Setting up a Watercolour Palette - My Thoughts and Advice

Hi all, Setting up a watercolor Palette, my Thoughts, and my advice. This is the subject that I am covering in today's video tutorial. I will discuss the types and the reasoning behind my colour choices and give you some great tips when considering setting up your own watercolour palette. Even if you are new to watercolor and are just setting up for the very first time, this video is for you.

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PATREON PAGE:

The reference will be on my Patreon free for you to download and use, including line art and tonal reference ( No Commercial use please).

The full version can be seen over on my Patreon later today. Hop over and check out what's on offer. for just a coffee or two each month you get to see so much more from me. heaps to learn from.
These videos are aimed for you all to try and have a go at yourselves. the reference can be found on my Patreon. free to download and use to learn from, no commercial uses allowed.

My full list of colours set out below are in sequence as they appear in my palette. There are way too many and will be edited down over time to a core set.
Palette box is a cheaper version of a Holbein offering a 35 slot palette. If honest I have way more colours than if ever use. I often only use a few of these and a version of this palette with fewer slots would be better for most.
My brushes are mainly Rosemary and Co, Sable and Synthetics.
My watercolour palette is as follows:
Core Palette in the order they lay: left side up, across the top and then left to right at the bottom.
S = Schminke Horadam WN Windsor and Newton
DS = Daniel Smith PS I am slowly changing my colours all to Daniel Smith range where possible.
NEW PALETTE
Sepia
Burnt Umber
Indian Red
Burnt Sienna
Raw Sienna
Yellow Ochre
Neutral Tint
Indigo
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue
Phthalo Blue
Ultramarine Violet
Genuine Turquoise ( Sleeping Beauty)
Cobalt Turquoise
Magenta
Organic Vermillion
Trans Pyrrol Orange
Cadmium Yellow
Indian Yellow
Aureolin

OLDER PALETTE
Side
Indigo Blue. S
Ultramarine Blue. DS
Cobalt Blue. DS
Lapis Lazuli DS
Phithalo Blue ( Sometimes called Windsor Blue) S

Across the top
Ultramarine Violet DS
Ultramarine Violet S Same colours are very different
Cerulean Blue S
Cobalt Teal Blue DS
Turquoise Sleeping Beauty DS
Cobalt Turquoise WN
Phithalo Green (sometimes called Windsor Green) S
Neutral Tint S
Neutral Grey DS
Warm Grey DS
Sepia. S
Burnt Umber S
Burnt Sienna S
Raw Sienna. DS
Yellow Ochre S
Bottom Row
Indian Red S
Naples Yellow WN
Quinacridone Gold WN
New Gamboge. WN
Aureolin (Sometimes called Cobalt Yellow). S
Cadmium Yellow Deep DS
Indian Yellow DS
Translucent Orange. S
Organic Vermillion DS
Cadmium Red Medium DS
Translucent Pyrrol Orange DS
Genuine Rhodonite. DS
Magenta. DS

Daniel smith Joeseph ZBukvic
Warm and Cool Greys


Patreon Page

On my Patreon page, you will find the full versions of videos along with other full time narrated tutorials for you to enjoy. I am using a limited palette as shown in the film.

I am trying to bring you a new video art tutorial every Friday at 3 PM. GMT. If you are making your own version of this painting, please do so and I'd be happy to look at it and comment. Please do remember that your version is to learn from and therefore not for resale, based upon my, demonstration and source photo... Thank you for respecting that

[HeyCreativeSister]

Can I just say this... tons of watercolorists on youtube come along with perfect videos and then there's you with paint on your shirt and dust on your tin palette. And it's quite refreshing. And real. Thanks for sharing how you set things up.

