Best Watercolor Supplies I Used on the Portugal Camino

When I first prepared for the Portugal Camino, I packed watercolor supplies the same way many artists do:

too much.

Too many brushes. Too many colors. Too many “just in case” materials. I brought three watercolor palettes, more than 15 brushes, 3 watercolor paper blocks, 2 towels, 1 heavy duty portfolio bag, etc.

They were already more than 1.5kg in total. Way to heavy!

But long-distance walking changes my understanding of what is necessary.

Every extra object eventually becomes physical weight. And every unnecessary tool slowly becomes mental weight as well.

By the time I began walking seriously each day, I realized something important:

The best travel watercolor setup is not the most complete setup.

It is the setup I can actually carry, open quickly, use consistently, and return to every day without exhaustion.

Over time, my watercolor kit became smaller, simpler, and far more practical.

These are the watercolor supplies I actually used while walking the Portugal Camino — and why they mattered.

Travel watercolor kit on the Portugal Camino

1. A Lightweight Sketchbook Was Essential

At first, I thought larger sketchbooks would allow more freedom.

But on the Camino, portability matters more than studio ambition.

You may paint:

• outside cafés
• on hostel tables
• beside roads
• during short rest breaks
• before sunset

A heavy or oversized sketchbook quickly becomes inconvenient. It becomes a burden. What actually I did was I cut the paper into half size and painted.

Eventually, I preferred compact watercolor sketchbooks that could fit easily into my backpack and open quickly without preparation.

The goal was not creating “perfect” paintings.

The goal was maintaining continuity.

Small daily sketches taught me more than waiting for ideal conditions.

2. Good Paper Matters More Than Expensive Paint

This may be the most important lesson I learned.

Many beginners invest heavily in paint while ignoring paper quality.

But during travel, paper becomes even more important because weather conditions constantly change:

• humidity
• heat
• wind
• unexpected moisture

Cheap paper struggles under these conditions.

Pigment becomes muddy. Water dries unevenly. Pages buckle heavily.

Good watercolor paper creates stability inside unstable environments.

The paper often determines whether watercolor feels frustrating or enjoyable.

3. I Used Far Fewer Colors Than Expected

Before the Camino, I imagined I needed many colors to respond to constantly changing landscapes.

But walking simplified my visual perception.

Instead of chasing complexity, I became more sensitive to subtle variation:

• warm earth
• faded walls
• dusty roads
• gray skies
• quiet greens

A limited palette became surprisingly powerful.

Using fewer colors helped:

• speed up sketching
• reduce backpack weight
• create harmony between paintings
• avoid decision fatigue

Some of my favorite Camino sketches were painted with fewer than ten colors.

Limitation often sharpens observation.

4. One Good Brush Was Better Than Many

I originally carried multiple brushes in different sizes.

But eventually, I relied mostly on one versatile round brush.

Travel sketching requires flexibility.

One brush capable of:

• thin lines
• broad washes
• quick details

became far more useful than carrying an entire collection.

On the Camino, simplicity matters because setup time matters.

If your painting process feels complicated, you paint less often.

A small setup encourages consistency.

5. Binder Clips Became Surprisingly Important

This sounds minor, but strong wind is one of the hidden challenges of outdoor watercolor painting.

Pages move constantly.

Sketchbooks close unexpectedly.

Paper shifts during washes.

Simple binder clips became one of the most practical items I carried.

Sometimes the smallest tools create the biggest difference in maintaining a calm painting process outdoors.

Painting watercolor outdoors on the Camino

6. Water Containers Matter Less Than I Expected

At first, I searched obsessively for the “perfect” portable water container.

But during the Camino, flexibility became more important than ideal equipment.

Sometimes I used:

• small collapsible cups
• coffee cups
• water bottles
• whatever was available nearby

Travel watercolor taught me that adaptability matters more than perfection.

The environment itself becomes part of the painting process.

Foldable water container 

7. Waterproof Storage Became Essential

One thing many travel watercolor guides underestimate is moisture.

Even without heavy rain, humidity and sweat slowly affect sketchbooks and paper.

I learned to carry simple waterproof pouches and protective sleeves inside my backpack.

Not because I wanted complete control, but because protecting finished sketches preserved continuity across long walking days.

Travel watercolor is fragile.

And that fragility becomes part of its beauty.

8. The Best Setup Is the One You Actually Use

This may be the most important realization of all.

Many artists spend enormous time researching “perfect” watercolor equipment.

But perfect setups often remain at home.

The Camino taught me something much simpler:

The best watercolor kit is the one you are willing to open repeatedly, even when tired.

After long walking days, complicated setups become obstacles.

Simple setups invite continuation.

And continuity matters more than occasional perfection.

watercolor by Ouchul Hwang

9. Walking Changed the Way I Paint

The Portugal Camino did not only change my watercolor supplies.

It changed the way I paint entirely.

Walking long distances every day slowly transforms perception.

You begin noticing:

• light changes
• small architectural details
• weather movement
• patterns of fatigue
• quiet human moments

Watercolor became less about producing finished artworks and more about recording attention itself.

The sketchbook turned into a visual diary of movement, weather, silence, and memory.

Some paintings remained unfinished.

Some pages became stained from travel.

But those imperfections became part of the Camino itself.

10. I Stopped Chasing Perfect Travel Paintings

Before the Camino, I often imagined travel watercolor as beautiful completed pages filled with dramatic scenery.

Reality felt very different.

Sometimes:

• the weather changed too quickly
• fatigue interrupted concentration
• the light disappeared
• there was little time

At first, I found this frustrating.

But gradually, I understood something important:

Travel watercolor is not about controlling every condition.

It is about remaining open to experience.

A quick imperfect sketch made honestly during travel often contains more life than a carefully controlled studio painting.

Final Thoughts

The Portugal Camino simplified my watercolor practice completely.

I carried fewer tools. I painted more often. I observed more carefully.

Walking changed my understanding of what watercolor actually needs.

Not endless equipment. Not constant perfection.

But attention. Consistency. Portability.

The best watercolor supplies for travel sketching are not necessarily the most expensive or professional tools.

They are the tools that allow you to continue painting while moving through the world.

And in many ways, that is what the Camino itself teaches:

to carry less, to notice more, and to continue walking.

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Many of these watercolor sketches and observations eventually became part of my watercolor book:

Buen Camino — a watercolor journey

A collection of watercolor paintings inspired by walking, observation, and the Camino de Santiago.

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Follow my watercolor journey and Camino sketches

📷 @ouchul_hwang

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