Choosing Watercolor Palettes with Flexibility in Mind

I'll share pros and cons of the many watercolor palettes I've used and how I keep my palettes flexible to handle a growing collection of paint.

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[emmahaslam]

One option for a mixing palette is a big white ceramic bathroom tile. Buy a bag of empty full pans and a roll of magnetic tape to stick to the bottom of them. Keep the colours in the ( flexible) order you like on a metal ruler alongside the tile. (Another ruler can make a lid)
You can then easily pop your magnetised pans in and out of any tin for painting outside.
(A few layers of acrylic enamel inside the lid for a good mixing surface...) a pencil tin will give a big enough mixing space and can also transport your pens or brushes...

[Lisapizza]

I never tire of art options and supplies. 😃

[ralphcrosby]

I snuck a older plate out of my wife’s pantry. I like it - especially when I need to remix a color to match. She finally realized what I was using. She wasn’t terribly upset.
Again thank you for this content and helpful insights

[tinakoyama]

So many great ideas here! I have "saved" this video so I can find it again later for reference. Thank you!

[theadster]

I use an old Ironstone platter from a thrift store....LOVE it!!!

[trondbirkeland]

Excellent palette extenders. I have used plastic corks from milk bottles and metal corks from soda bottles fastended with glue dots or blue tack in the same way. I also have regular pans with magnetic tape or vanadium magnets on.

[InLiquidColor]

I hope you feel better Steve! Thanks for showing us around your palettes!

[maryalgar]

Visit your local thrift store and you will likely find some porcelain-type plates etc. at very reasonable prices. Really enjoyed this video Steve. Thank you.

[colleenmcchesney]

Ohh wow 😯. I began watercolor painting with a Sakura Koi 30 colors Pocket Field Set because it was recommended by the teacher I was taking a Nature Journal Drawing class. After the class, watching various watercolor painting videos on U-Tube I got overwhelmed with what to do until I saw one of your videos where you said that there’s no set standard for a specific basic palette of colors. I decided to try to make my own palette set. I bought some empty half pans and full pans, a roll of magnetic tape to cut to size for the pans. I had a rectangular Christmas cookie tin that I was able to put 28 each of the half pans & full pans, 48 total. I added my own colors that I liked and I loved the fact that it is just the right size for me to use for my studio set or small enough to take as my Plein Air set because the metal tin can easily attached to the magnetic strip on my portable sketch board. I am thrilled to see your process of palettes, colors, and the vast variety of palette options. Thanks for sharing this knowledge and process with us.

[charjackowitcz]

You always answer my questions even when I don't know the question is there!!! Thanks

[danakolpin]

You were my first artist that I watched when I got interested in watercolor. I choose MGraham paints and Silver Black Velvet brushes

[MDCampbell]

At our age, Steve, "flexibility" is not a word that comes up too often! Ouch! lol! This is such an important discussion, mostly for anyone new to watercolor, but especially for those of us who are familiar as both a reminder and a refresher. Thank you for the great info and visuals, and I hope at this point you are feeling better. Stay well, my friend! ~ Mark

[cathyquilts]

We travel internationally in gites & AirBnBs. On the 1st day stop for groceries, I buy a white glass salad plate to use as a palette for my small travel half pan set and bring home paintings and the plate as souvenirs. Small for travel, nice collection of similar size yet different plates from all over and easy to pack

[JC-ilor]

Wow, pulled this up at a perfect time. Great and comprehensive coverage!! Thanks so much, Steve.

[viviandibrell]

Wow, I will never feel guilty again for buying additional palettes or any art supplies! 😅 This was actually very always spark new ideas. Thanks!

[creativecolours]

The best mixing palettes are the white bathroom tiles. They are better than plates because they are completely flat, they don't stain and you can cut them in whatever size you want and have always one with you. For storing my colours I've ordered a custom made wooden box from a S. Korean guy that I found on Etsy and that is the box that I mostly use for outdoor sketching and indoor smaller paintings.
I don't particularly like metal boxes because they are heavier and most of the times they are clinging inside my bag ( along with the other painting stuff) and their paint stains even though I have some in my studio for larger paintings.
But if I make something really big then I squeeze colour directly from the tubes into plates or bowls depending the amount of paint that I need because there is no point to scrub paint from pans if you want to cover large surfaces.

[bobm]

I use the Mijello with 18 wells.  I put my color swatch chart under the clear plastic piece that's in the cover.  That's why you like the clear tray - you just haven't thought of using it that way.  And you can still mix colors on it.  :)

[marjoriebader]

Just watching this again. Great idea to take swatch cards to the art supply store. Up to now I have to make 2 visits each time I go: once to buy the wrong color and once to exchange it. Also, combining palettes for different purposes -- good idea. I've been combining only to extend colors, not to, say, separate granulating from staining. You have so many good ideas. Thanks.

[tdelphia]

The palette extenders are a FABULOUS idea!

[Winstonsmom]

Having a card for each colour is awesome… that way when you’re looking for say mars black, you can check out your cards and know right away what brand you have it in and where to look.