20+ Best Watercolor Palettes To Mix And Match Colors In 2023

Best Watercolor Palettes To Mix And Match Colors

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Watercolor is a beautiful medium - it's fluid, vibrant, and creates gorgeous gradients that are impossible to achieve with other mediums. However, one thing newbie artists overlook and professionals value is the palette. We've curated a list of 20+ watercolor palettes that artists have tried and tested. 

Our Top Picks

Arteza Watercolor Paint with Metal Palette
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Best Watercolor Palette for Beginners - Arteza Watercolor Paint with Metal Palette

Heavy-duty metal box
Expandable mixing palette
Well-fitted half-pan paints

MEEDEN 7-Well Studio Porcelain Paint Palette Tray
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Best Porcelain Paint Palette - MEEDEN 7-Well Studio Porcelain Paint Palette Tray

• Sturdy & washable
• Convenient
• Maintains paint moisture

Best Studio Palette - Ceramic Artist Paint Palette

High-quality ceramic
Varied sizes of wells
Simple, easy to clean design

1. Arteza Empty Watercolor Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Secure lid watercolor palette
  • Empty half pans
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Easy to clean and reuse
  • Customizable
  • Doesn't lay flat on the table
  • Sharp edges


What Customers Have to Say

Many artists love this empty palette since it holds their mixed paint well. The 24 half pans are more than enough for artists who prefer fewer paint tubes. They don't need to worry about inconsistent color mixing or throw their excess paint since the pans keep the paint well.

Arteza Empty Watercolor Palette

Why We Think It's Great

The Arteza Empty Watercolor Palette makes painting more fun than ever before. With its customizable design, you can fill the empty half pans with your watercolor paint of choice. It is perfect for anyone who wants to experiment with different color combinations without having to buy a whole new set of paints every time they want something new.

Cleaning up after a long day of painting is easy. Remove the empty pans, clean them with soap and water, dry them completely, and pack away until subsequent use.

Who Should Buy It

This watercolor palette is perfect for painters who buy their watercolors in large tubes and want an easily organized container. It also works best for painters who love mixing their colors and storing them for future use.

2. Paul Rubens Artist Watercolor Metal Case with Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Shimmery finish
  • Portable
  • Uses single-pigment colors
  • Airtight container
  • High-quality plastic palette
  • Not gender-inclusive tin container
  • Hard to apply


What Customers Have to Say

These are quality-grade watercolors that use professional quality pigments that disperse quickly with water. It has two covers that artists use as a mixing palette.

Paul Rubens Artist Watercolor Metal Case with Palette

Why We Think It's Great

The Paul Rubens Artist Watercolor Metal Case with Palette is the perfect tool to take on your next painting adventure. It's portable, lightweight, and has a shimmery finish, so it looks great in any setting. Plus, it uses single-pigment colors that are high quality and won't fade over time. You can even store your paints in an airtight container. 

This palette will make all of your artistic dreams come true. With this fantastic product, you get everything you need to create beautiful paintings wherever you go. The palette uses high-quality plastic.

Who Should Buy It

This watercolor palette is best for young artists and other artists who love using glittery watercolor paints for highlighting and detailing. You can use the metal case as a handle or attach it to another surface using the included magnets – making this one versatile piece of equipment.

3. Arteza Watercolor Paint with Metal Palette - Best Watercolor Palette for Beginners

 Pros Cons
  • Heavy-duty metal box
  • Expandable mixing palette
  • Ring holder for easier handling
  • Well-fitted half-pan paints
  • Color swatch card included
  • Expensive set
  • Needs assembly before use


What Customers Have to Say

Customers are impressed by the quality of the set, from the pigments used to the enclosed color swatch card and the handheld palette. It also includes a watercolor brush pen, though you may need to buy extra brushes to use this set.

