The bond between artist and palette is sacred, so whether you’re a beginner just starting a new creative journey or a seasoned artist looking to update their well-worn materials, finding the right artist palette can make all the difference.
The simple act of placing paint on a palette is not only incredibly satisfying, but imperative to the creative process (for painters at least). As such, the world of paint palettes has expanded over the years to include an incredible variety of materials, colours, shapes & sizes, which can be daunting to any newcomer.
So, to help clear up any confusion (and hopefully introduce you to something new along the way), we’ll be discussing paint palettes, breaking them down & even highlighting some of our favourites.
.
Available in a variety of shapes & sizes, wooden palettes are made using natural materials for a lightweight, sustainable & ergonomically designed range offering peace of mind & comfort during extended periods of use.
Able to be scraped clean when needed, these smooth, hardwearing palettes have a warm brown tone for a neutral mixing surface that makes it easier to accurately assess colours (especially when working on a non-white surface, like our Natural Linen range).
Amongst our range you’ll find several wooden palettes including large Oblong & Oval options from Loxley, or the new Kidney palette from Isomars. You'll also find our very own Brush & Palette set, which pairs a high-quality wooden oval palette with an assorted array of brushes.
.
Made using incredibly light, smooth & easy-to-clean materials, plastic palettes offer a modern alternative for mixing water-based paints.
These non-porous paint palettes are ideal for the artist on the move & come in either an opaque white for clear, visibly distinct colour mixing or a transparent finish allowing you to monitor your work simultaneously for consistency. Often sporting convenient individual mixing wells, they’re great for making specific, isolated colour mixes with watercolour, gouache or acrylic without the risk of cross contamination.
We stock an extensive range of our own plastic palettes in a variety of shapes & sizes, including Circular, Kidney, Rectangular (both large & small) and a robust, convenient Folding option. Alternatively, a large clear Kidney palette is also available from Bob Ross!
.
Made using either lightweight aluminium or stainless steel, metal palettes offer an incredibly hardwearing, compact option ideal for plein air painters, watercolourists & anyone on the move.
Their non-porous surface is easy-to-clean, resistant to wear, corrosion or staining & often includes individual wells for controlled colour mixing.
The Rectangular 6614 & Circular 6615 palettes from Jakar are prime examples of this convenient, robust variety.
.
Available in convenient pads, tear-off palettes are made using thin plastics or a specially coated paper specially designed to work with heavier mediums like acrylics or oils.
Each pad includes numerous palette sheets, making them an incredibly cost-effective & easy-to-use option for quick or time sensitive projects. Similar to gummed pads, you can tear off & dispose of individual sheets as needed, preventing the need for cleanup.
We stock several tear-off palette pads from well-known brands like Bob Ross and Winsor & Newton. However, our Elements range includes two popular sizes (9 x 12” & 12 x 16”), each with 40 disposable sheets.
.
Whilst the following palettes could be placed under one or more of the other above categories, they’ve each got something unique that makes them stand out amongst other paint palettes. So, to do them justice, we've given them their very own little section.
.
With an impressive maximum capacity of 1.3 litres & a base measuring 120mm in diameter, this fully collapsible lantern-style water pot from Jakar is an ideal addition to the collection of any artist that works in the field.
Made with a durable, flexible plastic, the concertina design of this lantern allows it to fully collapse for compact storage & convenience when travelling.
.
Designed to extend the working time of acrylic colours, StayWet Palettes from Daler-Rowney prevent paint wastage & even incorporate a water compartment for brushes.
Made using a lightweight, non-porous plastic, each palette includes 3 sheets of 'reservoir' paper, 12 sheets of 'membrane' paper & a transparent covering.
Acrylics are well-known for drying incredibly quickly, but when applied to the membrane of a StayWet palette, any water lost by evaporation is subsequently replaced by the moisture penetrating through the reservoir paper. Long story short, it allows you to paint continuously with paints uncovered.
Applying the transparent lid when not in use will further reduce evaporation, leaving your acrylics moist & workable for days. Not only that, but adding water to the reservoir will reinvigorate your paints, potentially for weeks.
The included papers are also fully replaceable, with full packs containing an additional 3 ‘reservoir’ sheets & 12 ‘membrane’ sheets available right here.
.
Thanks for joining us as we took a look through palettes today, we hope this was informative (and fun). If you'd like to find out more, browse our full range here!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email our dedicated team, who will be happy to provide any help!
< Back to blog
