Paint Palettes
CHOOSING YOUR MIXING SURFACE
Throughout history, palettes for acrylic and oil have ranged from slabs of wood and sheets of glass to ceramic plates and newspaper (as used by Picasso). Today, the most common types are wood, white plastic, and disposable paper. If you’re working over a brown underpainting (as many early artists did), try using a wooden palette; while mixing, you can envision how the colors might appear on your painting. If you’re working on white canvas, white plastic is a good option. You can even clean acrylics off the plastic with mild soap, warm water, and a little elbow grease. But if you’re the type of person who likes the idea of frequently refreshing your mixing surface, disposable paper palettes (which are coated with a thin layer of wax) are ideal.
Many artists opt to seal their palettes in a plastic box between sessions to keep their mixes fresh. If using acrylics, spritz the palette with water or enclose a wet sponge before sealing it to lengthen the paint’s life.
Unlike those mentioned above, a watercolor palette has wells or indentations that hold thin, watery washes. White plastic watercolor palettes are inexpensive and easy to clean. However, a palette with a lid that snaps shut is a good investment if you’d like to keep your paints moist between sessions.
Palettes can be ovals or rectangles, with or without a thumbhole, and with or without a lid. When it comes down to it, palettes are a matter of taste. Experiment and enjoy the process! —ETG
REMEMBER THIS!
Arrange your paint colors in the same order on your palette each time you set up; this will help you access colors quickly and establish a flow as you paint.