It is time to share these helpful tips again. Very little information is available on how to set up a watercolor palette... so I figured I'd share my technique.The palette I am showing is a Heritage Folding Palette with 18 wells. It is one of the nicest travel
palettes I have seen in a while and a great price. The lid has a soft
plastic seal, which keeps the palette from leaking and keeps your colors
from drying out quickly.
It comes with a removable clear plastic tray. I don't use the tray
since the palette has an ample mixing area. (1) Before I use a palette I give it a light scrubbing with a mild abrasive such as soft scrub. This takes the slick surface off the mixing area and removes any residues from the manufacturing. Be sure to thoroughly rinse off the palette…you don’t want this in your paint.(2) I fill the 18 wells with my favorite selection of paint. Don’t put tiny dabs of paint in the
wells…fill
the wells! Tiny dabs of paint will eventually just fall out. Hold the
tube over the deep end of the well then come back towards the shallow
end while squeezing the tube.(3) Let the palette sit open for a day or two. When the paint had set up and is no longer sticky I wet my thumb and push down in the center of each well. What this does is create an indentation for the water. When I get ready to paint I lightly mist the paint wells and I am ready to go.
 |
I've received questions about traveling with paint on an airplane. I put my palette in my carry on luggage.I don't bring paint in tubes but instead fill my palette with fresh paint a few days before and let air dry so the paint becomes more solid. When I arrive at my destination I mist the paint with fresh water, put a small sponge inside and close overnight. The next day the paint are fresh and juicy again. I haven't had a problem with security, yet.
My selection of paint colors by Daniel Smith Fine Watercolors
Happy Painting!
Brenda
Thanks for the helpful tips
ReplyDeleteExcellent information and I've giving a sketchbook/art journaliing workshop in Dallas in June and I will give my students this link. I have one of your books also Joseph Stoddard's.
ReplyDeleteNancy, you're welcome!
DeleteLove the tips, Brenda--I never thought of making an indentation for water!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kate! It's fun to share little tidbits of knowledge!
DeleteVery helpful, Brenda...thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. This is just what I have been looking for.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I recently got a really similar palette (http://www.utrechtart.com/Mijello-Airtite-Palette--Watercolor-Painting--Rose--18-Wells-MP47725-i1008014.utrecht). I already put my paints in it. I didn't think to scrub it, but I can still do that to the area where I'll mix paint. Thanks for that tip! I also like the idea of spraying water over it to get started. I'll try that too! :)
ReplyDeleteCaryn, I keep a small spray bottle with my sketching gear. I've found the small travel hair spray bottle works best (clean thoroughly first). I use distilled water so they don't clog.
DeleteHappy Sketching!
This is great, thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Oh, those colors look so luscious! PS Brenda, tomorrow I'm picking up my copy of Danny Gregory's new An Illustrated Jouney in which you are one of the Stars. ~Rita
ReplyDeleteRita, You are going to love the book!
Delete~Brenda
Wonderful. Those of us taking your class at Dillman's in June especially appreciate a heads up on this.
ReplyDeleteI have been watercolor painting for 17 years so am not a "newbie" but I like to try different palettes and different ideas.
I had one of these palettes tucked away and was using it for gouache paint. So I washed it out thoroughly and am going to set this up similar to your palette so I have some time between now and June to get a tad used to it. Thanks so much.
Ginny, I'm looking forward to Dillman's in June. We're going to have so much FUN!
DeleteBrenda, you have not met me yet, but I will be at Dillman's this June too, and I just got this palette in the mail today! I am so excited to attend your workshop!
ReplyDeleteHi Theda, My timing was perfect for the palette post...yeah! I look forward to meeting you and having lots of fun sketching at Dillman's!
DeleteI am so happy you posted this today. I am getting ready to fill a travel palette. I have to admit, I bought an 18 color water color set at the dollar store and poked out the watercolors. Now I can squeeze in some of my good watercolors and have a travel set. You have lots of good ideas to make this work and the timing was perfect!
ReplyDeleteWonderful...I love good finds and that palette sound like a real bargain. Have fun playing!
DeleteI was so happy to save money on the palette that I went online and bought your book! :)
ReplyDeleteVery helpful post! Thank you so much for sharing this knowledge.
ReplyDeletevery good information...thanks
ReplyDeleteHello Brenda, I just found your blog and spent about an hour totally fascinated, reading about your travels, and sketches and descriptions of paper, pens and watercolor.. I have been working in oils for the past few years, but pen and w/c were my first love, and have neglected them for too long! I know I need to get back to it. Thank you for sharing your stories, your knowledge,and artwork.. it's all very inspiring to me!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to watercolor, Debbie!
DeleteThank you for interesting info. :-)
ReplyDeleteI found this page most helpful. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Brenda,
ReplyDeleteLately I have been soaking up all I can from your blog. Its been great to find another person who has the same interests and has more experience and knowledge to glean from.
