Jenna Rainey

CEO + ARTIST + EDUCATOR

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I’m Jenna Rainey. 

I'm an artist, self-taught designer, and multi-faceted creative entrepreneur who is hell-bent on teaching everyone how to find their inner creative voice.

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JR

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CEO + AUTHOR + EDUCATOR
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Jenna's favorite supplies

The paints, brushes, and paper I use in my own studio, plus gift ideas for every artist on your list.

A Quick Disclosure: Some links on this page earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. I'm also a paid partner of Dixon Ticonderoga, which provides me with free products from MaimeriBlu, Princeton Brushes, and St. Cuthbert's Mill. These are products I genuinely use and love, and I'm so happy to share them with you.

Shop my complete favorite supply lists.

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My Amazon Storefront

My Blick List

My complete collection of favorite art supplies, studio finds, life and mom things, and more.

Same favorites from Blick Art Materials. Compare with Amazon to see who has the best price or stock.

The supplies I reach for again and again.

Jenna's top 10 picks

The perfect shade of blue, stunning on its own but also mixes well.

A beautiful yellow-green that I love for adding warmth, and dimension to botanical paintings.

A vibrant, warm red that's perfect for mixing lively oranges, corals, and warm floral tones.

My go-to for painting flowers, with a gorgeous pink hue that's vibrant but still beautifully delicate.

Nothing fancy, but I love this inexpensive, lightweight palette for painting on the go and easy storage.

A brush I designed with Princeton specifically for painting beautiful, loose florals with the perfect petal shape.


I love this larger brush for loose watercolor painting, with plenty of water capacity for creating big, fluid strokes.

Such a versatile everyday size that's perfect for everything from smaller florals to leaves. My most used brush over the last decade!

My favorite watercolor papers for its texture and ability to handle lots of water and layering in my preferred size.

One of the original in my trio for many years with the size 6 and 16. It's particularly useful for detailed fine line work in wet on dry.

prussian blue

green gold

permanent red light

quinacridone red

foldable palette

Princeton x Jenna rainey Blooms Brush

princeton Heritage Round Brush, Size 16

princeton Heritage Round Brush, Size 6

Saunders Waterford Watercolor Block

princeton Heritage Round Brush, Size 2

paints

These are the paints I use most for their beautiful color, transparency, and effortless mixing. Explore a few favorites below or shop my full lists on Amazon and Blick!

Read my full paint guide on the blog →

My Favorite Watercolor Paints

Featured Favorites

Maimeri x Jenna Rainey Paint Set

My top 6 color combinations in one convenient, cost-savings set!

View on Blick →

Prussian Blue

My all-time favorite color. It's beautiful and versatile with so many uses!

View on Blick →

Explore My Everyday Palette

See all the colors I use →
YouTube Demo →

Click on the color SWATCH to shop the color on Blick (which has been having better prices and stock!)

My Everyday Palette

back to paints

see palette with amazon links

Click on the color SWATCH to shop the color on Amazon (Check Blick if it's out of stock!)

My Everyday Palette

back to palette with blick links

BRUSHES

I've used these same brushes for over a decade (Princeton Heritage 4050 or AquaElite). Explore a few favorites below or shop my full lists on Amazon and Blick!

Read my full brushes guide on the blog →

My Go-To Watercolor Brushes

Featured Favorites

Princeton Velvetouch Blooms

The brush I designed for Princeton that makes the perfect petal shape.

View on Blick →

Princeton AquaElite Mottler

My top pick for full-page washes, like skies and water!

View on Blick →

Always In My Bag...

  1. Princeton, Round Size 16 for big loose strokes
  2. Princeton, Round Size 6 for maximum versatility
  3. Princeton, Blooms for the perfect loose flowers
  4. Princeton, Round Size 2 for all the detailed WOD work
Round Size 16 | Round Size 6
Blooms | Round Size 2
YouTube Demo →
YouTube Demo →

paper

Paper can make a huge difference in the outcome of your art! Explore a few favorites below or shop my full lists on Amazon and Blick!

Read my full paper guide on the blog →

My Favorite Watercolor Paper

Featured Favorites

9"x12" Cold-pressed Block

Versatile size with a texture that makes for the dreamiest WOW bleeds!

View on Blick →

Leda Sketchbook

Best for sketching, journaling, and colored pencils or ink illustrations.

View on Amazon →

My Preference for Watercolor

  • Cold-pressed for some texture
  • 100% cotton
  • At least 300g/m2
  • Block is glued on all sides to keep the paper in place
  • A range of sizes to fit the project!
Cold-pressed | 100% cotton
300g | Block | Texture

art tools

Fun and useful tools like pens, pencils, palettes, notebooks, and everything in between. Explore a few favorites below or shop my full lists on Amazon and Blick!

My Favorite Art Tools

Featured Favorites

Ceramic Palettes & Brush Holders

Handmade in Tennessee, these palettes are works of art!

Sylvan Clayworks →

Masking Fluid

Incredibly useful when you want to keep parts of your painting white!

View on Amazon →

Artist's Tip

I use 2 water jars when painting—one for rinsing the brush after using warm colors and one for cool colors. It helps keep your colors vibrant! And you can use any glass mason jar or a ceramic cup.
Use two jars for rinsing brushes—one for cool colors and one for warm!

STUDIO Picks

Things I've used to keep my art space and business organized, comfortable, and inspiring to keep me in flow! Explore a few favorites below, or browse my full curated list!

