The Artist’s Guide to Paint Palettes

by Elizabeth Ragona. © 2025 Alabama Art Supply.

Introduction

A well-organized paint palette is more than just a mixing surface—it’s the foundation of your entire painting process. Whether you’re using acrylics, oils, watercolors, or gouache, your palette affects how easily you mix colors, how efficiently you work, and even the final vibrancy of your artwork.

Ever struggled with muddy colors? Paint drying too fast? Wasting expensive pigments? The right palette setup can solve these common frustrations, helping you mix cleaner, more intentional colors while keeping your materials in top condition.

In this guide, we’ll explore:
✔ The best palettes for different mediums (so you get the right one for your workflow)
✔ Mixing strategies that improve color harmony and efficiency
✔ Palette maintenance tips to extend the life of your materials
✔ Practice exercises to sharpen your mixing skills

Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first palette or a seasoned artist wanting to refine your setup, this guide will help you take control of your colors and streamline your creative process.

Cover art courtesy of New Wave Fine Art Palettes.

Choosing the Right Paint Palette for Your Medium

Wooden Palettes – Classic for Oil Painters

Wooden palettes, often made from maple or mahogany, have been the go-to choice for oil painters for centuries. They are durable, warm to the touch, and develop a natural patina over time that enhances mixing.

🔹 Pros: Traditional feel, sturdy, good for long painting sessions.
🔹 Cons: Needs oiling to prevent absorption, not ideal for water-based paints.
🔹 Best For: Oil painters who prefer a classic approach.

Glass Palettes – Smooth & Easy to Clean

Glass palettes offer a sleek, non-porous surface that’s perfect for acrylics and oils. The smooth surface makes it easy to mix colors and scrape off dried paint.

🔹 Pros: Non-absorbent, easy to clean, reusable.
🔹 Cons: Fragile, needs a neutral backing color for accurate mixing.
🔹 Best For: Artists who want effortless mixing and cleanup.

Plastic Palettes – Affordable & Lightweight

Plastic palettes come in many shapes, from flat trays to well palettes. They’re popular for watercolor and acrylic artists who want a lightweight and budget-friendly option.

🔹 Pros: Inexpensive, lightweight, great for beginners.
🔹 Cons: Can stain, may warp over time.
🔹 Best For: Watercolor and acrylic painters who need a portable option.

Get the Masterson Aqua-Pro Watercolor Palette here.

Ceramic Palettes – Perfect for Watercolors & Gouache

Ceramic palettes retain moisture and have a smooth, weighty feel that makes mixing a dream. Unlike plastic, they don’t stain or warp, making them a high-quality choice for serious watercolorists.

🔹 Pros: Non-porous, easy to clean, great for mixing subtle hues.
🔹 Cons: Heavier and more fragile.
🔹 Best For: Watercolor and gouache artists who want precision and durability.

Butcher Tray Palettes – Durable & Versatile

A butcher tray palette is a shallow metal tray with a smooth white enamel-coated surface. Originally designed for holding meats in butcher shops, artists quickly adopted these trays as versatile mixing palettes—especially for watercolor, gouache, and ink.

Alabama Art Supply carries several sizes of butcher trays in our Birmingham store. Please visit or call us at 205-322-4741 to check availability and price.

🔹 Pros:
✔ Non-porous & stain-resistant – Won’t absorb pigment, making cleanup easy.
✔ Spacious mixing area – Ideal for large washes and smooth blending.
✔ Durable – The enamel-coated metal lasts much longer than plastic.
✔ Great for wet mediums – Perfect for artists who work with watercolor, gouache, or ink and need a wide, smooth mixing surface.

🔹 Cons:
❌ Water beads up at first – A new butcher tray may cause paint to bead, but this can be fixed by gently scuffing the surface with a magic eraser, baking soda, or fine steel wool.
❌ Can chip over time – If dropped, the enamel can crack or chip, exposing the metal underneath.

🔹 Best For:
🎨 Watercolorists & gouache painters who need a large, smooth mixing area.
🎨 Ink artists looking for an easy-to-clean surface.
🎨 Acrylic painters who need a quick, disposable mixing area (though glass or wet palettes may be better for long painting sessions).

💡 Pro Tip: To prevent water beading, season your butcher tray by scrubbing it lightly with a gentle abrasive cleaner or magic eraser before use.

Disposable Palettes – Quick & Convenient

Perfect for artists who don’t want to deal with cleanup, disposable palettes are typically wax-coated paper pads. Once a page is used, just tear it off and toss it.

🔹 Pros: No cleanup, lightweight, ideal for travel.
🔹 Cons: Wasteful, lacks a solid mixing surface.
🔹 Best For: Acrylic and oil painters who prefer a no-fuss setup.

