How To Choose A Watercolor Palette

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  • čas pƙidĂĄn 5. 08. 2024
  • Learn how to choose the best watercolor palette for YOU and your needs! In this video, we review metal palettes, plastic palettes, ceramic palettes, and more, and talk about the pros and cons of each.
    00:00 How to learn what watercolor tools the pros use
    00:54 Review of metal watercolor palettes
    05:20 Review of plastic watercolor palettes
    08:18 Review of ceramic/porcelain palettes
    11:50 Review of disposable paint palettes
    12:23 Airtight palettes (for gouache and watercolor)
    13:56 Questions to ask yourself when picking a palette
    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED:
    🎹 FREE Watercolor Supply Guide: artsummits.com/watercolor-sup...
    🎹 Stop Making Mud, the color mixing class that will change EVERYTHING: artsummits.com/stop-making-mu...
    LINKS TO PURCHASE PALETTES MENTIONED:
    May contain affiliate links
    // Metal //
    - Butcher tray: amzn.to/2Uudbzy
    - Small metal folding tin: amzn.to/3eCZ01S
    - Larger metal folding tin: amzn.to/2UY3B87
    // Plastic //
    - Folding palette: amzn.to/3eB6ouG
    - Round paint palette: amzn.to/3kC9YbO
    - Small rectangular palette: amzn.to/2TplADZ
    - Large rectangular palette: amzn.to/3BqlzAy
    - John Pike palette: amzn.to/2V3ZLdG
    // Ceramic //
    - Flower-style palette: amzn.to/3kDyHwk
    - Sloping well palette: amzn.to/3Bjbg1v
    - Dinner plates: amzn.to/3wNoVud
    - Small shallow ramekins: amzn.to/3xVopvk
    - Rectangular serving platter: amzn.to/36LY6vV
    - Deviled egg platter: amzn.to/3wZ3XZu
    // Disposable //
    - Palette paper: amzn.to/3kHDRrc
    // Airtight //
    - 24-well palette: amzn.to/2W2rifY
    - Ice cube tray with lid: amzn.to/3wRfHNy

Komentáƙe • 64

  • @ArtSummits
    @ArtSummits  Pƙed 3 lety +5

    *Do you use any of these palettes? Which one is your favorite?*

    • @carladanforth1349
      @carladanforth1349 Pƙed 3 lety +4

      Wish I had watched this video last year when I started learning watercolor! last year I purchased a few cheap plastic palettes (& 1 not so cheap) and found them lacking for all the reasons Ashley mentioned (those are now used by my 4 yr old granddaughter). Recently I found smaller white porcelain serving platters and some small square flat bottomed tapas dishes at a discount store. They are perfect and much cheaper than ceramic palettes.
      Also I have been spending an inordinate amount of time learning pigment properties and color mixing, which will ultimately save me lots $ on paint and is giving me some beautiful mixes (& some not so much lol) watercolor is a fun journey

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 3 lety

      @@carladanforth1349 So glad that you've found some palettes that work for you! Mastering color mixing is such a great skill as a watercolorist (& for other mediums too). You'll continue to reap the benefits of being able to mix your own colors and manipulate them as you want to!

    • @sharonmcmann-morelli4896
      @sharonmcmann-morelli4896 Pƙed 2 lety +1

      i use a John Pike, love it because there are so many mixing areas.

    • @julielandry-godin4347
      @julielandry-godin4347 Pƙed 2 lety +2

      I just went through my cupboards and I pulled out my white fondue plates, thanks to this vidéo it will cost me 0$ ;) (I'm just starting out)

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 2 lety

      @@julielandry-godin4347 🎉🎉🎉 you can't beat free!

