Hey there, are you an artist looking for some tips on how to make your wet palette last longer and be more durable? Well, I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve that’ll have you painting like a pro in no time!
So, you know what a wet palette is – it’s basically a palette with wet paint on it that allows you to continue working while your paints dry. But did you know that by taking a few extra steps, you can make your wet palette last even longer and be even more efficient?
First off, let’s talk about the actual palette itself.
What Is A Wet Palette?
A wet palette is a way to keep your paint moist. Paint dries out in the air, so having moisture on pigment helps it stay fresh and workable longer! When you are using oil paints or watercolors, this can be especially important because they need lots of moisture for mixing colors. Wet palettes come with different materials to help them hold onto that extra moisture; some have built-in pans where wetting agents go, while others rely on absorbent paper towels as their primary humidifier.
How Does A Wet Palette Help?
A wet palette is used to add moisture and keep your paints moist for a long time. With the addition of water, you can mix multiple paint colors as well! But how do you get started with using it? The following are tips and tricks on how to maximize its use when painting:
- Keeps Paints Moist For Long Period Of Time – This does really well not only keep your paint fresh but also allows them to stay moist longer than if they were just left alone at room temperature. This is especially good if you’re someone who likes creating fine details in all their paintings or drawing pieces because it will help make sure that none of your pigments dry up too quickly while you work on other parts of the piece.
- Works For All Mediums – Whether you’re using oils, acrylics, or watercolors on your project, a wet palette will work with all of them because it’s not dependent upon what type of print medium is used! In fact, some artists use oil paints and mix their colors directly onto the surface instead since this mimics traditional painting methods better than other types of art supplies do. This makes it easy to get started creating if you often switch between different media too.
Now that we’ve gone over how they work in general and their benefits for any artist, no matter their skill level or preferred style, let’s go ahead and talk about some tips and tricks on making sure that one is properly used to get the most out of it.
- Use A Larger Surface – This may be a brainer, but one thing that you want when working with wet palettes is going for something larger than what you would otherwise use on a dry palette since this will make sure that there’s more room for mixing colors and won’t run out as quickly!
- Keep It Clean And Dry – After using your wet palette, always remember to clean it off right away so nothing gets dried up inside or left behind in any crevice, which can lead to mold forming over time if not taken care of immediately. Since the chances are high that water has been introduced into its design, having some moisture around without proper ventilation can also lead to parts rusting, so be sure to dry it completely before putting it away.
- Store It Horizontally – Depending on the size, you may want to consider storing your wet palette horizontally instead of vertically because this will make sure that there are no air bubbles and water is distributed evenly throughout its surface; which can help prevent any separation between colors while painting with them!
Wet Palette Cleaning Tips And Tricks
Gently wipe your wet palette with a paper towel to remove any excess paint. This helps preserve the moisture and prevent you from getting covered in pigment.
To clean any remaining color, use either oil painting solvent or watercolor cleaner, depending on the type of paint you’re working with. Alternatively, you can use baby wipes, but make sure they don’t contain soap, as it may leave residue that could affect the adhesion of your new paint.
Store Your Wet Palette Properly When You’re Done Painting for the Day
When you’re finished using your palette, it’s important to remove any excess moisture before storing it to prevent mold growth. To do this, simply place a paper towel on the bottom of your palette and another one on top. Seal it with cling wrap or store it in an airtight container to ensure that no moisture seeps in.
If you’re using oil paints, make sure to seal them with linseed oil after they have dried to preserve their workability for future use. This is especially important if you often paint multiple pieces, as different colors may require different hardening agents.
Avoid using newspaper as an absorbent material as the ink may transfer onto your wet pigments, leaving visible stains once dry. Instead, choose a material that is both absorbent and allows excess moisture to escape, such as paper towels.
The 3 Best Wet Palettes For Me
1. The Army Painter Wet Palette
- Packaged well and clean
- Not damaged
- Help keep your paints wet for longevity
- brush holders inside the top compartment can’t hold some of the brushes from Army Painter themselves
- design has no latching or snapping components
In my personal opinion, The Army Painter Wet Palette stands out from its competitors in a few key ways:
Ease of Use:
One of the things that sets The Army Painter Wet Palette apart is how easy it is to use. The hydration foam and paper are simple to install, and the size of the palette is perfect for tabletop use. The lid is also a nice touch, as it helps keep the paint moist for longer periods of time.
