The follies of keeping paint wet.

[PTS]

I\'m tired of paints quickly drying out on me, so recently tried a wet palette again using soaked Pro Masterson paper, an inch thick wet sponge, a plastic sandwich container, and GW / Vallejo paint.

It works okay but tends to auto-dilute paint fast (which is mostly fine as I work thin), but then after a while paint tends to soak through the paper and stains the sponge, leaving nothing on top.

I read about people leaving in-tact paint on their wet palettes for months and wonder how - am I using too much water in the sponge? Would I have more luck with a full Masterson Pro WP kit?

Bypassing a wet palette, and using retarder and flow enhancer seems like another feasible option, but I find mixing small amounts of these in tends to make the paint separate a little, and become kind of \"greasy\".

Any tips or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally posted by PTS
I read about people leaving in-tact paint on their wet palettes for months and wonder how - am I using too much water in the sponge?

Sounds like it.
There a several threads already about Wet Pallettes I suggest looking through them. Einion\'s comments are usually the most informative about them as he seems to have a wealth of knowledge.

 

[mickc22]

your sponge only needs to be about 3-6mm (1/8-1/4\") at most
I\'ve not heard of the paper you mention but I\'m assuming it\'s meant for wet palettes?


mick

edit:just remembered these

http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/324

http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/116

 

[orctrader]

Personally, I don\'t use a sponge at all.

Plastic tray - a lid from a margarine tub.
Paper towel - single sheet folded twice to fit the lid.
Greaseproof paper - cut to size.
I apply sufficient water to the paper towel so it is thoroughly damp - but not sodden.
Then place the Greaseproof Paper – shiny side UP on top.

This will keep paint workable for days – but I discard after each painting session and start again as that suits me better.

 

[matty1001]

Cheap and easy wet pallette:
http://web.mac.com/matthewbraid/Concept_becomes_Creation/Wet_Palette.html

Peace and love...

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by PTS
I read about people leaving in-tact paint on their wet palettes for months and wonder how - am I using too much water in the sponge?

Might be. Just-damp is worth trying.

Originally posted by PTS
Bypassing a wet palette, and using retarder and flow enhancer seems like another feasible option, but I find mixing small amounts of these in tends to make the paint separate a little, and become kind of \"greasy\".

Ditto. It\'s easy to add too much and it can adversely affect the drying of the paint. Plus it\'s a lot of trouble to go to if avoidable.

I\'m happy with the performance of a homemade stay-wet palette and if I need to store the paint for a while without it going watery I just remove the reservoir, so the box just acts as a sealed container for the membrane paper.

Einion

 

[lahatiel]

You know, PTS just described the exact same problem I\'ve had before when I\'ve tried to make us of wet palettes -- and judging from his description and the responses given, I think I am (and probably he, too, by extension) using too much water in my resevoir. I won\'t be painting again until next week, but I\'ll definitely try my wet palette again, with a bit less water this time, when I do.

 

[QuietiManes]

If you use a sponge, ring out...like half?...of the water between dry and totally soaked. Same with paper towels, but it\'s not quite as easy to tell.

\"I\'ve not heard of the paper you mention but I\'m assuming it\'s meant for wet palettes?\"

Yeah, Mastersons make alot of different pallettes, disposable pallette pads, wet pallettes, etc. Among other things. I guess I like this particular one due to its size, or maybe it\'s just because I have it. By way of example:

*click me*

Parchement paper and a sponge/paper towel work just as well, though.

 

[bodiscool]

i just keep it simple use a paracitmol blister.if ive been using the same colour for 8 hrs n wana go to bed but arnt finished i just put some masking tape over it.ive allways painted like this and never seen the need for a wet pallette.
but each to there own lol