The Palettes I Actually Use in My Watercolour Practice

When working with watercolour, the way you organise your colours can have a big impact on how clean and controlled your painting process feels.

In this video, I show the palettes I actually use in my studio — including ceramic palettes, plastic palettes with integrated wells, and a metal palette with pans. I also talk about the difference between a colour palette, where pigments are stored, and a mixing palette, where colours are diluted, mixed, and adjusted while painting.

Colour Palettes vs Mixing Palettes

The way watercolour palettes are organised has a big impact on the painting process.

One thing I keep very clear in my studio practice is the difference between a colour palette and a mixing palette.

A colour palette is where I store my pigments. This palette stays very clean, because I do not mix colours directly inside it.

I often see artists dipping into their colour palette with a dirty brush and gradually building up muddy deposits around the pigments. I prefer to avoid this completely.

Instead, I keep the colour palette clean and take pigment out of it when I need it.

A mixing palette, on the other hand, is where the actual painting mixtures are prepared. This is where colours are diluted with water, adjusted, or combined with other pigments.

Keeping these two roles separate helps maintain colour clarity and prevents pigment contamination.

Working With a Limited Set of Colours

When I work on a painting, I usually work with a very limited set of colours.

For example, I might work with:

• two reds

• two greens

or another small group, depending on the subject.

Instead of opening my entire palette, I take out only the colours I need and place them on a small palette. Sometimes I even use separate tiny palettes to hold different variations of one colour family.

For example:

• One small palette for reds

• another small palette for greens

This makes the painting process simpler and more focused.

The Palettes I Use

Over time, I have accumulated several palettes that serve slightly different purposes.

• Ceramic palettes

I keep several small ceramic palettes in the studio. These are especially useful because they can be used for mixing colours for a particular painting and then easily washed and reused.

Sometimes I may leave colour on one of these palettes while I am still working on a painting, rather than constantly cleaning and remixing.

• Plastic palettes with integrated wells

These palettes have built-in mixing areas rather than removable pans. They are useful when working with larger brushes because the wells are wider and easier to move around in.

• Metal palette with pans

My metal palette is organised with full pans rather than half pans.

I prefer full pans because they allow the brush to move more freely. With very small pans, I find that a hole forms in the centre as the pigment is used, leaving most of the colour around the edges. Full pans give more space and are easier to use without damaging brushes.

Pan Paints and Tube Paints

Watercolour is usually available in two forms: pans and tubes. The pigment itself is essentially the same, but the form changes how it is handled during painting.

Pan paints are simply watercolours that have been allowed to dry in a small container. Before using them, the surface is reactivated with water, and the pigment is gradually lifted with the brush.

Because the paint is already dry, pans tend to encourage a slower and more controlled way of working.

Tube paints, on the other hand, contain the same pigment in a fresh and moist form. The paint is squeezed onto the palette and then diluted with water before use. This makes it easier to mix larger quantities of colour when needed.

Many artists use both forms together. Pans are convenient for keeping colours available on the palette, while tubes are useful when fresh pigment or larger mixtures are required.

Why I Prefer Full Pans

When I use pans, I prefer working with full pans rather than half pans.

Half pans are very small, and with regular use, a deep hollow often forms in the centre of the pigment. Most of the colour gradually collects around the edges, which makes it harder to move the brush comfortably across the surface.

Full pans give more room for the brush to move and pick up pigment evenly. This is especially helpful when using natural hair brushes, which should not be forced into very small spaces.

For larger brushes, I usually move to palettes that have larger wells rather than pans.

How I Arrange My Table Before Painting

Before starting a painting, I arrange the table in a very simple and consistent way. Keeping the setup organised helps me focus on observation rather than constantly adjusting materials.

The paper sits directly in front of me. Besides, I place the palette so that the colour can be reached easily while painting.

A tissue is always placed near the palette. I use it constantly to control the amount of water in the brush and to rest brushes while they are not in use.

The water container sits slightly above the palette on the table, so it is easy to reach without interfering with the painting area.

How I Handle Brushes While Painting

I prefer not to leave brushes standing in water, even while I am working.

The only time the brush touches water is when I deliberately pick up water from the container.

When a brush is not in use, I simply place it horizontally on a piece of tissue. The tissue absorbs excess moisture and prevents water from running back toward the ferrule.

I also tend to work with very few brushes, usually two and sometimes three. Limiting the tools helps keep the painting process simple and focused.

Materials Mentioned

Some of the palettes and materials I use in my studio are listed here:

→ View my recommended watercolour supplies

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If You’d Like to Study This More Deeply

If you are interested in exploring observation and watercolour painting more carefully, you can join my online classes and workshops, where we work through painting processes slowly and in detail.

→ Join a class online

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you mix colours directly in your colour palette?

No. I prefer to keep my colour palette clean and use a separate mixing palette. This prevents pigments from becoming muddy and makes it easier to control colour mixtures.

Are pan paints and tube paints different?

The pigment itself is essentially the same. Pan paints are simply watercolours that have been allowed to dry, while tube paints contain the same pigment in a moist form. Tube paints make it easier to mix larger quantities of colour, while pans are convenient for keeping colours ready on a palette.

Can dried watercolour pans be used again?

Yes. Watercolour pans can be re-wetted easily with water and used repeatedly. The pigment reactivates quickly once moisture is applied.

Why do you prefer full pans instead of half pans?

Full pans give more space for the brush to move across the surface. With very small pans, the pigment often develops a deep hollow in the centre, making it harder to pick up colour evenly.

How many brushes do you usually use while painting?

Most of the time, I work with only two brushes, sometimes three. Limiting the number of tools helps keep the painting process simple and focused.