If you don't want to buy one of the moisture-retaining palettes available, it's simple to make your own. The advantage (besides cost) is that you can use a container the exact size you want.
What You Need:
- A shallow plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, such as a food-storage container. It doesn't matter what shape it is.
- A piece of watercolor paper. A thicker sheet works best as it holds more water.
- Greaseproof paper (baking parchment). Buy a roll, because you'll replace this every time you clean your palette.
- A pencil.
- Scissors.
What You Do:
- Cut a piece of watercolor paper to fit in the bottom of the plastic container. The easiest way to get a good fit is to place the plastic container on the sheet of watercolor paper, trace around it with the pencil, then cut just inside the line.
- Cut a piece of greaseproof paper the same size.
- Soak the piece of watercolor paper in clean water, then put it in the bottom of the plastic container.
- Moisten the sheet of greaseproof paper and put it on top of the sheet of watercolor paper.
- Squeeze out your acrylic paints onto the greaseproof paper and start painting.
- When you've finished a painting session, simply put on the lid of the container to keep the acrylics moist until you next pick up your brushes.
Tips:
- If you haven't got a suitable plastic container, you can use a baking tray or deep plate and plastic film instead. The disadvantage of using plastic film rather than a stiff plastic lid is that it's likely to touch the paint and so be more messy to take off and replace.
- If the sheet of paper begins to dry out, lift one corner, pour in a teaspoon or two of water underneath, then gently tip the palette so the water runs under it.
- If you cut the piece of greaseproof paper slightly smaller than the piece of watercolor paper, you needn't lift the sheets to moisten the paper.