Arteza Watercolor Paint with Metal Palette

Why We Think It's Great

Arteza Watercolor Paint with Metal Palette is the perfect choice for artists looking for outdoors and studio palettes. Its heavy-duty metal box and expandable palette make it easy to use, while its ring holder makes it easier to handle. The well-fitted half-pan paints come with a color swatch card included, so you don't have to name your colors.

This paint set is an incredible addition to your art collection, with palettes designed for both beginner and professional use. It is also lightweight, only over 11 ounces, and measures 8.5 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches, but you get double that size for the palette once you open both lids.

Who Should Buy It

This set is perfect for Plein air and studio use, with the top lid doubling as a quality watercolor palette. It has a ring holder for easier handling so that you won't have issues using it outdoors.

4. MEEDEN Empty Watercolor Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Empty watercolor palette
  • Customizable
  • Lightweight
  • 24 half pans
  • Ring holder
  • Sharp edges
  • Pans won't fit as they should


What Customers Have to Say

The artists love the colorful design of the outer cover. It's also easy to bring along when you're on the go, though they may feel flimsy if you're used to other brands of metal palettes. It's also easy to customize, which is a plus for many artists.

MEEDEN Empty Watercolor Palette

Why We Think It's Great

MEEDEN empty watercolor palette is a great way to make your life easier. It has all the features you need in a watercolor palette and none of the unnecessary bells and whistles. This lightweight palette comes with 24 half pans, a ring holder you can insert your ring to hold the palette steady, and an easy-to-clean surface and broad 2-sided palette for mixing colors.

You don't have to worry about wasting time cleaning up or having to buy new paint every time one runs out. With this customizable palette, there are no limits as to what kind of artwork you can create! Plus, it fits perfectly into any bag so that you can take it wherever inspiration strikes.

Who Should Buy It

This empty palette is an excellent way to store your excess watercolors without needing to look for paint pots. They don't also hold watercolors since you can fill them with acrylics or gouache as long as you keep them to a minimum, so they don't dry out.

5. MyArTool Empty Watercolor Palette Tins

 Pros Cons
  • Full pans
  • Enameled iron case
  • Customizable
  • Portable
  • Removable mixing palette
  • Not enough space to carry a watercolor brush



What Customers Have to Say

Artists are impressed with the full pans since they hold a lot of paint, and the paint pans fit well. Others think it is a must-have tool for any artist, even if you're not using watercolors.

MyArTool Empty Watercolor Palette Tins

Why We Think It's Great

MyArTool is the perfect watercolor palette for artists who want to travel light. It's made of durable enameled iron and features a fold-out mixing palette that lets you mix colors right on your paper. The case is customizable, and with the full pans, you can easily paint large paintings without any hassle.

You don't have to worry about spilling paint everywhere when traveling anymore because the palette keeps the paint inside as long as you keep it upright. The palette is lightweight but still very sturdy. The removable palette has a ring holder, so you can use it for Plein air painting.

Who Should Buy It

The MyArTool watercolor palette is best for painters who work on large-format paintings since the full pans hold more paint than the usual half pans used by most empty palettes. It's easy to clean with a paper towel and does not easily stain even when staining pigments.

6. MEEDEN 7-Well Studio Porcelain Paint Palette Tray - Best Porcelain Paint Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Sturdy
  • Washable
  • Convenient
  • Maintains paint moisture
  • May be used for other paints
  • Small wells
  • Smaller than the product description


What Customers Have to Say

Artists who have tried using this palette love using it because it does not stain, though they don't recommend using it for travel because it chips easily. Others find it a decorative article for their art and craft desk.

Why We Think It's Great

This 7-well porcelain palette tray is perfect for all your painting needs. Because of its nonporous construction, you're sure that your paint won't dry out easily. The wells are also easy to clean with a swift wipe of a paper towel, so your paints stay clean.

The best part about our product is that it's dishwasher safe, which means no more scrubbing off dried-up paints from your old palette trays! Just pop them in the dishwasher, and they'll come out looking brand new every time.

Who Should Buy It

This porcelain palette is perfect as a studio palette for mixing paints with its decorative but compact design.

7. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint

 Pros Cons
  • Slide-out palette
  • Built-in water dish
  • Top lid serves as a mixing palette
  • Made of high-quality plastic
  • Lightweight
  • Shallow water dish
  • Not advisable for long travels


What Customers Have to Say

This set is portable and practical, and the half-pan paints use high-quality pigments that painters love. The palette has enough mixing space, so you don't have to cut the mixing process and get the best result from your paints.

Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint

Why We Think It's Great

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint is perfect for budding artists and professionals alike because of its compact design. It's lightweight, easy-to-use, and has everything you need in one box! With the built-in water dish, it's perfect for painting on the go. With its slide-out palette, mixing colors is easy. You won't find a better starter set of watercolors than this set.

It will also save money because the set comes with a small brush (Cotman #5), so you can use it immediately for studio use or en Plein air paintings. The half pans are removable, so you can customize their placement for easier use.

Who Should Buy It

The Winsor & Newton Cotman is a portable watercolor palette perfect for en Plein air painting because it has a built-in water dish and palette. The water dish is shallow, though, so you need a water bottle to regularly change the water on your dish.

8. Ceramic Artist Paint Palette - Best Studio Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Ample size
  • High-quality ceramic
  • Varied sizes of wells
  • Simple, easy to clean design
  • Affordable
  • Not for travel use
  • For desk use only

What Customers Have to Say

It is the perfect palette for many professional artists because the glossy white finish is neutral enough to see their mixing colors. It sits nicely on the desk, does not move around. The wells have adequate depth. Truly an artist quality tool for artists looking for a larger palette.

Ceramic Artist Paint Palette

Why We Think It's Great

This Ceramic Artist Paint Palette is a must-have for all artists. It's a perfect size and has enough wells for mixing your paints. It is very versatile to use it for your crafts to hold your beads, sequins, and other craft supplies.

It measures 7x7 inches, small enough not to cause your undue hand strain, especially if you hold it only for a short time. The wide divisions of the wells may be used to clean the brush tips or scrape off excess paint.

It is made with high-quality ceramic that won't chip or crack easily unless you drop it. The nonporous surface makes cleanup quick and easy, making it the perfect mixing tray for most artists, especially those who prefer watercolor tubes. These paints need a different studio palette since they don't usually come with a palette set.

Who Should Buy It

This ceramic dish is an amazing palette for studio work, whether you're using tube paints or half-pan paints. You can use it for mixing watercolors, gouache, acrylics, and other paints without washing them (just a quick wipe with a paper towel will do).

9. Mijello Airtight Watercolor Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Leak-proof
  • Large mixing areas
  • 18 color slants
  • Removable transparent tray
  • Small and lightweight
  • Easily stains
  • Hard to hold when working outdoors
  • Hinge breaks

What Customers Have to Say

Some artists bought pans to fit into the palette and easily fit up to 34 half pans. The paint keeps well as long as you store it flat on the table. Not best to use for traveling, though, since the pans are not closed. It's also larger than expected and keeps the colors from mixing with other colors.

Mijello Airtight Watercolor Palette

Why We Think It's Great

Mijello Airtight Watercolor Palette is the perfect solution for artists who love to travel. The palette is lightweight and portable, so it's easy to bring with you wherever your art takes you. Plus, its unique design allows for maximum security – no more worrying about spills or leaks! You can even customize your palette by adding empty half pans from other brands of paints.

Because we make our palettes out of durable plastic instead of wood, they won't warp or crack over time as traditional wooden palettes do. The plastic tray is removable, so you can hold it while painting. However, it is flat, so you can only mix a few colors on it.

Who Should Buy It

We recommend this watercolor palette as the best choice for artists looking for a high-quality plastic palette where they can store some of their excess paint and may fit half pans if necessary.

10. Transon Airtight Paint Storage Palette Box

 Pros Cons
  • 24 wells
  • Airtight and watertight box
  • Transparent wells
  • Thumb-hole for easier handling
  • Suitable for storing paints
  • Cannot be stored sideways
  • Small for some users
  • Hard to clean


What Customers Have to Say

One artist who has used this palette box shares her hack to improve the tightness of the lid. Simply spray a paper towel with distilled water and fit it inside the lid. Let it dry so it molds into the lid. This hack effectively seals in the paints so they can last for weeks.

Transon Airtight Paint Storage Palette Box

Why We Think It's Great

The Transon Airtight Paint Storage Palette Box has 24 wells that are airtight and watertight. It means that you can store your paints without fear of contamination or drying out as long as you keep them stored upright. The wells don't have individual lids, so the paints may mix with other colors if stored sideways.

The palette box is very versatile as you can even use this box for storing other items like beads, buttons, or small pieces of jewelry. With its thumb-hole design, this palette box makes it easier than ever before to handle. If you have more than one of these boxes, they're also easy to stack in your craft shop. 

The transparent wells also aid in the easy identification of the contents. It's a bit hard to clean after use, though. You need a strong pressure mister to remove the paint along the edges, especially if you're using oil paints. If using water-based paints, though, cleaning is easier.

Who Should Buy It

If you're looking for sufficiently sized pans, Transon Airtight Paint Storage Palette Box is your best option since each well can hold up to 10ml of paint.

11. Darice Oblong Plastic Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Classic design
  • 10 wells
  • Washable
  • Made with high-quality plastic
  • Easy to hold
  • Thin
  • May be brittle


What Customers Have to Say

Some artists who have tried it love the small size, perfect even for younger kids. Other painters on the go also love its small size and lightweight. It's also easy to clean with just soap and water.

Why We Think It's Great

The Darice oblong palette uses a classic design that's easy to clean. It is an ideal tool for anyone who loves painting. It's also lightweight, so you won't get tired of holding it while working on your Plein air masterpieces. The best part is that this product comes at an affordable price.

The large mixing area also helps to mix your watercolors and dispense the contents of your watercolor tubes into the wells. The palette measures 6 x 8 inches, so it easily rests on your palm without causing unnecessary fatigue.

Who Should Buy It

Artists who love to add a classic touch to their studio work will love this palette for mixing watercolor and other painting mediums. You can use this also for your Plein air paintings since it's very light.

12. Watercolor Palette by Portable Painter

 Pros Cons
  • Compact size
  • Detachable water containers
  • 12 half pans
  • Comes with 2 free brushes
  • May be used hands-free
  • Pans smaller than regular half pans




What Customers Have to Say

It's a genius travel companion, according to several artists who have tried it. It is also very compact, sturdy, and gives a good value for their money.

Watercolor Palette by Portable Painter

Why We Think It's Great

The watercolor palettes by Portable Painter are the perfect companion to any artist. They're compact, lightweight, and portable, so you can take them anywhere. The detachable water containers make it easy to refill when needed without having to bring along an entire bottle of paint or risk spilling your paints everywhere. 

When assembled, it can easily fit on your knee when you're sitting, so you can use both hands for painting. The set also has 12 half pans for your watercolors. The palette also comes with 2 free brushes and a built-in brush holder for better value.

You can use them as studio palettes, especially if you're working on a limited palette. Some pigments stain the palettes. Fortunately, you won't encounter such issues with Portable Painter palettes since they clean easily with warm water and soap.

Who Should Buy It

Watercolor palettes by the Portable Painter live according to their name - portability. An urban painter can easily stuff this palette into his pocket, including a small sketchpad, so he can paint as soon as she finds inspiration.

13. GenCrafts Watercolor Palette Set

 Pros Cons
  • Portable
  • High-quality plastic
  • Spacious compartment for keeping the brushes
  • Lid may be used as mixing tray
  • Set includes watercolor brush pen and pad
  • Small size




What Customers Have to Say

This impressive watercolor set is perfect for any aspiring artist, as many artists who have tried it think. A mom showed her daughter's work and said that this set is lovely to use, easy to store, and makes no mess.

