An acrylic wet palette is an essential tool for painters using acrylic paints, helping keep paints moist and workable for extended periods. Unlike a standard palette where acrylics can dry rapidly, a wet palette slows down the drying process, making blending and layering easier and reducing paint waste.
Using a wet palette involves a few simple steps: setting it up, adding your paints, and maintaining moisture while you work.
Setting Up Your Wet Palette
A typical wet palette consists of three main components:
- A Sealable Container: This holds the moisture.
- A Sponge or Absorbent Material: Placed at the bottom of the container, this material holds water.
- A Permeable Membrane (often parchment paper): This sits on top of the wet sponge, allowing moisture to pass through but preventing the paint from mixing with the sponge.
To set it up:
- Place the sponge or absorbent material into the container.
- Add clean water to the sponge until it is saturated but not overflowing.
- Carefully lay the permeable parchment paper on top of the wet sponge, pressing out any air bubbles.
Painting with a Wet Palette
Once your wet palette is set up, you're ready to paint:
- Place Your Paints: Squeeze your desired acrylic paints directly onto the surface of the parchment paper.
- Load Your Brush: Simply load your brush with paint from the palette.
- Start Painting: It's time to start painting on your model or canvas.
The moisture from the sponge below will keep the paints on the parchment paper hydrated, preventing them from drying out quickly.
Maintaining Paint Moisture
Even with a wet palette, paint can still eventually dry, especially during extra long hobby sessions. To combat this and keep your paints fresh:
- Add Water: We recommend using clean water and a pipette of sorts to redistribute water to the palette. This can involve carefully adding water around the edges of the parchment paper or directly onto the sponge if visible, ensuring the absorbent layer remains saturated.
- Close the Lid: When taking a break, close the lid of the container. This helps seal in humidity and can keep your paints viable for days, sometimes even weeks, depending on the palette and environment.
Benefits of Using a Wet Palette
- Reduces Paint Waste: Paints stay wet longer, so you don't have to constantly squeeze out new paint.
- Easier Blending: Wet paints are much easier to mix and blend directly on the palette or during wet-on-wet techniques.
- Saves Time: Less time spent remixing dried colors.
By following these steps and keeping the moisture level consistent, you can significantly enhance your acrylic painting experience.