Get a Richeson Grey Matters Disposable Paint Palette here.

Choosing the Right Paint Palette for Your Medium

Not all palettes work for every type of paint. Below is a quick reference chart to help you choose the best option for your medium.

Paint Type	Best Palette Options	Why?
Oil Paint	Wooden, Glass, Masterson Palette (for long-term storage)	Allows slow drying and easy mixing
Acrylic Paint	Glass, Plastic, Disposable, Wet Palette (Masterson Sta-Wet)	Prevents fast drying and extends usability
Watercolor	Ceramic, Plastic Well Palettes, Travel Palettes	Keeps colors separate and rewettable
Gouache	Ceramic, Plastic Well Palettes, Airtight Travel Palettes	Preserves opacity and allows reactivation

Spotlight on Masterson Palettes: Wet Palettes & Airtight Storage

Masterson palettes are designed to keep paints fresh for extended periods, making them a game-changer for acrylic and oil painters. Here’s a look at their different models:

Masterson Sta-Wet Palette (Best for Acrylics & Gouache)

• Comes with a sponge and special palette paper to keep paints moist.
• Prevents acrylics and gouache from drying out, allowing for longer blending times.
• Available in different sizes, including the Handy Palette (smaller size for travel).

Get a Masterson Sta-Wet Painter's Pal Palette here.

Masterson Palette Seal (Best for Oils & Acrylics)

• Airtight plastic box that fits a traditional palette inside.
• Keeps oils workable for days to weeks.
• Prevents acrylics from drying overnight.

Get the Masterson Palette Seal here.

Masterson Sta-Wet Premier Palette (For Large Paintings)

• A larger version of the Sta-Wet palette.
• Ideal for artists working on bigger projects.

Get the Masterson Sta-Wet Premier here.

📌 Pro Tip: If you paint in acrylics and struggle with paint drying too fast, a Masterson Sta-Wet Palette is a must-have!

Palettes for Plein Air & Travel Painting

Artists who paint on the go need a palette that’s compact, lightweight, and durable.

Plein Air Palettes (For Outdoor Painting)

• Best options: Glass or plastic palettes with a cover to prevent dust and debris.
• Recommended: New Wave Pochade Box Palettes – these combine a mixing area with a built-in easel.
• Tip: Use a small airtight container to store mixed colors for later use.

Travel-Friendly Palettes

• Watercolor & Gouache: Folding plastic or metal palettes with built-in wells and mixing areas.
  • Example: Mijello Fusion Palette – great for keeping colors moist.
• Acrylics: Masterson Handy Sta-Wet Palette – compact and keeps paints fresh.
• Oils: Glass palettes inside an airtight container, or disposable paper palettes for minimal cleanup.

🔹 Best Tip for Travel? Pre-mix colors in a small airtight palette to save time when painting on location.

Get the Masterson Handy Sta-Wet Palette here.

How to Set Up Your Palette for Efficiency

Organizing Your Colors

Think of your palette as a color roadmap. Arrange your paints in a logical order to speed up mixing and avoid muddy results.

• Oil & Acrylic Artists: Arrange colors from warm to cool (e.g., yellows, oranges, reds, blues, greens, and earth tones).
• Watercolor Artists: Use a well palette to separate colors, allowing for clean washes.
• Gouache Artists: Keep key colors in small, airtight containers to prevent drying.

Mixing Space Matters

Reserve a large central area for mixing colors. Avoid cramming too many colors in a small space—it limits your blending potential.

Keeping Colors Fresh

• Acrylics: Mist with water or use a wet palette (a palette with a sponge and special paper to keep paint moist).
• Oils: Use clove oil or palette covers to slow drying.
• Watercolors: Allow them to dry in wells and rewet as needed.

Color Mixing Strategies & Tips

A solid grasp of color mixing prevents wasted paint and helps you create vibrant, intentional hues.

The Primary Colors: Your Mixing Foundation

All colors stem from red, yellow, and blue. Understanding how to mix them will expand your palette without needing every tube of paint.

Primary Colors	Mixed Colors
Red + Yellow	Orange
Yellow + Blue	Green
Blue + Red	Purple

Understanding Color Bias

Not all reds, blues, and yellows are equal! A warm red (Cadmium Red) vs. a cool red (Alizarin Crimson) will mix differently. Learn your paint’s temperature to mix accurately.

The Secret to Neutral Tones

Mixing complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) creates muted, natural tones:

• Red + Green = Brown
• Blue + Orange = Warm Gray
• Yellow + Purple = Deep Brown

Avoiding Muddy Colors

Muddiness happens when too many colors mix without direction. Stick to two or three colors per mix and clean your palette often.