[waymire]

When I first started I had these big folding palettes with a multitude of colors. As I learned better I discovered not only do I not need them, I do better work without them. What I needed are the right colors and an education in pigments and color theory. The first thing to go were the "flaps", drive me nuts and once you mix on ceramic you never want to go back. I use either two ceramic "flower" palettes or a large platter I bought at my local department store for a few dollars. Then I got rid of the wells and studio palettes. My actual paint lives in full pans with magnets on the bottom that can be rearranged etc at a whim. This has saved me a ton of waste and frustration as I'm always changing my mind as to where I want them and how they are organized. Those live in tins.. I have everything from ones that will hold three full pans to ones that will hold seven (and a couple of half pans), to ones that will hold twenty. As for colors I actually have a ton of little palettes.. I have one that is all single pigment granulating colors, a collection of classic masters mixing trios, several brand specific palettes, etc. A base palette is a split primary (transparent single pigment cool and warm of red, yellow and blue) plus burnt sienna.. you can mix almost anything with it and get easy browns and greys. My favorite palette is ultramarine, quin magenta, yellow ochre, sap green, burnt sienna, and sepia. I sometimes add cad yellow and red to that for pops of color. I can paint almost anything with it and its earthy and soft on the eye while still being bright enough to pull off florals, birds, etc. I don't buy most convenience colors.. I simply mix them. I don't use paynes grey, I prefer the mix of ultramarine and burnt sienna which can go either warm, neutral, or cool. Once you learn to actually use your paint, instead of just slapping on yet one more pigment, you find that not only do your paintings look better and work together better, since the colors are literally made from each other, but you have so much more at your disposal than any palette would hold. Each mix creates multiple completely different colors.. all depending on your ratios.

[shoepixie]

Could you link us to those tin palettes of yours? I've only ever seen that design in plastic!

[melaniehellum]

I love watching people play with their pallets . Making colour swatches. And what colours people use.
Very interesting stuff thanks for sharing.
I have a basic colour selection I use for all three medium, oil acrylic and water colour . It was the same basic colour pallet I used when I began painting 50 years ago. I have brought in a few more colours over the years but my pallet of colours is still quite modest.

[Pattymelt]

Would really love to see why you chose those colors. Perhaps talk about what happens when you mix two of them together to make new colors that you love. Perhaps make another video with a more extensive color chart of all the colors you chose! Also I would have liked to see you pour the colors and do that chart. While doing that you could talk about why you love that color over others. Thanks☺️

[kristinzumar]

Thank you. I’m brand new to watercolor and this is very helpful!

[AlanOwen]

thank you Paul for the pleasure you gave me watching you , ,,god bless and take care .

[MegaSooki]

You are a total blast. I love watching you go through all I have questioned myself over. I have way too many colors I have never used and most likely I never will. You helped me organize my pallet to the colors I will use and how to get the most out of them. Very cool. Thank you.

[alangibbs]

I use a similar system but I have discovered that I use some colors way more than others. So when I find those colors I will use two pans for them and since they are next to each other it is also very convenient.

[BeckyTregear]

That brass palette has been well loved; I love its character and painty messiness! I am of the "one can never have too many colours" school of thought, so I can appreciate your lovely collection. I like to chop and change colours and not always the same ones. Squeezing paints into pans is such a fun time, haha! I love swatching them all as well. Great video, I've just found your channel. Have a lovely day! 💜

[danielpangrazio]

From model railroading to painting, thanks Paul. I was looking for someone to discuss setting up a watercolour palette and your video just hit the spot. Thanks. Also signed up to the Patron page. Looking forward to more interesting stuff in my artistic journey.

[Silverbirchtree]

I really enjoyed watching your video, I just found you and as an absolute beginner I have found your information so informative - very inspirational. Look forward to learning more from you :)

[mulekicker]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and firsthand practical tips. Glad I came here searching for a list to begin filling, my first time, 24-half pan plastic travel palette. I'm inclined to try the 20 well aluminum like yours, but no hurry now. I was surprised when I found no ultramarine violet, so I substituted with mauve. Others include Venetian Red, Cad. Orange, Hansa yellow, Hookers Green, and Viridian. Starting out with DaVinci paints and like you I stocked up on a few others. Being a spectator to all the great talent on YT is an education in itself.

[rachelwest]

Thanks so much for this! I'm returning to watercolors after many years away, and have been having tremendous fun with color swatching and trying different combinations-- a nice, meditative, non-intimidating way to re-familiarize myself with how the different colors behave together. Your video was a pleasure to watch, and it was refreshing to see how even a professional artist is tempted by the amazing abundance of colors! I am taking a birding trip to Costa Rica in April (! ! !) and I hope to bring a small, well-curated palette along with me.