Performance:
In terms of performance, The Army Painter Wet Palette is top-notch. The hydration foam does an excellent job of keeping the paint moist, even for extended periods of time. This makes it much easier to blend colors and achieve smooth transitions between shades.
Value for Money:
Finally, I think that The Army Painter Wet Palette provides great value for money. It’s not the most expensive wet palette on the market, but it performs just as well as some of the higher-end options. The hydration foam and paper last a long time and are easily replaceable, which means that you won’t have to spend a lot of money on maintenance.
Overall, I would highly recommend The Army Painter Wet Palette to anyone looking for a reliable and affordable option for keeping their paints moist. It’s easy to use, performs well, and provides great value for money. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of some of the higher-end wet palettes on the market, it gets the job done and is a solid choice for hobbyists and miniaturists alike.
2. Masterson Sta-Wet Palette with Airtight Lid Keeps Paint Wet Fresh for Days
Perfect addition for any painter or artist looking to save time without sacrificing quality!
- A week later? Still wet!
- seals airtight and keeps paints fresh
- better way to deal with fast drying acrylic paints
- Would have liked lower sides and larger size
In my personal opinion, the Masterson Sta-Wet Palette with Airtight Lid is one of the best wet palettes on the market. Here are a few reasons why:
Longevity:
One of the standout features of the Masterson Sta-Wet Palette is its ability to keep paint moist and usable for days on end. This is a huge advantage for miniature painters, as it allows them to take their time with projects and achieve the desired look without having to constantly remix and reapply paint.
Durability:
The Masterson Sta-Wet Palette is also very well-made and durable. The palette itself is sturdy enough to withstand daily use, and the sponge and paper sheets are easy to clean and replace. This means that you won’t have to constantly replace the palette or worry about it breaking down after a few uses.
Convenience:
Finally, the airtight lid on the Masterson Sta-Wet Palette is a great convenience feature. It ensures that the paint stays fresh and usable for extended periods of time, even if you forget to close the lid overnight. This means that you can focus on your painting without having to constantly worry about the state of your paint.
Overall, I believe that the Masterson Sta-Wet Palette with Airtight Lid is a fantastic investment for anyone looking to up their miniature painting game. While it may be on the pricier side of the spectrum, the longevity and convenience features make it well worth the investment. I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a reliable and long-lasting wet palette.
3. Sta-Wet Palette Keeps Paints Fresh For Days
- size is a lot more convenient to carry around
- the paper is especially surprising because it has absorbed water yet the paint stays on the surface
- fragile palette cover
In my personal opinion, the Sta-Wet Palette Keeps Paints Fresh For Days is a fantastic wet palette that stands out from its competitors in a few key ways:
Longevity:
One of the standout features of the Sta-Wet Palette is its ability to keep paint moist and usable for days on end. This is a huge advantage for miniature painters, as it allows them to take their time with projects and achieve the desired look without having to constantly remix and reapply paint.
Convenience:
The Sta-Wet Palette is also very convenient to use. The sponge and paper sheets are easy to clean and replace, and the palette itself is the perfect size for tabletop use. The lid also helps keep the paint moist for extended periods of time, which is a great feature for those longer painting sessions.
Value for Money:
While the Sta-Wet Palette may be on the pricier side of the spectrum, I believe that it’s well worth the investment. The longevity of the sponge and paper sheets, coupled with the convenience of being able to keep paint moist for extended periods of time, make it a great value for money.
Overall, I highly recommend the Sta-Wet Palette Keeps Paints Fresh For Days to anyone looking for a reliable and long-lasting wet palette. It’s easy to use, performs well, and provides great value for money. While the lid may be a bit flimsy, the longevity of the sponge and paper sheets make it a solid choice for miniature painters looking to take their painting game to the next level.
Tips And Tricks on How To Use A Wet Palette
- To keep your wet palette healthy and mold-free, it’s important to clean the sponge every two weeks. If you let this go for longer than that, there is a chance of growing mold on the paint or paper!
- To avoid mold in a sponge, run a thin line of copper wire on top. Pennies are no longer made out of the natural anti-microbial material, so that they won’t work for this purpose.
