You wet a watercolor palette to keep your paints moist and usable for longer periods.
Understanding Wet Palettes
A wet palette helps extend the life of your paints by preventing them from drying out quickly. This is especially useful for preserving custom blends and mixes, as highlighted in the provided reference. The reference explains that keeping the palette moist helps in preserving the longevity of the paints.
How to Wet Your Palette
While the specific method for wetting a watercolor palette isn't fully detailed in the provided video reference, we can deduce the general process based on the context of "keeping it moist" and "using a wet palette":
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Prepare the Palette:
- If using a purpose-made wet palette, ensure you have the correct layers in place, typically a base layer to hold moisture and a permeable sheet on top.
- For DIY solutions, you might use a container with a damp sponge or paper towels at the bottom, topped with parchment paper.
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Add Water:
- For wet palettes with a base layer: Saturate the base layer with water. Ensure it's wet but not soaking, as you don't want water pooling on the top layer.
- For DIY palettes with sponges or paper towels: Moisten the material with water until damp, ensuring no excess water.
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Prepare the Top Surface:
- Place your permeable sheet or parchment paper on top of the moist base.
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Place Your Paints:
- Add your watercolor paints onto the permeable surface. The moisture underneath will help prevent them from drying out.
Benefits of Using a Wet Palette
- Extended Paint Longevity: Wet palettes help keep your paints moist, preventing them from drying out. This maximizes the use of your watercolor paints, as noted in the provided video reference.
- Preserves Custom Blends: It allows you to save and reuse custom mixes, preventing waste.
- Consistent Paint Consistency: Keeping the paint moist also helps maintain a consistent, creamy consistency, making them easier to work with.
Practical Tips
- Check the moisture level regularly and re-wet as needed.
- Avoid excessive water, which could cause the paints to become too diluted.
