Seeing as I’m starting to take watercolour painting seriously now, I thought I should have the right supplies. I had been using a ice cube tray to mix the cheap pigments that were given to me years ago. I figured it was about time I had some better quality colours and a proper palette. I went to my local art store to get some Windsor and Newton Artists’ Colours, which seem to be the professional’s choice. I only got three basic primary colours for now just to try out, Windsor Red, Windsor Yellow and Windsor Blue (Green shade). I’ll probably expand my selection later.
I took a look at the palettes they had for sale and they were not very promising. I wanted a large ceramic one for home, but they didn’t have much selection. Lots of plastic, but only tiny ones in ceramic. On top of that the plastic ones I thought were large enough for what I wanted were $20! “Ridiculous.” I told my wife. She asked, “What about plates from a thrift store?” “Excellent idea. Let’s check it out.” I replied. She’s the brains in this relationship.
We went to a local thrift store and found a gold mine of large ceramic and glass party trays and plates. They were the type of thing normally used for serving fruit or vegetables and dip, with several “wells”. They were perfect for what I wanted and only $1 a piece! Support your local thrift stores!
ANNETTE HAGGER
Welcome to the Just Watercolourss Group ! Yes buying artists ceramic pallets are very expensive ! I actually use a couple of white metal plates as pallets, the kind you use when camping they are easy to wash and will also never break !, when i paint outside i tend to take paper picnic plates with me as a pallet as they can then be placed in a bin before coming home !…Hope you have fun learing to paint it watercolours. And I hope you enter some of our watercolour challenges Carmeron, you can learn to much from them as its interesting seeing how so many artists who paint the same image interpet it differently !..anna- Host of the Juat Watercolours Group.