For any artist, a painter palette is the first love. Hence, they put a lot of effort into choosing the one. A good palette makes the creative process efficient and of quality work. Let’s explore today to choose the perfect palette for your creative journey.
Understand your medium
To decide which painting palette will be perfect for you, you need to start by understanding your medium. It simply means the type of paint color you are using. Let’s discuss some of them below:
Acrylic colors
If you paint with acrylic colors, you need a non-porous surface. You can choose plastic or glass. If you want to extend your working time, you can also go with a
Oil paints
As oil paints dry slowly, many artists prefer wooden palettes for them. They absorb very little oil and create a better texture over time.
Watercolors
If you use watercolors to bring your creativity to life, you can go with a plastic or porcelain painting palette. They will allow a surface to mix and clean paints very easily.
Palette materials
The material of the palette you choose is also important.
Wooden palettes
If you are going with wooden palettes, they are perfect for oil paints. As they are lightweight and develop a patina over time, they are one of the favorite choices of many artists.
Glass palettes
If you love playing with oil and acrylic colors, a glass paint palette can give your perfect base for easy cleaning and a neutral background to mix colors.
Plastic palettes
As the plastic palette is affordable and lightweight, they are a versatile choice for many people.
Vinyl palettes
Being an eco-conscious artist, you can also consider going with a recycled record paint palette. It will also give a perfect surface to mix your paints.
Porcelain palettes
If you are a watercolor artist, a porcelain palette can be your choice.
Disposable palettes
If you want something convenient and for minimal cleanup, disposable palettes work well with acrylic and oil paints.
Always remember that each material of an artist paint palette has its own advantages and disadvantages. You need to figure out your requirements first and then go along with choosing one palette for yourself.
Palette shape and size
The shape and size of the palette you choose should align with your workspace and painting style.
Shapes:
Generally, you can find palettes made up of recycled vinyl records in oval shapes. They are designed this way to make the hold better for the artists. If you prefer going with a rectangular one, it will give you more space and is perfect for mixing large amounts of paint. Moreover, you can also choose from circular paint palettes that are perfect for watercolor artists.
Size:
If you are an artist who works on large canvases or mixes many colors together, you can go for a larger painter palette. On the other hand, if your projects are of a smaller scale, compact palettes will work for you.
Portability needs
If you need to travel or paint outdoors, portability should be considered. You can look for the following in painting palettes while choosing the perfect one for you:
- Compact and lightweight design to carry easily anywhere.
- Make sure that the palette has compartments to prevent spillage of the paints.
- Make sure that the material of the palette is durable enough to withstand outdoor conditions.
You can find specifically designed for travel vinyl palettes in the market. If you are an environmentally conscious buyer, consider them once.
Ease of cleaning
What kind of palette do you prefer as an artist? Something easy to clean and gives color accuracy, right? Based on the material you choose, you can expect the following:
Glass:
From a glass paint palette, you can easily scrape off dried paint.
Porcelain:
If you are going with a porcelain palette, its non-porous surface will resist staining and clean effortlessly.
Plastic:
Plastic palettes very often cause problems to clean the paint if it sets in.
Wood:
In the case of wood as well, you might have to do occasional oiling or scraping.
If your priority is minimal cleanup, you can go with a glass, porcelain, or vinyl palette.
Consider Budget
In the end, how much you can spend will also define the perfect artist paint palette for you. If you are a beginner, you can go with plastic or disposable paint palettes. On the other hand, if you are a pro artist, go with good-quality vinyl palettes.
Conclusion
As an artist, you must choose the right palette for your creative journey. For the same, be clear about your needs, budget, and what you exactly workaround. Once you note all these down, you will be able to figure out the perfect painting palettes for you.