(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best palettes & palette cups

You may want to consider the Portable Painter

Or get a Cotman’s Pocket Box and put whatever half pans you want in that

Otherwise as far as I know that Whiskey Painters palette linked in a comment earlier is the only one with the set up you like.

Edit: after looking a little on Etsy under “vintage watercolor tin” I found this and I’m so sure you could clean it up and fill it with your favorites!

I don't know of any apps like you described, but if you're okay with doing the colour matching by yourself, some brands (like Williamsburg and Winsor & Newton) do make colour charts. They probably have some version of it in their sites too. If you're going to an art store, they probably have their own copy you can borrow while looking at the paints.

I've never tried it, but looks like there's also this mixing chart: https://www.amazon.com/Color-Wheel-5324CW-Palette-Personal/dp/B00119HMDC

It might not be super precise, because the different brands will still differ a bit on the same colour, but at the very least it will help point you in the right direction.

Yay 5K!

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Beginning Paint Set

Good Beginner Brushes

Palette I still use

This should get you started, the only other thing I'd suggest is getting a black wash (I use citadel paints so I use Nuln Oil, unsure what the technical term for it is). The thing is, I've purchased a ton of stuff. A TON OF STUFF. I never ended up using the Dry Paint set that I got, out of all of the washes I only use two of them on a regular basis and I use expensive brushes now. If you're just starting out it's better to use these synthetic brushes because they're cheaper and you don't have to worry too much if they get ruined. Expensive brushes are great, but you won't know why until you get better.

For the Qor, they will pop out without putty but it's not too much of a big deal when I keep the color sheet in there.
The Schmincke has the lock-in palette and it's nice. If you're looking for just the tin, Meeden makes a fine one https://www.amazon.com/MEEDEN-Empty-Metal-Watercolor-Palette/dp/B01MTMFH4V

Moved from sponges to this, never looked back.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SAA-Acrylic-Keep-Wet-Paper-Refill/dp/B009T2JMNG/ref=asc_df_B009T2JMNG/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310902543009&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5240255277616795716&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046616&hvtargid=pla-770426622173&psc=1


Always behaves. Quite cheap. Performs great.

Maybe something like this? It’s not that expensive and comes with brushes that hold water in them that might help with the smearing without water.
Watercolor Palette with Bonus Paper Pad by GenCrafts - Includes 48 Premium Colors - 2 Refillable Water Blending Brush Pens - No Mess Storage Case - 15 Sheets of Water Color Paper - Portable Painting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QQ39F7J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_96FVDbB0S0M5Z

I usually use these from Amazon. Theres two different gauge. I use wider one with mineral oil (more viscous) to clean knife blades and external surfaces, and use the narrower one with Tuff glide (less viscous) on pivots.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FNPTYYK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UjGrxb1AEMM3J

I use actual wet palette paper because I have found nothing else to be anywhere near as good. Specifically I use this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frisk-Acrylic-Keep-Wet-Palette-Refill/dp/B015WICDU4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549710757&sr=8-1&keywords=wet+palette+paper

To make it go further, I split each sheet into 3 and use them in an A5 Tupperware type container with a clip on lid. I put 3 or 4 folded paper towels under the absorbent part of the paper to hold more water.

I am guessing here, but maybe something like this?

Whiskey Painters Large, Empty 12 Full Pan, Travel Friendly Artist Palette with Double Clip-On Cup https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MYBNDFC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xGh7CbEF8H20M

Sorry for the link being a mess, I'm on mobile.

I use a wet palette, piece of sponge you wet down under a palette paper. Helps keep the paints from drying out fast

https://www.amazon.com/Masterson-STA-Wet-Palette-Airtight-Boutique/dp/B07C58YPQ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549381136&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=wet+palette&psc=1

Looks like a paint palette similar to this. http://www.amazon.com/6-well-Plastic-Palette-Watercolor-acrylic/dp/B007YNQ6J0

If it's in the kitchen, maybe it was used for decorating baked goods.

