In a recent post, I shared my Perfect Watercolor Palette, but I couldn’t let my gouache palette feel left out. So here’s another one for the color nerds out there!

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How to Setup a ‘Dried Gouache Palette’

I’ve shared extensively on this topic- Read here.

Does Brand Matter?

As long as it’s professional or artist quality (not student grade) it will work fine. Companies use different marketing terms, like Winsor & Newton calls it “Designer” gouache (still professional). But if you ever see “student grade,” avoid it for a travel palette. Student grade gouache like Caran D’ache, Miya HIMI, Arteza, Schmincke Akademie, (and more) – are not suitable for a dried gouache palette. They have major issues rewetting, they are too transparent, they crumble more, and they will make the experience unpleasant. But I’m not saying you can’t enjoy those in the studio if that’s your thing. We are talking about a very specific use here.

Instead, opt for colors from any professional quality brand (or mix and match). The paint will last a long time, and it’s worth the extra investment! High quality brands I love: Daniel Smith, M. Graham., Winsor & Newton, Shinhan, Schmincke Horadam, Holbein, Daler Rowney. Any of these will give you a much better experience. I’ve written extensive reviews about all the brands I’ve mentioned, you can see them in my Gouache Database.

As I mentioned above, certain colors tend to crumble a bit more than others if they get too low in the pan. In my experience these are:

• Lemon yellow
• Burnt umber
• Any black
• Cobalt blue

So it’s important to keep those topped up all year.

Choosing Gouache Colors for a Travel Palette

Just like with my watercolor palette, I like a core set of primaries plus earth tones and some convenience mixtures.

The first thing I do is swatch whatever I currently have in my palette, to remind myself of what is there, and then select anything I can’t live without. There are a few colors that live permanently on the palette, like ultramarine blue and lemon yellow.

Then, I get out my swatch cards for ALL of my tubes and start choosing what I want to fill in the rest. This is sometimes quick or sometimes laborious, but I always enjoy it!

By now I have a pretty good idea of the colors I own, but if you are new to the process I highly recommend making mixing charts for as many colors as you can. There are many types of mixing charts, but my favorite is the “2 Color Mixing Strips” as I demonstrate in this video. (I use the same process for watercolor and gouache). A long time ago I made square grids (below, right) but it was too tedious when I started buying a lot of brands. It looks cool though!

My 2025 Travel Gouache Colors

In my travel palettes, I usually use Winsor & Newton, Shinhan, Schmincke Horadam. These are the three brands I have the most experience with and feel most comfortable with. I have several of the same colors in each brand, and I use them interchangeably when I refill the pans.

• Titanium White aka “permanent white” (BUY)
• Daniel Smith Buff Titanium (BUY)
• W&N Ultramarine Blue (BUY)
• W&N Cadmium-free Lemon Yellow (BUY)
• W&N Quinacridone Magenta (BUY)
• W&N Cobalt Turquoise Light (BUY)
• W&N Perylene Black (BUY)
• Shinhan Burnt Umber (BUY)
• Shinhan Shadow Green Pale (BUY)
• Shinhan Lilac (BUY)
• Shinhan Burnt Sienna (BUY)
• Schmincke Horadam Helio Turquoise (BUY)
• Schmincke Horadam English Red (BUY)
• Schmincke Horadam Titanium Gold Ochre (BUY)

With this palette I can paint whatever I want! These colors offer so much variety in color mixing. Within the palette are a few wonderful limited palettes. I like to pick out 3-4 colors to use in a painting. I can change it up from study to study.

For example, with only 4 colors, see how much variety there is:

Now imagine what you can do with all 12!

Color Alternatives (for different brands)

The best way to find equivalents in different brands is to look for similar pigment numbers. There are some colors that share the same pigment numbers across all brands, so you know you are getting the same hue. But others are harder to match. Sometimes you’ll see the same pigment number but the hue varies slightly. Here are some matches for mine I’ve found:

Blues

• Ultramarine (PB29) is a classic that rarely changes brand-to-brand.
• Phthalo blue varies. Schmincke Horadam “Helio Turquoise” is PB16, which is commonly known as “phthalo turquoise.”
  • Daniel Smith “Phthalo Blue Turquoise”
• Winsor & Newton Cobalt Turquoise Light (PG50) is my favorite version, for the strong opacity and mixing strength:
  • Daniel Smith “Cobalt Teal Blue” (this seems a bit more green)
  • Shinhan “Cobalt Green Pale” (not as opaque)
• Shinhan Lilac (PV15, PW6) is a warmish lilac/lavender, not too pink and not too cool:
  • Daniel Smith “Wisteria” (maybe a little more pink?)

Greens

• Shadow Green Pale (PG7, PBK11, PW18) I haven’t seen an equivalent of this one. It could be closely matched by combining perylene black and white.
• Perylene black (PBK31) is another unique color. You could get a similar hue by adding black to a dark cool green.

Yellows

• Shinhan Lemon Yellow (PY3) is sometimes called Hansa Yellow:
  • Winsor & Newton “Lemon Yellow”
  • M Graham “Hansa Yellow”
  • Daniel Smith “Hansa Yellow Light”
• Schmincke Horadam Titanium Gold Ochre (PBR24) is unique. I have never found a perfect match. Here are some similar hues (but they aren’t perfect matches):
  • Shinhan “Permanent Yellow Deep” or “Naples Yellow”
  • Winsor & Newton “Naples Yellow”
  • Daniel Smith “Chrome Titanate Yellow”

Reds

• Winsor & Newton Quinacridone Magenta (PR122) is usually similar across brands, but might lean slightly more red or blue.
• Schmincke Horadam English Red (PR101, PR4):
  • Winsor & Newton “Red Ochre”
  • Daniel Smith “Indian Red”

Earthy colors (burnt sienna and burnt umber) are similar across most brands so you shouldn’t have an issue matching those.

Current Favorite Gouache Palettes + Supplies

Here is a brief list of some of my favorite watercolor palettes and tools. See more of my favorite supplies here.

• Portable Painter Classic (BUY) –
  • If shopping in the US, buy directly from Portable Painter. Use code “SARAH” (all caps) for 10% off.
  • I added the “expansion” pans on the side where the brush usually goes for the buff titanium & white. (BUY)
• Portable Painter Micro (BUY) for my set of 6 core colors. Or you can add expansion packs which allows you to fit more colors (BUY)
• Travel Brushes by Craftamo (BUY) – coming March 16, 2025
• Pocket Sketchbook: Stillman & Birn Beta 3.5×5.5″ (BUY)

Painting while I travel has become my favorite way to connect with new places and stay more present in an otherwise busy time. So I have to give myself the best chance of success by making it as easy as possible to get my kit out and start. This is why I love self-contained palettes like the Portable Painter Classic. I’ve been using it for years, and SO honored that I am now an ambassador for this awesome brand!

Watch the Video:

If you had to choose 12 colors, what would they be?