GenCrafts Watercolor Palette Set

Why We Think It's Great

This watercolor palette is the perfect way to start your painting journey. It's portable, lightweight, and easy to use. The lid doubles for the mixing area so you can create beautiful colors with ease.

It is also very affordable and turns out to be excellent even for first-timers. Though some users complain that it's small at 6.8 x 3.5 inches, it holds the removable half pans well. The pans are grouped in 6, each with a separate holder, so the other pans remain intact in the case.

Who Should Buy It

The GenCraft watercolor set is one of those watercolor palettes that newbie painters would love because it is a complete set with a good tray for mixing your colors.

14. Jerry Q Water Color Travel Palette Set

 Pros Cons
  • Expandable palette
  • High-quality plastic
  • Lightweight
  • Compact
  • Set includes a brush, calligraphy dish, and sponge
  • Ivory color palette
  • Waxy finish


What Customers Have to Say

It is an excellent watercolor palette for beginners who want to start with something affordable. According to those who have tried this set, it's great for traveling and good enough for both kid and adult use.

Jerry Q Water Color Travel Palette Set

Why We Think It's Great

Jerry Q Water Color Travel Palette Set is the perfect palette for any artist on the go. It's expandable, lightweight, and compact, so it can fit in your purse or backpack. The high-quality plastic ensures that your paints never leak out of their wells and ruin everything else inside your bag.

This set also includes a brush, a calligraphy dish that doubles as a water dish, and a sea sponge to absorb the excess water or use for the sponging method. The palette is slightly larger than other watercolor palettes at 8 x 4 inches.

You won't have to worry about spills or messes with this palette because it has a locking mechanism that keeps all of your paint secure until you want them again. When you have used all the watercolors, you can fill the half pans with tube paints.

Who Should Buy It

We recommend this set as one of the best watercolor palettes for beginners and young artists. Many moms also suggest it because it is easy to wash off clothes if your youngster gets some on them.

15. Artify Folding Watercolor Set

 Pros Cons
  • Sleek design
  • Adjustable plastic palette
  • Space-saving
  • High-quality plastic case
  • Built-in finger ring
  • Case does not fit all the tools
  • Flaky finish

What Customers Have to Say

Many customers think it's very sleek and perfect for artists who bring their art supplies when traveling. They love the space-saving design, built-in palette, and vibrant colors. 

Artify Folding Watercolor Set

Why We Think It's Great

Artify is the perfect watercolor set for anyone who loves to paint. It's sleek, lightweight, and easy to use. With this kit, you can easily take your painting on the go without having to worry about it getting ruined or lost in transit. Plus, its adjustable palette makes it super versatile so that you can create any color with ease!

You won't have to worry about spilling paint because the built-in finger ring will keep your hand steady. Also included in the set is a high-quality plastic case to keep your paints safe.

Who Should Buy It

We recommend this watercolor set perfect for artists on the go because of its sleek design. It is also a deal for students, hobbyists, and professional painters of all skill levels.

16. Sennelier L'Aquarelle French Watercolor Paint

Sennelier L'Aquarelle French Watercolor Paint
 Pros Cons
  • Metal case
  • Expandable palette
  • Slightly slanted wells
  • Uses honey for brilliance and preservation
  • Smooth, rounded edges of the metal case
  • Expensive




What Customers Have to Say

The Sennelier L'Aquarelle French Watercolor Paint is the best watercolor paint for professional artists. The colors are vivid, and the metal case that doubles as a palette is very sturdy and keeps for a long time.

Why We Think It's Great

Sennelier L'Aquarelle French Watercolor Paint is one of the best watercolor paints on the market. Instead of the usual gum arabic used to improve the longevity of the watercolors, Sennelier uses honey. The honey gives it an unparalleled brilliance and preserves its quality, making sure that your painting will last forever.

