I might be one of the few people who need to specify liquid gouache vs. dried gouache palette setups when I talk to others – because I use both regularly! My dried gouache palette is not as common as I thought.
When I share videos about my palettes on my YouTube channel I get so many questions about why, how, what – it made me realize that it’s been a long time since I shared this type of setup. Today we are talking about airtight palettes for liquid gouache.
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There are many names I’ve seen for this type of palette:
- Watercolor box
- Airtight palette
- Leak-proof palette
- