When I first switched from acrylic paints to watercolor paints, I had absolutely no clue what to buy or how to set up a watercolor palette.
These days I have a system all worked out, so let me share my secrets with you.
Should you buy a pre-filled watercolor palette?
In a word, sure. There are lots and lots of watercolor palettes that come pre-filled with little squares of paint. This takes the guess work out of figuring out what colors to buy or buying an empty palette.
This is not the route I went, though, and here’s why: I like to control what colors I have in my palette, and I like to experiment with different brands of paint.
If, however, you want to go the pre-filled route, go for it! Here is an inexpensive set to get you started. I would suggest getting a little spray bottle to spritz water on the paints each time you’re ready to start painting.
Should you set up your own watercolor palette?
This is what I do! Here are some step by step instructions to get you started.
#1 Get yourself an empty palette. I use one just like this.
#2 Buy some tubes of paint.
Over my years of testing, I prefer Davinci brand and American Journey brand watercolor paints. Many beginners use Winsor & Newton Cotman colors, and so did I. Now that I’ve been painting a while, I find I don’t like the way those dry over time, but they really did suffice when I started!
#3 Open your palette and squeeze in some colors.
Squeeze some of the watercolors you’ve purchased into each space in your palette. I like bright, happy colors and tend to use a lot of yellows, pinks, blues, and greens. (Not sure what colors to buy? Learn how to mix every color in the rainbow from just a red, blue, and yellow tube of paint.)
I tend to group like colors with like, so they’re right next to each other. My palette has six blank squares for mixing new colors, and I always mix red/pinks in one spot, oranges in another, yellows in another, greens in another, blues/purples in another, and blacks/browns in the last square.
#4 You’re ready to paint!
Dab your paintbrush into some water and wet your fresh paints, and start mixing colors! If you’re not ready to paint, or if you’re done painting, simply let your paints dry right in the palette.
This is one of my absolute favorite things about watercolor paints: They dry up and you can wet them and use them over and over! Unlike acrylic paints, which get dry and are done for, watercolor paints keep on keepin’ on.
#5 When you’re ready to use your paints again, simply “wake them up” by spritzing water on them.
That, my friends, will get you on the road to watercolors.
Now that you’ve got an idea of where to start, dive right in! Play, experiment, and for goodness sake, have fun.
And if you’re looking for a little more watercolor time, get my free color mixing video series.
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