  • @CHARICEFAVORITES
    @CHARICEFAVORITES Pƙed 8 měsĂ­ci +5

    When I began my watercolor journey, on a tight budget, I had to get creative. I bought a cheap picture frame at Walmart. I removed that back, flipped the models picture over so the white backing was facing up and placed it back into the frame and replaced the back board. I then used my glue gun and applied glue all around the front edges of the frame where the glass meets the frame to create a seal. BINGO! I have a water proof mixing tray. Perfectly flat, unlike the Butcher tray I had wasted my money on (it was not flat). Perhaps others would like to try my hack. You could make it as big or small as you need. Happy Arting!

  • @kraznia
    @kraznia Pƙed 19 dny +1

    At home I love my multiple ceramic options, so I’m modular at my little desk. On the go, I supplement my travel palette with Yupo (or similar plastic sheet) cut to the size of my travel book or smaller. That way I have a mixing sheet specific to the project until I’m done. I have different travel palettes based on what I’m doing and where I’m heading. My mini palette only works with my very small water brush (slightly smaller than 1/4 pans). My “regular” travel kit is half pans.
    I also have a Pike palette, which is a joy to use, I just lack desk real estate.

  • @meekokeeko5372
    @meekokeeko5372 Pƙed 2 lety +12

    This is the most comprehensive video on palettes I’ve seen so far! Thank you. I would recommend tempered glass dinner plates like the ones by Corelle or the cheap ones at IKEA for $1 especially for people who like to mix colors and keep them around until all the paint is used. They are nice and white and stack well when the paints are dry. They are more durable and lighter than porcelain or ceramic plates. The paint does not bead up either.

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 2 lety

      Thanks, Meeko! That's a great recommendation.

  • @sigrunella1
    @sigrunella1 Pƙed 2 lety +8

    I keep my paints in half or full pans in metal tins but always use porcelain for mixing. Nothing fancy, just second hand dishes, everything from small saucers to big serving dishes. I found a few small dishes with different compartments that are very practical for mixing big washes.

    • @sarahmatthews5878
      @sarahmatthews5878 Pƙed 2 lety +1

      I've been using Ice Cube trays for holding the paint from the tubes, and I use a food platter for mixing. White plastic for waters and gouache, and acrylics. Glass/porcelain/Ceramic from Goodwill or yard sales, for Oils.

  • @christianebehr138
    @christianebehr138 Pƙed 4 měsĂ­ci +1

    Thanks very much for all the nice infos they were very intressting.
    You are very right that you dont need very many colours.😊

  • @shelleyjennings4344
    @shelleyjennings4344 Pƙed rokem +2

    This was a fun and informative exercise. Thanks! I made 2 color wheels. One was with an old Grumbacher student grade pallet from college and the other was with new tubes of Windsor Newton watercolors. It was interesting to see the differences not only in the colors but their vibrancy as well. Another plus of making the wheels was practicing my water control and mixture skills. You are a good teacher.🎈

  • @TTMW
    @TTMW Pƙed rokem +2

    I use one of those glass plates that goes in the bottom of a microwave. I found it at a thrift store, and I painted the underside of it white. 😊

  • @GONZOFAM7
    @GONZOFAM7 Pƙed rokem +2

    I hot glued some half pans to the rim of a white dish. They pop off after a while buy it works pretty well otherwise. Easy to glue them back on.

  • @twicebittenthasme5545
    @twicebittenthasme5545 Pƙed rokem +1

    I have several "pallets" I use. I have a couple plastic ones similar to those shown and I have a couple metal ones, store-bought and homemade from altoid tins with half pans. They work fairly well and I endure the same issues as pointed out in the video. I use a ceramic (actually "Stoneware") dish, mainly for acrylics but cleaned, watercolors also. I also use a piece of epoxied fiberglass, similar to the stuff used for tub surrounds/stall showers, which I acquired through my work, as I'm a home remodeling contractor. I use a piece of safety glass, also acquired through work, for my oil paints. I acid etched the back and coated it with a suitable white paint and it works excellently for oils. Scrapes clean with minimal effort. I don't do much in oils these days as the prices are ridiculously astronomical so mostly acrylics and the interspersed runs of watercolors.
    Nice video. Thank you for sharing!