The lid of the metal case doubles as the palette and is expandable, allowing you to mix more colors. It also has slightly slanted wells so that every color doesn't spill over into another well. The metal case also has smooth, rounded edges making it easy to hold and won't cause any tearing accidents.

Who Should Buy It

For its price range, we only recommend this watercolor set to be professional and serious artists.

17. Schmincke Horadam Aquarell Half-Pan Paint Metal Set

 Pros Cons
  • Quality pigments
  • Excellent quality palette
  • Metal case
  • Expandable mixing palette
  • High transparency
  • Expensive




What Customers Have to Say

Though this set is expensive, they don't disappoint, one artist said. Another said that it's a legit watercolor, not waxy or flaky but highly pigmented.

Schmincke Horadam Aquarell Half-Pan Paint Metal Set

Why We Think It's Great

Schmincke Horadam Aquarell Half-Pan Paint Metal Set comes with 24 half pans. The lids double as a mixing palette, while the metal case protects the paints from damage and makes them easy to transport.

The main lid serves as the mixing area, divided into 4 compartments, while the inner has 10 slightly sunken wells so you can keep your colors separate from each other.

You may also recycle the half pans and the case as they are sturdy and withstand daily use.

Who Should Buy It

The Schmincke Horadam Aquarell Half-Pan Paint Metal Set is an excellent choice for professional artists.

18. Seamiart Watercolor Paint Set

 Pros Cons
  • Metal box with metal clasp
  • Lid doubles as mixing tray
  • Brushes included in the set
  • 50 colors in the set
  • Quality pigments used
  • Small pigment cakes
  • Small mixing space


What Customers Have to Say

Many artists, even advanced artists, love using the Seamiart watercolor paint set as it contains metallic and neon colors. Aside from that, they don't need to buy a separate palette tray.

Seamiart Watercolor Paint Set

Why We Think It's Great

The Seamiart Watercolor Paint Set is the perfect solution to your art needs. It has 50 quality watercolor mini-cakes. The metal box, which measures 9x4x1 inches, has a metal clasp to ensure that your paints are always safe and ready to use.

The lid doubles as a mixing tray so you can blend colors easily. It also has notches to fit the flat brush and the brush pen and a slab of sponge to absorb the excess water from the brushes.

Who Should Buy It

Artists who love working with metallic and neon colors will appreciate using this watercolor paint set.

19. Artibox Watercolor Paint Set With Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Fan folding design
  • 42 colors
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Colors arranged by family
  • Set includes 3 brush pens
  • Set easily breaks apart when dropped
  • Doesn't have a case



What Customers Have to Say

Plein air artists love this compact set because it easily fits their pocket or art bag. They need the watercolor pad and water dish since the set also comes with pen brushes.

Why We Think It's Great

Artibox is the perfect travel companion. It's lightweight and compact, so it's easy to carry around with you wherever you go. It also comes with 3 different brush pens that are great for beginners. You can easily take your painting on the road without worrying about the space it takes in your bag.

This kit has everything you need to get started in one convenient package. The fan-folding design of the watercolors with a built-in palette and brush holder is very sleek, measuring just 2.2x1.8x7.8 inches.

Who Should Buy It

This watercolor set is an excellent gift idea for watercolorists of all ages.

20. Mijello Bulletproof Palette for Watercolor

 Pros Cons
  • Shockproof material
  • Clear, shatterproof plastic
  • 36 wells, 4 mixing areas
  • Lightweight
  • White palette so you can see the colors as they appear on paper
  • Watercolor beads if it's too watery
  • Large palette


What Customers Have to Say

It's roomy, easy to clean, and closes tightly to keep your paint in. You can easily see the colors inside, so many artists recommend this palette to their fellow artists.

Why We Think It's Great

The Mijello Bulletproof Palette is a watercolor palette that will make your life easier and more enjoyable. It has 36 wells with 4 mixing areas to hold all of your colors, and it's made from shock-resistant material so it can take a beating while protecting your paints.