I know there’s premade watercolor sets she can buy on amazon. They also sell these tin cases by Meeden where she can squeeze her own watercolor colors in mini pans. They have small sizes that are convenient for travel.

MEEDEN Empty Watercolor Tins Box Palette Paint Case, Small Pink Tin with 12 Pcs Half Pans https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KPQTWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MN2YCbPJ2F2S0

Maybe check that out, there’s also blue, black and white if she doesn’t fancy pink. I only own the larger size with it, so not sure if you’d be able to fit a brush in these.

> I tried Drakenhof Nightshade and it made all of it too blue (a bit splotchy when I did it for a helmet on a test model).

Do remember that you're (probably) going to be going back over with that grey or a lighter shade for highlights later - so that may knock back the blueing effect the shade had.

You can always cut the wash with a bit of water. I've put my washes into dropper bottles, which makes thinning them out if the need arises very easy. But, that's not at all required. Just get a palette (like this sort) and you can just transfer a bit of wash in, and then some water.

> a bit splotchy when I did it for a helmet on a test model

Probably just a bit too much, or you allowed it to pool on a flat spot. That's a bit of practice there - and I'll refer back to my you're probably going to paint over that bit anyway comment.

And for the future, you can experiment with more precise application of the shade. A bit more time consuming up front than just grabbing a big brush and laying about. But it's got upsides too.

It kinda looks like a homemade version of a round paint pallet. Standard 12 outside circles with mixing area in the middle maybe? Ex pic for reference. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075W91CYC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TgtYDbFS4KFAC

I just use a cheap well palette, like these. I can mix a range of consistencies for glazing and washing.

>on screen

That's your biggest mistake.

NEVER trust what you see on screen. Even a perfectly calibrated monitor isn't going to look the same as the printed material, because ambient lighting makes such a huge difference - That's why Pantone books even include a "lighting test" swatch in the back of the book that indicates if you're viewing the book under the correct light, as different Pantone inks respond differently to different wavelengths/color temperatures of light.

Go buy your Pantone Formula Coated/Uncoated swatch books. They cost about $135, which I'm willing to bet is less than what it's going to cost you to re-order your client's work. (My first color mistake cost me $270 - i bought my Pantone books the same day.) Then keep it in a dark box, away from light, unless you're using it.

You might also consider getting the CMYK Guide, which has combinations of CMYK (no Pantone inks, just standard CMYK) so you can pick your "normal" CMYK/Process colors from it, rather than from your monitor.

And as stated elsewhere, if you're not actually printing using Pantone inks (called "Spot Colors", used most often for 1-color or 2-color jobs), then don't use a Pantone color to choose from - many Pantone colors CAN'T be represented using CMYK. There's a book for that, as well, called the Color Bridge book - it shows the "closest approximation" to a Pantone color using CMYK inks, but you should only ever be in that territory with a client who has specified Pantone colors for their identity, and is OK with Bridge matching).

Bottom line, don't use Pantone if you don't have to. Never trust your monitor. Always refer to the printed swatch books. And always get a printed proof if there's any doubt (which you did, so good on you there!)

As far as printing vector art (non-solid color) with a Pantone Spot color, you absolutely can, but your AI document has to be set up correctly. Your artwork all needs to be recolored (using the Edit...Edit Colors...Recolor) to use only that spot color - AI will tint the color correctly on that artwork. But again, this only applies if you're actually printing with Spot Colors, not if you're printing 4-color/CMYK/Process (all terms for the same thing).



-[odmg]

As someone who started out with student grade paints, Holbeins were a game changer. Have you thought about setting up a palate so you're not wasting so much paint? This one works great.

The cheapest one I could find on Amazon Germany: Atelier Interactive Acryl-Palette "Keep-Wet" https://www.amazon.de/dp/B009T37I4A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_f-hSDbEMSKCH4

A resealable palette is pretty handy for oils and acrylics. I always bought cheap wax paper to line the bottom to prevent the actual palette from getting dirty. Keeps your paint wet for a while too, so you don't have to trash the palette every time. Just seal it up tightly.

Oh, Please do not bend. =]