Your watercolor palette is where lots of the magic happens: the blending, the mixing, the color transformation, and, of course, the mess!
After all, a trusty palette is key for any watercolor project to succeed and a must-have, no matter how simple or complex your artwork is.
If you ask me, there’s really no such thing as the best watercolor palette; it’s mostly about what works best for you — plus a few other factors that I’ll get into in this guide.
Keep reading to find the best watercolor palette for your craft desk or park bench, as well as a few simple ideas for DIY palettes — because who says you can’t be creative on a budget?
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What is a watercolor palette?
The primary purpose of a watercolor palette is to provide artists with a surface to organize and mix their paints when taking on a project.
Maybe you’re more familiar with wooden palettes for acrylic and oil paints. But watercolor requires using a palette just as much! They are, however, different.
Watercolor pigments are incredibly light and watery and, therefore, are compatible with specific surface types and materials. Among the best for watercolor are porcelain/ceramic, plastic, and metal.
These palettes come in different designs, sizes, and capacities, many of which feature round or square wells and larger or smaller mixing areas.
But more on this next!
Best watercolor palette
At first glance, watercolor palettes might not seem like the most fascinating art supply.
But if you’re like me, once you learn more, you’ll realize just how varied and cool these are! Not to mention, crucial.
To help you find the best watercolor palette, I’ve shared the main pros and cons of each type and have listed some of my favorite products, including budget-friendly suggestions for beginners.
Ceramic/porcelain watercolor palettes
Top pick: MEEDEN 8-Well Mixing Tray
Runner up: MEEDEN 18-Well Mixing Tray
Budget-friendly: Richeson Round Porcelain Palettes
For many artists, ceramic/porcelain watercolor palettes are the best option. They come in all different capacities, shapes, and sizes, including some pretty funky designs!
The best ceramic palettes are always white to provide a neutral surface that contrasts with pigments for effective and accurate blending.
In addition, porcelain palettes don’t stain. This is a significant advantage since old paint stains can interfere with fresh pigment and alter blends if activated with water.
Also, ceramic palettes always lay flat, which doesn’t always happen with tin palettes (large palettes tend to warp). You won’t have to worry about beading either: paint stays intact and is easy to spread and control.
The downside is that porcelain palettes can be a little (or hella) heavy! That said, opt for a ceramic watercolor palette for your craft desk, but not if you’re looking for something portable. They’ll also break easily if dropped or banged, so keep them stationary.
Besides watercolor, ceramic watercolor palettes work very well with gouache, so you can definitely use these if this is a medium you’ve been having fun with, too!
Plastic watercolor palettes
Top pick: Mr Pen Watercolor Palette with Airtight Lid
Runner up: 2-piece 7-Well Watercolor Palette
Budget-friendly: Richeson Rectangular Plastic Palette
Plastic watercolor palettes are very convenient alternatives, sought-after for their versatility, affordability, and durability. They’re also incredibly lightweight and come in many layouts, so you’ll have a lot to choose from.
One of the most significant benefits of plastic palettes is that they tend to feature large mixing areas and separate wells for paint. This makes mixing colors and experimenting with blends very practical.
Note that it’s perfectly normal to see paint beading on plastic surfaces at first. However, this will stop the more you use your palette. Also, contrary to ceramic palettes, plastic palettes stain easily but are easy to upkeep as long as you clean them after use.
Apart from watercolor, you can use plastic palettes for gouache and acrylic paint. Nevertheless, for the latter, I advise spraying primer onto palettes beforehand since acrylics tend to leave stubborn stains.
Metal/tin watercolor palettes
Top pick: Richeson Butcher Tray Palettes
Runner up: Empty Watercolor Palette Tins
Budget-friendly: Jackson’s Black Folding Metal Watercolor Palette
Metal or tin watercolor palettes are another favorite among crafters and are available in different formats and sizes, from large butcher trays to smaller, all-in-one watercolor palettes.
One of the main benefits of using tin palettes is that they don’t break (or at least not easily!). In addition, they’re lightweight and, while they tend to stain, can be wiped down easily with soap and water — or a little Windex!
Travel metal palettes are perfect because they’re portable, compact, and can be customized with half or full pans. Many also have thumb holes, which are handy when working outdoors.
Nevertheless, if you’re considering a butcher tray, you’ll want to be a little more discerning. For instance, a common critique of larger trays is that they tend to warp and lay unevenly, which enables runny paint to spread and interfere with other pigments.
Like plastic palettes, paint usually beads on metal at first, although this diminishes with use. You can scrub your surface to roughen it out to reduce beading but know that this will make way for more permanent staining in the long run. I say be patient!
Disposable palette paper
Top pick: Strathmore 300 Series Palette Paper Pad
Runner up: Jack Richeson Grey Matters Paper Palette
Budget-friendly: Canson XL Disposable Palette
Perhaps you’re not looking for the best watercolor palette but something affordable and easy to use and store instead.
In that case, disposable paint palettes could be an excellent solution and will do the trick if you’re on a tight budget.
They’re especially convenient if you’re low in space or have pet peeves about maintaining a neat workstation at all times! These palettes can be disposed of after each use, making clean-up a breeze.
Disposable palettes come in different sizes and styles; some even feature a thumb hole to replicate traditional palettes! However, keep in mind that this option may be more restrictive. For example, expect to have less surface area for mixing and blending.
Also, it’s worth noting that disposable paint palettes aren’t the most eco-friendly option. Therefore, I advise having them as a backup whenever you can’t use any of the options listed above — or the ones I’m going to mention next!
How to DIY a watercolor palette
There are several ways to create a DIY watercolor palette, using items you may already have at home or at your craft station.
Here are some of my favorite go-to DIY palettes:
- Cover a wooden acrylic/oil paint palette in saran wrap. This provides a sturdy surface and plenty of space for blending. It also makes clean-up really easy!
- Use regular porcelain plates and dishes. Make use of worn-down plates you have at home, or buy a couple of cheap dishes at the dollar store. Entry trays or deviled egg platters are great picks! Just make sure they’re white so that you can blend pigment accurately.
- Repurpose old glass coasters or picture frame glass. Since they’re clear, it’s easier to see each pigment vs. colored surfaces. They also have the right amount of slippery texture!
- Upcycle old CD cases! These are great small-scale surfaces you could use for simple projects.
- Use plastic ice cube trays. These make for great little wells for watercolor and gouache!
- Use a muffin tin for a metal palette. Fill each cup with paint and use the flat surface to mix colors.
How to choose the best watercolor palette: Tips and advice for beginners
Watercolor palettes are pretty straightforward tools, but that doesn’t mean you should just snatch the first one you see, either!
It’s always a good idea to evaluate what might work best for you based on your space, project, and, of course, budget.
Here are a few factors I take note of when choosing the best watercolor palette for upcoming projects.
- Avoid palettes that stain easily if you’re particular about cleaning your art supplies. This can become an issue if quick clean-ups are important to you!
- Keep the size of your artwork in mind. This will help you evaluate if you need a watercolor palette with a small or broad mixing surface.
- Consider the size of your watercolor brushes. Is there room for you to mix paint comfortably with large brushes and vice versa?
- Know what your color palette is going to look like. How many wells will you need? Do you need more than one watercolor palette, or do you tend to work with a similar range of paints?
- Do you want a stationary watercolor palette or something portable? Consider material weight and size to ensure your palette meets your needs.
- Take your craft desk into account. Is there enough room to hold a large palette? Is it easy to store?
- If crafting in a dry area, know that your paints will dry more quickly. To keep pigments wet for longer, select a watercolor palette with wells. This setup helps retain more moisture.
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