Color Mixing Strategies & Tips

A solid grasp of color mixing prevents wasted paint and helps you create vibrant, intentional hues.

🎨 Want to take your color mixing skills further? Check out our in-depth Color Theory & Color Mixing Blog for expert tips on complementary colors, color temperature, and advanced blending techniques!

Palette Maintenance & Cleaning

A well-maintained palette lasts longer and keeps colors true. Here’s how to clean yours based on your medium:

• Oil Paint: Wipe with a palette knife and cloth, then clean with solvent or linseed oil.
• Acrylic Paint: Clean with a damp paper towel before it dries. Dried acrylic can be peeled off a glass palette.
• Watercolor & Gouache: Rinse palettes with warm water and mild soap.

📌 Pro Tip: For stubborn stains, use a Magic Eraser on plastic palettes or soak in a gentle cleaner.

Care and Maintenance of a Wooden Palette​

Proper care and maintenance of a wooden oil painting palette are essential to ensure its longevity and optimal performance. Here's a guide on conditioning, cleaning, and troubleshooting your wooden palette:​

Conditioning a New Wooden Palette

Preparing (or "seasoning") a raw wood palette before its first use creates a smooth, non-absorbent surface that enhances your painting experience.​

Steps to Condition Your Palette:

1. Clean and Sand: Ensure the palette is free from dust. Lightly sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth any rough areas.​

2. Apply Drying Oil: Pour a small amount (about a teaspoon) of a drying oil—such as refined linseed oil—onto the center of the palette. Using a lint-free cloth, rub the oil into the wood until the entire surface is coated. Wipe off any excess oil, leaving only what the wood absorbs.​

3. Drying: Place the palette in a dust-free area to dry flat with the oiled side up. Allow it to dry thoroughly, which may take several days.​

4. Repeat: Repeat the oiling and drying process 3 to 5 times, or until the wood develops a hard, glassy finish.​

Note: Avoid leaving a thick layer of oil on the palette, as it can lead to a sticky surface that may take a long time to dry. 

Cleaning Your Wooden Palette After Each Use

Regular cleaning prevents paint buildup and maintains the palette's conditioned surface.​

Cleaning Steps:

1. Remove Excess Paint: Use a palette knife to scrape off any leftover paint.​

2. Wipe the Surface: With a lint-free cloth or paper towel, wipe the palette to remove residual paint.​

3. Use Solvent or Oil: Dampen a cloth with a small amount of solvent (like odorless mineral spirits) or a drying oil (such as linseed oil) to clean any remaining paint.​

4. Final Wipe: Dry the palette with a clean cloth to remove any remaining solvent or oil.​

5. Conditioning: After cleaning, apply a thin layer of drying oil to maintain the wood's condition. Wipe off any excess oil to prevent a sticky surface.​

Tip: Cleaning your palette immediately after each painting session makes the process easier and helps preserve the wood. 

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Sticky or Tacky Surface: If the palette remains tacky after oiling, it may be due to applying too much oil or not allowing sufficient drying time between coats. To remedy this, sand the tacky area with fine-grit sandpaper and reapply a thin layer of oil, ensuring it dries completely before use. 

• Dried Paint Residue: For stubborn dried paint, apply a small amount of solvent to soften the paint before gently scraping it off. Avoid using excessive force to prevent damaging the wood. ​

• Preventing Warping: To minimize the risk of warping, condition both sides of the palette equally and store it in a stable environment away from extreme humidity or temperature changes.​

By following these practices, your wooden palette will develop a beautiful patina over time, providing a reliable and enjoyable surface for your artistic endeavors.

Practice Exercises: Sharpen Your Palette Skills

1. The Limited Palette Challenge

• Choose only three primaries and white (e.g., Titanium White, Cadmium Red, Ultramarine Blue, and Lemon Yellow).
• Try mixing a full range of colors only from these four paints.

2. Gradient Mixing Practice

• Mix a color with white or black to create a smooth gradient.
• Try this with three different colors to master lightening/darkening techniques.

3. Complementary Color Mixing

• Take two complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange).
• Mix them in various ratios to see how neutral tones emerge.

4. Match the Color

• Pick a photo or object and attempt to mix exactly the same color using your paints.
• This builds color perception skills and makes mixing second nature.

Final Thoughts: Elevate Your Painting with the Right Palette

Your palette is more than just a surface—it’s a mixing studio that shapes your entire painting process. Whether you prefer a clean, organized palette or an experimental, chaotic one, finding the right setup for your workflow makes all the difference.

🎨 What’s your go-to palette setup? Share your thoughts and favorite palettes in the comments below!

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