- If you’re planning to work on a painting for longer than an hour, check the moisture content of your sponge every few hours. A dry sponge will require extra water so add one or two teaspoons as needed.
- I recommend distilled water for a wet palette because it prevents mold and removes any strange contaminants. Although tap water is okay, you may experience problems with it if your paint has been sitting out too long.
- If you are using thinner paint, be cautious as it might cause the palette to become runny. Wet palettes were created with finer art in mind; they don’t work well for acrylic paints that aren’t too thick or heavy.
- Wet palettes are great for glazing, keeping a certain richness in the colors.
- When painting techniques, artists may have difficulty using washes and inks with their palette if the paint is too watery.
- Metallic paints don’t do well with a wet palette. The tiny metal-like flakes seep through the paper and contaminate the sponge below, which can result in an undesirable effect on your painting’s outcome.
- Using a wet palette in dry climates or outdoors can be beneficial, especially if painting on sunny days. Otherwise, your paint will quickly dry up, and you’ll have to find new supplies before continuing with the project at hand.
How To Make Your Own Wet Palette
Step 1: Supplies
Now, Masterson does also have a premade wet palette kit. However, after trying it myself, I found that the size you would use for acrylics is painting on canvas rather than miniatures. This takes up too much space and has more room than needed, so here’s an easy fix!
Step 2: A Sponge Container
The first thing I did was to buy a smaller container. This will be used for my sponge painting technique, and as you’ll see, it holds two sponges or one larger-sized brush well.
I recommend finding a container with a lid to keep your sponge moist. Otherwise, the paper will dry out, and you won’t be able to use it again until after some water is applied.
Though this isn’t an issue as warm water can reactivate acrylic paint on the paper, no one wants to wait around for that when they could already be painting! So if you happen upon any Tupperware or other similar containers in good enough condition, feel free to reuse them too — make sure they have lids, so nothing dries up before its time.
Step 3: Cut the Sponge to Size
Once you have your container, cut to size the wet palette paper and sponge, it’s worth noting that it is easier if a few things are already done for when they need replacing – this way, I don’t waste time cutting them later on in my process.
Step 4: Cut the Acrylic Paper to Size
I then place the sponge on the acrylic paper as a template and cut the acrylic paper to the same size.
Step 5: Get Everything Wet
After cutting the acrylic sheet, I need to use warm water. To activate it and make sure that all of its surfaces are wet, I place a sponge on top of it in my container with hot water before closing the lid so they can soak for 10 minutes together.
Step 6: Remove Excess Water
It’s now ready to use. That’s all there is to it! It’s inexpensive, simple to put together, and will significantly enhance your painting.
Step 7: Drying Out Wet Palettes
I probably reactivate the paper every few weeks, same with the sponge. In cold weather, I can go for months without doing this, though! It’s just a matter of soaking them in hot water again for 10 minutes, and they are good as new. They might be single-use, but at least you don’t have to worry about buying papers or sponges all that often because it only takes an hour out of your day to reuse them instead.
FAQ
How to make a stay-wet palette for acrylic paints?
Materials You’ll Need
- Greaseproof or baking paper
- A white shallow tray or a plain white plate will suffice.
- Kitchen towel
- Water
Step by step:
- Cut or rip the greaseproof paper to match the plate
- Place a plate on the table and cover it with two or three kitchen towels
- Wring out the cloth gently over the sink
- Next, place the greaseproof paper on top of the mixture and smooth down
- To keep things simple for yourself, start with a new palette and arrange the paints however you like
White greaseproof paper allows you to judge your colours as they come out of the tube.
How to use a wet n wild contouring palette?
Using the water dropper, mix in some distilled water into each well until it feels like soft putty, and then let it sit overnight so that all the colors are completely soaked through with water! It should now look more like thick paint rather than clay. The next day when you open up your new favorite matte makeup product, place them back onto their tray and leave them uncovered while working – this will help keep the air away from drying out anything. Don’t forget about your last step – adding any other mixing mediums you might like to use, such as linseed oil or glycerin.
Hey there! I'm Richard Baker, a miniature painter who's been in the game for a solid decade now. I've been painting miniatures for ten years and I've got a ton of tips and tricks to share with you all. My website is a treasure trove of knowledge that I've gathered from both my own personal experiences and from reading all sorts of books.