[valasafantastic]

I love lots of colours to choose from but still limit myself for individual paintings.
I also premix custom convenience mixes.
I also mix watercolour and gouache and paint with lots of gouache too.
I comment tins and buy bulk empty half and full pans on Amazon. And get sticky magnets at the dollar store.
And use other mixing pallets. I use smaller very compact ones for on the go vs much larger ones for in studio.
I’m still collecting and mixing more! I’m expecting another 100 empty half pans.
I keep clear notes and separate matching swatches that are clearly labeled that match each completed pallet. I don’t get confused. I paint faster with more options personally. Pre mixing more options helps me and the way I personally paint.
Each person is different. I prefer to research and premix closer and have more options then save time by pre wetting the paint in when I’m ready.
I also actually use my colours as I love having lots of colours! I paint with care for getting accurate to a subject more often such as the correct colour for a flower, or a Pokémon fanart or the exact colour I imagined for a fantasy creature. The colour of the exact species of bird.
Rather than narrowing it down I’ve been joyfully expanding!
I also advise keeping colour note reference book with written notes! Stop reinventing the wheel look at your colour notes!
The again I have exceptional colour vision and love all colours! I do restricted pallets ONLY for an individual painting not overall.
Also research pigment information. I still use non lightfast paint but am aware which ones are lightfast so if it becomes import for a for sale art or to hang on the wall. Then again if I’m ok with it fading or being replaced on my own walls lightfastness doesn’t matter. It also matters less in a sketchbook.
For travel kits based on the size I pick the best for mixing plus most useful convenience. Currently there is a super compact ‘Medeen’ 42 watercolour spin out pallet with mixing area sponge and waterbrush. I just ordered one in Amazon for 11.99 CAD! Use a pallet knife to remove the cheap paint it comes with and with a needle to help it flatten put in real actual good paint! Each one is only around 3 cm deep (1 inch) and 5 cm ( 2 inches) by 20 cm ( 8 in) long! I can literally throw 2 in a small purse! So you can bring a lot of colours with you on the go if you find and use these kind of pallets. There is also an amazing tin from Dollarama in Canada that is also very sleek with an enabled white inner lid and colour does not bead and fits 45 half pans with magnets added and closes perfectly! I can fit that as well in a small purse. Planning to upgrade to a larger art bag to fit more stuff for on the go and all that paint will fit oh and another travel pallet!
To each their own I suppose!
Just know if you love all the paint that’s ok too!
I also highly recommend the HimI/Miya gouache!
For watercolour I recommend the Van Gogh as art grade even if labeled student grade.
Since expanding to more colours and spreading them around me and pre wetting ; I’ve enjoyed art twice as much and gotten way more art done and faster!

[tracey]

Thank you this will help me out can’t imagine lugging around with me on holidays my big pallet 💜💙🩵🩷❤️💛💚

[SarahDailey-jrjs]

Was VERY suprised with your music choice, but I love it and loved your video!

[Lpinzo]

Absolutely lovely demonstration - thank you so much. ?Beautiful colors!!!

[barbarawilliams]

Perfect timing - I found this having just ordered a new pallet. Having always preferred ceramic, I found my trusty charity shop dinner plate doesn’t cope well now I am using much wetter washes - my blobs round the edges just flood into the mixing area. The nearest I could find is a circular ceramic ‘colour wheel’ palette, perhaps 30 is too many but my aim is to stop messing about with those mean little blobs and squeeze a good dollop into the wells. Most of my time is in the studio, I will still have my little pocket sets for when I venture out. Can’t wait for it to arrive, I will definitely do your swatch chart! Thanks for this.

[jaxxytheartist]

My watercolour palette is quite large and have lots of colours are bright and of course opaque. The way I set up the palette is from warm colours to cool colours but in between those two parts, I add skin tones and some colours that are perfect for my art style and makes it easier to access or makes sense to my art style.