  • @stormmoster
    @stormmoster Pƙed 9 měsĂ­ci +1

    You can useally remove stains from palettes by using a white eraser.

  • @gotweetyful
    @gotweetyful Pƙed 3 lety +9

    I’ve tried just about all of these as well! My favorite surface is porcelain though... I’m going to pick up several small porcelain salad plates from the dollar store and try those (someone else’s suggestion)!

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 3 lety +1

      It's hard to beat a porcelain surface! :) I was first turned on to the plate idea by Sarah Simon (@TheMintGardener on Instagram). Genius! Thanks for watching! -Ashley

    • @chaoticgood8645
      @chaoticgood8645 Pƙed 2 lety +2

      My favorite pallete is a porcelain plate that I found at the thrift store for $0.85!! It has little walled sections which I'm pretty sure was meant for kids to keep their food from touching on the plate (😅who else remembers being that kid). I can see why no one wanted it but it was PERFECT for a watercolor mixing surface!
      I highly recommend you check out your thrift stores, never know what kind of funny looking serving plates you'll find that will be super helpful to you

    • @gotweetyful
      @gotweetyful Pƙed 2 lety

      @@chaoticgood8645 great idea!!!

  • @sharynjackson8158
    @sharynjackson8158 Pƙed 8 měsĂ­ci +1

    Thank you so much

  • @Shazzordinarylifestyle
    @Shazzordinarylifestyle Pƙed rokem +1

    Amazing tips

  • @micheleseitz2724
    @micheleseitz2724 Pƙed 3 lety +3

    Good day. First You Tube video? Great job. Very thoural, concise, and detailed. Continued luck and success.

  • @sharonmcmann-morelli4896
    @sharonmcmann-morelli4896 Pƙed 2 lety +3

    i have the John Pike Pallet, i really like.

  • @sandralauterbach7581
    @sandralauterbach7581 Pƙed 3 lety +2

    Ashley, this is the best video of the pluses and minuses of the various types of palettes that i have seen!! It is very comprehensive. Do you squeeze out paint from tubes as needed or do you fill wells/spaces?

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 3 lety +3

      Thank you Sandra, I'm glad you enjoyed it! In the beginning I filled up the wells and spaces from my tube paints... but then as I got nicer tube paints, and was still in "experimentation mode" with my palettes, I didn't fill the wells up as much, just in case I didn't like a palette. When you're trying out a new palette, I'd suggest just squeezing out tube paint as needed, until you're sure you want to "commit" to that palette! 😂

  • @karensliwinski1243
    @karensliwinski1243 Pƙed 2 lety +2

    I got a sushi set a few years ago and found that I wasn't using it so I converted the set into palettes for smaller watercolor works. I have a similar palette to your Pike palette which I do use most of the time. It has a little bit of staining but that doesn't see to bother me.

  • @richardfuchs5131
    @richardfuchs5131 Pƙed 2 lety +1

    I have over time used all but disposable .. I too favor ceramic palettes because they don’t bead up from day one. I have sizes from large serving trays down to soap dish size for in my travel bag.

  • @elliegreen872
    @elliegreen872 Pƙed rokem +1

    Wish you were still posting.

  • @suel4269
    @suel4269 Pƙed 2 lety +1

    Great info. I found you by searching Large well palettes. I like to paint with large brushes. I have several palettes and way too many paints. 😬 I was already leaning towards a John Pike palette.

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 2 lety +1

      The John Pike palette is a good one! Hope you enjoy it 😊

    • @suel4269
      @suel4269 Pƙed 2 lety

      Left brained-analytical! That’s me! But I’m left handed so doesn’t that mean I’m in my right mind? đŸ€Ł

  • @sarahmatthews5878
    @sarahmatthews5878 Pƙed 2 lety +2

    I use a Dollar Tree ice cube tray and a white Dollar Tree food platter for my paints- Not for Oils though. I use a picture frame glass taped to a white foam board from Dollar Tree for Oils.

