Wet pallets

[tim.w]

I don't mean drooling over a pie.

Has anyne used a wet pallet before. Seen them and heard good things. I'm keen to learn about wet blending too, though it might be a bit advanced for me.

I'm trying to get past the usual block colour, dip, drybrush done method that has served me well over the years but its time I moved forward.

[Jeremy]

The topic comes and goes every year. My thought on them is, if you are mixing up batches of paint, and don’t expect to complete whatever you are painting with that batch in one sitting, go for it. If you’re not, it’s largely pointless. With Vallejo’s you can squeeze out tiny drops onto a palette and scoop back any you may need to. GW, I believe you paint straight out the bottle?

Largely it’s a fad by the cool brigade as I doubt the majority of them mix shades - and why would you with the huge range of paints available these days? Unless you’re Andy, and finally find the perfect blue. By mixing all your other blues.

[Jeremy]

If you’re wanting to blend, then you’ll be better off spending money on a good paint medium that will keep the paint fresh for longer. You generally blend on the figure and not in a palette I find (hence why you need to keep the paint fresh).

If you must have a wet palette, they’re cheaper to make - very easy to do

[tim.w]

Hmm, yes that answers what I largely suspected. I'll spend the money on some decent brushes instead. No vappa means I cant get my bulk buy of ABC brush packs in person.

[Jeremy]

Get the medium for the paint brand you use. It’s got a lot of uses, I use it almost all the time. It’s better for thinning the paint than water

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

I've always found that that kind of medium just makes the paint greasy. What am I doing wrong?

(What do you mean you can't see from all the way up in Bury?)

[vexillia]

OK. Three points:

[1] Brushes. Rosemary's Brushes Kolinsky sable spotters (Range 323). The only way to go. Not overly expensive. Great value. Should last ages (ie 12-18 months). They are to painting what hobnobs are to dunking biscuits.

[2] Wet Palette. These are all about speed, consistency & economy. My version is so cheap it's unbelievable. I use it for my core colours: dark brown, black, and a couple of greys at least. This saves time because I am not always opening the same bottle. My grey palette now has a consistent base. I use far less paint even though I do transfer paint from the "wet" palette to my mixing palette. My version will not help you do wet blending per se because this is mainly done on the figure..

[3] Palette. If you want to gain speed and improve get one of these ceramic palettes. Not cheap but worth it. There are two reasons. One: it's really easy to clean as hot water makes acrylic paint peel off. Two: because it's always clean, diluting and mixing paint isn't hampered by two years worth of dried paint.

Hope that helps?

[Jeremy]

I've always found that that kind of medium just makes the paint greasy. What am I doing wrong?

(What do you mean you can't see from all the way up in Bury?)

Are you using the same brand of medium as the paint? That’s quite important. It also depends on whether it’s a matt medium, a medium, flow enhancer or a glaze. Each does something quite different

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

I think it may have been a flow-enhancer (it didn't!). Got it from the same art shop, back when I was using tube acrylics rather than hobby-type ones, so it was definitely the same brand as a few/some/many/most of the tubes.

[Buff Orpington]

Tim, you're looking at this from the wrong angle. Don't embrace this competitive madness, just lower your standards.