On a separate note, I thought you might find it helpful to know that in the palette of colours you listed, the colour "Rose Violet" (by Holbien) has been renamed by the company to "Quinacridone Magenta" with no changes made to the pigment.
Thanks so much for all the helpful tips and inspiration. I look forward to reading more!
Take care.
Patricia,
DeleteWow, that is good to know! Thank you for passing the information along.
Happy Painting!
Brenda
Brenda, I will be attending your class in July/august. I have been unable to find Holbein's rose violet. Would quinicridone rose be close ??
ReplyDeleteI am also unable to locate .. burnt sienna Tombow watersoluble pen which you use in your sketches on your DVD.
Could you help. I love the book and DVD.
Your pictures are so clean and colors are so vibrant and clear.
Rose Gauhar
Hi Rose, Holbein has renamed Rose Violet. It's now calledQuinacridone Magenta. The pen I used in the DVD is a Tombow Burnt Sienna #947. I look forward to painting with you soon. Happy Painting!
DeleteThank you so much. I have been unable to find the watersoluble pen. Hope Cheap joes carries it. I love your ideas and appreciate your generosity in sharing meaningful, useful ideas.
ReplyDeleteRose
Hi Brenda, I tried to access your paint recommendations for the small travel palette, but it's no longer available. Could you let me know what you use? thanks
ReplyDeleteCheck back soon...I am writing a post about my small palette and traveling light.
DeleteI am confused re: your Viridian. Do you use W&N Viridian (PG18) or Holbein Viridian Hue (PG7)
ReplyDeleteI want to replicate your palette and don't want to buy the wrong pigment.
Thanks!!!
I use either W&N Viridian (PG18) or Holbein Viridian Hue (PG7). Choice is yours =)
DeleteHappy Painting!
Great review post, Brenda. I really liked your idea of pressing a thumb indent into the semi-dry paint. I'll keep my new Heritage palette and give it a whirl. I'm glad to find this product has more than enough space for the serious painter. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJoanne, The Heritage palette is one of the best travel palettes out there. Glad to be of help!
DeleteThank you Brenda so much for the helpful tips, I ordered a plastic palette and my colors were mixing horrible I was very discouraged. Thank you! for the scraping tip, that will help, also the color choices that you use. Thank you for being such a Great help to all of us!
ReplyDeleteYour very welcome!
DeleteThanks so much Brenda for all the hints, it is very helpful. I have a question as to why you place quin sienna and burnt sienna away from the oranges, putting them after the greens on your palette, alongside lunar black? I am setting up a new palette and I want to understand the reasoning before I actually squirt (for lack of a better verb....) my paint. Thank you for your insight, I truly appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteChristine, Good observation and question. The reason I placed the quin sienna and burnt sienna there is I use them as a mixing color for earthy tones compared to the oranges which I use more pure. It's a personal preference and either place is fine. Happy Painting!
DeleteThank you so much Brenda, that makes sense. Now I have more to think about :) . I'm not sure which way I will prefer.....
ReplyDeleteHello, and thanks for this interesting blog! :)
ReplyDeleteI have a question: have you ever had a problem with mould growing on paints (in my case Daniel Smith variety)? I found out that W&N contain an anti mould chemical so in this type of palette it's no problem, but many of my favorite DS colors grow thick mould when kept in this type of sealable palette.
Any tips?
Good question.
DeleteMoistening your paints with water and a damp sponge won't cause mold overnight. And I wouldn't leave a wet sponge in your palette for a extended period of time.
Happy Painting!
Brenda, I have my palette and all but one of the colors (that's why there are art stores) my question is why do you set up your palette in this order? I can understand some of your thinking, but would like to know more.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the missing color is marine blue.... any substitutions? I am excited to take it with me on my outdoor painting excursions with the Plein Janes (my art club's plein air group) in Colorado..
Hi Chris, Glad you found this info helpful. I can only think of a few colors that might seem out of place (to others).
DeleteLeaf Green is used as a mixing yellow not a green. It's more yellow than you might think. Quinacridone Sienna and Burnt Sienna are used as earth tones (brown) so I keep them separate.
Brenda
Great idea! Might add pigment info this afternoon to my palette!
ReplyDeleteBrenda thank you so much for sharing how you setup your Heritage travel palette because that is what I use. I did not think about using an abrasive material on it first but wish I had. Also thank you for sharing about how you put the paint in and let dry and the thumb hole is brilliant. I learn so much from your blogs and post. You give a wealth of info and now I am not concerned about traveling with my paints. When will you be doing another teaching trip to Spain because I would love to go. Do you ever do more than 7 days.
ReplyDeleteP
Thank you for sharing. Im a beginner and have been searching for something like this for ages.
ReplyDelete