Paint Palette Basics for Gouache

It seems that every artist has a different opinion as to which type of paint palette they prefer. There are more traditional options, as well as more creative solutions. Your choice of palette depends on the type of paint you will be using. I use gouache, so that is what I will be discussing in this article. At this point, I’ve tried so many palettes with gouache, so I will be going through what I like and don’t like about each option. At the end of this article, I’ve also included tips for cleaning your palette.

Paint Palette Options

Vintage Plates

Any ceramic plate, vintage or new, is a great option for gouache. My favorite palette to use is a vintage egg platter. I love how I can put different colors in the little compartments. While compartments are a nice feature, it’s not a must. Whatever ceramic you use, I’d recommend choosing something that is plain white or ivory. I find colors and patterns on palettes to be too distracting. A pattern around the perimeter is fine, as long as the area where you are mix the paint is plain. Great places to search for vintage ceramics are at thrift stores, antique shops, Etsy, and Ebay.

Photo © Sugarhouse Ceramic Co.

Handmade Palettes

I recently interviewed Natasha Lawyer from Sugarhouse Ceramic Co. for my Where Makers Make series. She makes these hand-crafted paint palettes that are just beautiful. I thought they were so cute, and something I never even new existed before the interview. They have little compartments, and would look so nice on a desk and in photos. She offers a variety of shapes and sizes in her online shop.

Photo © Dick BLick

Metal Butcher Trays

A lot of illustrators use these. It is probably my second favorite option - mainly because they are easy to clean. These trays don’t typically have compartments, but you don’t really need them. They are usually large enough to separate out your colors. The coating on the tray keeps the paint colors from running together. I like this brand.

Plastic Palettes

I’ve used these in the past, and they work just fine. They come in all shapes and sizes. They also typically have compartments, which is nice. The best thing about these palettes is that they are cheap, and easy to replace. The downside is they often stain, and are harder to clean. Another negative is that they don’t feel as special as a nicer palette. They also don’t look as nice in pictures, if that’s something that would bother you.

Photo © Dick BLick

Palette Paper

This is pretty perfect for anyone who doesn’t like cleaning paint palettes. You can have this paper directly on your desktop, or place it within a tray. I’ve found that the only downside is that the paint doesn’t mix as easily, because of the texture of the paper. Also, it’s not ideal for gouache because the paper wrinkles slightly, but it works. It’s a small price to pay for the convenience this paper offers. You can purchase palette paper here. I like the white version, but gray is also offered.

Cleaning Your Palette

You know it’s time to clean your palette when the amount of paint on it is hindering the way you work. If you find yourself settling on colors, because you have no room to mix new ones, you know it’s time. This point will be different for everyone.

If you’re cleaning gouache off any of the palettes I mentioned above (minus the disposable paper), you’ll want to soak your palette for at least a few hours before cleaning. I soak mine overnight. If you soak your palette first, the paint should just run off with water. You may need a little soap to remove any final pieces of paint. Dry with a paper towel.

I recommend washing in a utility sink. If you don’t have a utility sink, I would soak and wash your palette outside with a hose. While gouache is water soluble, it will still stain certain sinks. If it doesn’t stain your sink, it will at least make it very hard to clean.

Spare Palettes

How many palettes you have depends on how often you like to clean your palettes. If you delay palette cleaning like me, I recommend having at least two of your preferred paint palette on hand. That way, if you don’t feel like washing your dirty palette, you will have an extra. It’s also nice to have an extra when you are soaking your palettes overnight.