It's also lightweight and clear so that you can see the colors inside. The palette is also white, so you can see how the colors look when applied on paper. The watercolors beads when it gets too runny, though, so refrain from adding too much water.

Who Should Buy It

If you want a large palette to use for your painting jobs, the Mijello watercolor palette should work well for you. It's also lightweight, so even if it's a bit bulky, you can still bring it along without adding much weight to your baggage.

21. Meeden Airtight Watercolor Travel Palette

 Pros Cons
  • Airtight lid sealed with silicone
  • 33 slanted wells
  • Sturdy, injection mold plastic
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Expandable palette
  • Watercolors may bead 
  • Overly large


What Customers Have to Say

Artists prefer this palette because it is large, easy to clean, and wells are large enough for regular-sized brushes. However, they would appreciate it better if there was space to name their colors. 

Why We Think It's Great

Meeden Airtight Watercolor Travel Palette is perfect for anyone who loves to paint on the go and hates having to carry around a bulky box of paints everywhere they go. It has 33 slanted wells airtight sealed with silicone, which means no more worrying about spills or leaks ruining your clothes or belongings. 

It's made out of sturdy injection mold plastic and weighs just about a pound. You can expand this palette up to 5 times its original size by removing the wells. It also has a water dish insert with a notch, so you can easily remove it from the palette.

Who Should Buy It

This watercolor palette is a perfectly designed travel palette that allows artists to mix their paints and easily clean.

22. Falling in Art 16 Well Watercolor Palette

 Pros Cons
  • 16 sloped wells
  • 3 mixing areas
  • Rubber seal
  • Lock for no-mess travels
  • Sponge block helps keep the palette clean
  • Lock is difficult to open
  • Not as airtight as claimed


What Customers Have to Say

Some artists who have tried it claim that it's the best travel palette they have ever used and, contrary to other reviews, stays sealed when closed and locked. However, it's not entirely airtight since the remainder of the paint sometimes dries out when left too long in the container. But it is not an issue for water-based paints since they are easy to reactivate with water.

Why We Think It's Great

This 16 well watercolor palette is the perfect tool to help your creativity flow! It has sloped walls that make it easy to mix colors and keep them separate. The rubber seal keeps all of your paints fresh and clean, so they don't dry out easily, while the lock ensures that there will be no mess when traveling with this product.

Finally, the sponge block helps keep the palette clean by absorbing any excess paint or water from your brush before it reaches other areas of your palette. The lid and the space at the center of the palette serve as mixing areas.

The palette, when closed, measures 8.25 x 4.15 inches and weighs less than 1 pound, so it's easy to carry around. Just store it upright so the watercolors won't mix with the other colors.

Who Should Buy It

This watercolor palette is an artist-quality palette with large mixing areas that professional artists will love. It is the perfect palette for an artist on the go.

23. Sakura Watercolors Field Sketch Set with Brush

 Pros Cons
  • Sleek design
  • Lightweight
  • Set includes brush, palette, sponge
  • Finger ring for easy holding
  • Detachable palette
  • Flimsy palette
  • Case doesn't stay shot


What Customers Have to Say

Even first-timers find this watercolor set easy to use, portable, and easy to organize since you can keep every tool included in the set within the case.

Why We Think It's Great

The Sakura Watercolors Field Sketch Set with Brush is lightweight and sleek, making it easy to carry around and use on the go. The set includes a brush, palette, and sponge so you can get started right away!

The detachable palette allows you to mix colors easily while painting. The case measures 4.6x1.3x6.4 inches and weighs less than 10 ounces so it’s convenient to bring along with you. 

Who Should Buy It

We recommend this watercolor set to newbie and advanced artists because of its excellent quality and ease to bring along. This set also works great for traveling artists.

Watercolor Palette Buying Guide

  • Portability

Portability is a major consideration when choosing a palette, especially if you travel and bring your painting materials. Another thing is how you usually hold it. If you leave your palette on the drawing table, it's alright to have a fairly heavy porcelain palette. However, if you prefer to hold it during the painting process, choose one that won't cause much fatigue on your hands.

