushes etc., which means the cost can get up to $40-$80. Also, it’s not ready when you unpack it. You still need to do the research of what other material to buy, and if you’re a beginner, that’s a bit of a process.

Sarah Simon, Watercolor Workbook

Sarah Simon is another watercolor guru that creates workbooks you might have actually seen in a bookshop. Her watercolor workbook is great for anybody starting. The paper has prints of botanical motifs, often printed on cold-press paper in a spiral-bound book. This is good because it means the paper lays flat as you paint. Very neat and practical, in my opinion.

If you like working project by project, you’ll love this workbook. It’s a solid pick for anybody starting, and you can also continue purchasing her workbooks when you’re ready to level up.

The caveat is the same as Emily Lex. You only get the workbook, and not the full kit, so you will need to source and purchase what you need separately. If you are ready to do that or already have the material at home, this is a good option. But if you prefer to have everything come together, picked out and ready for you, this will not be the best pick.

Workbook vs. Teaching Book vs. Coloring Book

Don’t get me started on how often people confuse workbooks with teaching books with coloring books. They are NOT the same thing. It’s an easy assumption to make though, so I don’t blame you if you never knew the difference. Now you do.

Workbook for painting with watercolors. Teaching book for learning how. Coloring book for markers and pencils and not watercolor or anything wet.

This little mix up tends to cost people a lot of money. I know this because I get the occasional DM or email about it (I feel you and I’ve been there). I don’t want you to feel confused about what these things are or to feel like you’re bad at watercoloring when it just happen to be the pick of the wrong paper or the wrong tools.

Paper standards bodies like ASTM International (yes this is a real thing) set the benchmarks for things like weight and lightfastness that separate genuine watercolor paper from craft stock, and that single spec is the difference between a real and fabulous workbook and a nice book but that can’t take a little water.

Do You Need Extra Supplies?

By now you know that our own brand, Tobio’s, does not need any extra supplies. You get a full kit and the workbook is included. For the other two brands I’ve mentioned, this is not the case and you do need to purchase the stuff you need to be able to paint. This is common for a lot of brands out there. This is normal and not a problem if you own these things or don’t mind doing some research on what you need. And of course you need a bit of patience because you won’t be able to start painting straight away.

So let me tell you a bit more about Tobio’s kit. You get the workbook which has 30 pre-sketched illustrations in different shapes. There are flowers, fruit, plants, sceneries and more. You also get 30 blank pages because by the time you feel ready, you might want to let your imagination run free. That’s a beautiful feeling too.

The paper we use is super high-quality, 300 GSM cotton paper that tolerates the water really well, and lets the paint shine. The paper is bound in a hardcover book in a mini-size so that it fits in your bag and is ready to bring with you everywhere. You also get a walnut wood mixing palette with place for 8 colors at a time. There are 12 paint tubes, so you can mix and match as you prefer. The colors are rich and vibrant and blend smoothly.

The all-in-one watercolor kit is so special because you get everything you need to get started as soon as you unbox your package. You don’t need to do any more research or shopping. The kit is literally all you need. Our customers constantly tell us how this is so low-stress and perfect for beginners.

If you think you’ll be missing out on the instructions, don’t worry. You get both a physical manual plus an amazing ebook with step-by-step instructions. So you’re still going to learn the basic techniques you want while enjoying the quick set up, the complete kit, and the exceptional portability.

My dream was to create a kit that truly sets you up for success. That’s why Tobio’s exist.

If you’d rather build your own setup piece by piece, you can add an extra sketchbook with the same 300 gsm cotton paper, or a 50-color watercolor paint set to widen your range as you go.

How to Get the Most From Your Workbook

Over the years I’ve picked up a few tricks, and let me tell you they really make a difference. First thing, I always keep a little scrap paper to test a color swatch before it lands on the real page. That way I can check if the color is what I imagined or if I need to mix a bit more.

If you’re doing washes, let them dry fully before applying the next layer. I know I know… It’s tempting to just keep going, but give it a little moment to dry and you’ll get a much better result. This rookie mistake is so common, but don’t mix two wet layers. Trust me on that.

Finally, don’t strive for perfection. Just have fun with it and enjoy the process of learning. Making mistakes is normal, but the important thing is just to keep going. With each page, you’ll get more used to the techniques, and it will feel more natural.

With Tobio’s kit, you get the instructions and guides you need. If you are curious and want to get nerdy about paper weight and such things, Winsor & Newton is a great source of information.

So, Which Workbook Should You Buy?

Here is where you need to listen to yourself and pick by the type that appeals to you the most. For some people it’s getting a workbook and then sourcing the rest by themselves. For others, it’s getting a kit that’s ready to use from the very first moment.

If you’re starting from zero, Tobio’s might be one of the best options for you. It was created for complete beginners and contains everything I wished for when I got started.

You can get Tobio’s Beginners Workbook ($10) as a stand-alone workbook or you can get it as part of the full watercolor kit ($26) when you want the paint, brush, palette and paper handled in one box. If you already have the supplies and just want a fresh workbook with new designs, you can browse all workbooks and grab a title to keep things interesting.

I’m Mel, founder of Tobio’s. I make portable watercolor kits and the guided workbook that goes with them, and I write these guides for the beginner I used to be: someone who wanted to paint without first turning it into this massive project you’ll probably get bored of. Read the Tobio’s story.