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 2 lety

      It doesn't have to be expensive to work great!

    • @kathleenalarid1150
      @kathleenalarid1150 Pƙed 2 lety +1

      I use my old pizza pans or ones I find at Goodwill for oil. Going to look at plates for WC pallets

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 2 lety

      @@kathleenalarid1150 Plates are usually pretty easy to find at Goodwill too. Good luck!

  • @micheleseitz2724
    @micheleseitz2724 Pƙed 3 lety +1

    BTW. I use two palettes. A Robax palette introduced to me by Angela Fehr.. Mine is circular, it turns like a lazy susan, and I ordered the one that has 24 wells. It has a mixing area in the middle and a lid that can be used for mixing. I do not use the mixing surfaces as I prefer a ceramic surface for mixing. I j.have a ceramic palette that sits on my Robax that I use for mixing

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 3 lety

      The spinning feature sounds nice for easy access to your colors. And you're right, it's hard to beat ceramic for mixing!

  • @lifeismusicparnadonkers
    @lifeismusicparnadonkers Pƙed rokem

    I make my own grey pallets. I use a picture frame and than wen i get home pray it whit a grey primer paint pray. I just spray one side 3 times to get an even cote. I love these home made pallets. I got the advice from an other youtube artist. I paint whit oil and watercolours and i only use 8 colours to paint. But i love the big plastic pallet whit holes along the side for my watercoloursđŸ˜ŠđŸ‘‹đŸŸ

  • @kevingibbons6215
    @kevingibbons6215 Pƙed 8 měsĂ­ci +1

    magic erasers cleans all the stain from Pike Palette

  • @lark6676
    @lark6676 Pƙed rokem +1

    The Masters Brush Cleaner gets any paint stain off of your palettes.

  • @julielandry-godin4347
    @julielandry-godin4347 Pƙed 2 lety +1

    Do you have links for your classes, like the one you mentionned at the end of the vidĂ©o 😊?

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed 2 lety

      When you scroll to the description below the video, click "SHOW MORE" which you'll see in gray right below the description. That will allow the links to show up!

  • @themightierpencil
    @themightierpencil Pƙed rokem +1

    Have you tried Magic Erasers to help get stains out of the metal palette? I used it on my cutting mat, which I use as my desk cover while I paint, and it removed the stains on there so maybe it’ll work on the metal palettes.

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed rokem

      I haven't! Sounds like it would be worth a try!

    • @miss.cellanous8610
      @miss.cellanous8610 Pƙed rokem

      Magic erasers will erase stains from plastic palettes 😊😊

  • @gerrycook7566
    @gerrycook7566 Pƙed rokem

    What do you do with your watercolors that dry up and crack?

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed rokem +1

      Typically watercolors will last a long time and you can reanimate them with water even when they start to crack. I would add water on top and let it sit a while and see if you can use them again. If they dry up in the tube, you can often cut the tube open to get the paint out and still use it as well.

    • @gerrycook7566
      @gerrycook7566 Pƙed rokem

      Thank you for the info. Which watercolors can’t be put in a pallet and need to be used straight from the tube

    • @ArtSummits
      @ArtSummits  Pƙed rokem +1

      @@gerrycook7566 you can squeeze out tube watercolors onto a palette and let them dry and then continue to use them by activating them with water. If you want a more concentrated color, you can use them straight from the tube.

  • @briancliff8329
    @briancliff8329 Pƙed 2 lety +2

    A little tip on removing those stains from the metal and plastic palettes, use a white polymer plastic eraser, it will remove most if not all the staining.
    Other ideas for ceramic palettes, I use soap dishes and condiment trays. I have limited space so I use smaller palettes.

  • @mattp6355
    @mattp6355 Pƙed rokem

    There highter in the center by design to drain blood from meat