  • Number of pigment wells

While it is easier for beginners to have a spectrum of shades and tints for their colors, experimenting with the mix also improves your color mixing skills, an important skill to develop if you want to be a professional artist. Other palettes have rows left without pigment wells so you can fit your loose pigment wells into them.

  • Removable pans

Some palettes have removable pans, so you can easily rearrange them according to your preference. It is also easier to work with removable pans. They are also prone to be misplaced if you're not careful with organizing your supplies.

  • Make

You can choose from tin, plastic, ceramic, or porcelain. Other palettes have wooden casings aside from tin or plastic. Consider a palette that has a cover to protect it from pet hair or dust. Using plastic wrap also helps keep the moisture in and prevents your watercolor from drying out.

  • Budget

Budget is sometimes the breaking point for the artist when choosing the best watercolor palette. Don't compromise budget over a quality palette, as the finish of your painting is also dependent on the paint you use.

Watercolor Palette FAQ

1. Are ceramic palettes better?

Ceramic and porcelain are the best materials for watercolor palettes. Paints stay moist longer, and colors appear true to their original form (less fading). They're durable because most ceramics or porcelain can stand up against some abuse without chipping apart easily.

Cleanup is also easy, though you must contend with the higher price and heavier weight of ceramic and porcelain palettes. 

2. How do you arrange colors in a watercolor palette?

Manufacturers usually arrange the watercolors by color family, starting with the yellows, oranges, reds, etc. For example, if you’re using a 48-color palette, all yellows (light yellow, lemon yellow, mid-yellow) are grouped. Usually, the blacks, browns, and grays occupy the last row of the palette. 

However, if you are to customize your palette, you may choose your preferred grouping. For example, true hues - red, yellow, blue, etc. belong to one row, followed by the lighter colors on the next row until you get to the darkest shades. 

3. How do you use a watercolor palette?

If you're using a palette with wells around it, you can add your watercolors to the wells, arranging them according to your preference. You can leave your watercolors to dry on the wells, but be sure to cover them to prevent dust, debris, and pet hair on the paint. 

If you plan to travel and fill your empty half pans with watercolors from tubes, allow at least 48 hours for the watercolors to dry well. You can always reactivate them with a few drops of water. 

Sometimes, the palettes don't have compartments, so it's hard to keep the colors separate. One hack is to use your hot glue to divide your palette to have different mixing areas for your colors. 

The watercolors may also leave a stain on your plastic palette, and while they may not be pleasant to look at, they won't affect the performance of your palette. If so, stick to the colors of the stain. For example, use the area stained with yellow to mix your yellows and so on. 

4. How do you prevent beading on plastic palettes?

If your plastic palette is new, you can often observe that it does not spread well on your palette. Instead, it clumps on your palette, preventing the colors from blending well. 

Some hacks include using an abrasive, toothpaste, or even baking soda to help prevent beading. However, these are temporary solutions, and beading returns after you wipe off the toothpaste and baking soda.

We don't recommend abrasives and sandpaper since it damages the surface of your palette. However, the best hack is simply to keep using your plastic palette until the sheen is gone, mainly after a week of continued use. 

Conclusion

For this review, we voted as the best watercolor palette for beginners to Arteza Watercolor Paint with Metal Palette because it is very affordable, has a durable metal box to organize the watercolors, and an expandable mixing palette. We can't say no to porcelain, so we voted for MEEDEN 7-Well Studio Porcelain Paint Palette Tray as the best porcelain palette. 

Lastly, close to porcelain are ceramics, so our best studio palette is the Ceramic Artist Paint Palette. It is made from high-quality ceramics, with varied sizes for the wells and easy to clean design.  We believe that you can find a palette that works for your preference. Share with us your experience of using any of these palettes. We'd love to hear from you!

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