Watercolor is as old as painting. At it's simplest form, it is pigment suspended in water to allow it to be moved around and manipulated. Then, when the water dries, the pigment remains (leaving the art). It could be argued that the cave paintings, where spit and earth were blasted through reeds onto the walls, were a form of watercolor. You will purchase your watercolor in tubes, and create your own pallette of watercolors by allowing the colors that you have squeezed onto the pallette to dry overnight. These wells of paint will then reactivate with water, and be used for painting.
ARTicle by Blick Art Supplies: What is the difference between watercolor and gouache?
Watercolor ...