Everyday Studio Essentials

Featured Favorites

Canvas Lamp & Phone Holder

Light your desk while capturing your creative process!

Canvas Lamp →

Tonic Site Shop

If you have a website, Tonic has the prettiest and easy-to-use templates!

Tonic Site Shop →

Artist's Note

You don't need a fancy studio to have an inspiring workspace! While I've been traveling, I've created inspiring setups at the Airbnb dining tables and local coffee shops. Start simple and add whatever makes it easy and exciting to get creative!
You don't need much to just start creating. Just make it easy and fun!

books

Everything from my own how-to watercolor books, inspiration for creativity and creativity businesses, and other titles that were just life-changing. Explore a few favorites below, or browse my full curated list!

My Books & More

Featured Favorites

Everyday Watercolor

My 1st book and Amazon bestseller, teaching you to paint in 30 days!

View on Amazon →

The Artist's Way

A classic staple for the bookshelves of any artist to get the creativity flowing!

View on Amazon →

Thinking Outside the Box

Alongside art how-to books, you can also get a lot of inspiration from books like travel photography, interior design, architecture and fashion! Always be noticing and you'll find unique sources of inspiration in unexpected places!
You can also find inspiration from other areas like photography, architecture, and fashion!
Video Course →

Art Supplies & Resources

Not sure where to start? Pick a category and I’ll show you what I use.

Create something today, even if it sucks.

Gift Guides

holiday 2026

A collection of my favorite art supplies, beautiful finds, and creative gift ideas for the artists and makers in your life (or yourself!).

Under $25

1. My bestselling watercolor books! From the basics to painting beautiful flowers and seashores.

2. My go-to pens for line and wash, sketching, journaling, and illustration.

3. Princeton's newest brush has a unique shape that's so fun to experiment with!

4. For all the color nerds out there, this classic book on the interactions of colors is a gem.

5. You can never have too much of my favorite watercolor paper! It holds water and handles layering like a dream!

6. A sweet little flower press for collecting and preserving tiny treasures from nature.

7. A pretty, practical cotton and linen apron with pockets for painting, gardening, or cooking.

8. Give a month (or two!) of creative inspiration with my Patreon membership, full of tutorials, live classes, and more. 

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Heartwood & Rose

Under $50

1. The small organizing upgrade that makes a desk feel ready to create.

2. I've bought these journals more than once! Perfect for sketching, journaling, and making the covers your own.

3. Not your average pencil. These are a dream for sketching and drawing.

4. My handpicked collection of six watercolor colors, all bundled together at a great price!

5. A beautiful book full of floral inspiration and ideas for studying flower shapes.

6. Handmade ceramic rinse cup that is just as pretty as they is practical. Custom monogram options are available, too!

7. A versatile brush set with all the essentials at a great value.

8. Turn your paintings into one-of-a-kind greeting cards with this watercolor card set.

9. A gorgeous book for color lovers, full of inspiration and beautiful enough for the coffee table. 

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Jeanette Zeis

Under $100

1. 100 days of creativity! This gorgeous little bundle of watercolor paper wrapped in a colorful textile makes even the simplest daily painting feel special. (Holiday inventory is coming!)

2. A studio in a bag: everything gets its own spot, and you can grab it and go.

3. For the artist who collects and appreciates a really good brush.

4. For the watercolor lover who's ready to try something new! Gouache opens up a whole new world of rich color and creative possibilities.

5. The paper I trust for everything, with a lot more room to play..

6. Almost too pretty to paint with! A complete ceramic painting set handmade in Spain.

7. A mesmerizing book with seemingly endless inspiration for color, designs, and composition.

8. A beautiful set of colored pencils for sketching, illustrating, and exploring beyond watercolor.


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Lotus Blu Book

PatriciaInvernon

Stocking Stuffers

1. A smooth pencil makes writing and sketching so much more enjoyable!

2. A colorful little set of washi tape for decorating journals, letters, gifts, and sketchbooks.

3. My favorite kind of eraser. No crumbs, no mess!

4. My dream paintbrush, designed by yours truly!

5. Pretty little gold page clips for marking your page in a journal or book.

6. White pens for adding highlights to drawings, journaling and cards.

7. A little touch of gold metallic paint for your watercolor paintings, handmade cards, and holiday details!

8. The queen of coloring books created a mini coloring book with tiny masterpieces for you to finish!

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Creative Little Minds

1. My son has traveled the world with this little audio player! One of our favorite travel companions!

2. A throwback art set that quietly keeps kids busy for an hour. Grown-ups tend to steal a turn, too!

3. Turn leaves, flowers, and other little treasures into beautiful blue-and-white sun prints!

4. Earth-friendly paints made with natural ingredients. A lovely introduction to painting. 

5. Simple wooden peg dolls ready for little imaginations to bring to life.

6. A blank canvas for little sculptors! Shape, create, and let it air-dry.

7. A sweet little book about creativity, confidence, and the magic of simply making your mark.

8. More of a splurge but a high-quality complete music kit that makes exploring rhythm, sound, and creativity so much fun!


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The Complete Beginner's Guide to Watercolor

Get a rundown of all my recommended supplies, learn fundamental techniques and tips including color theory and composition, and walk away feeling super confident with your new love of watercolor!

Free e-book

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Watercolor

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Love My Style And Need The Links?

I love expressing myself and translating my art skills into fashion skills. I also get asked about my makeup/skincare everyday, so I got ya covered!

Check out my favorite things!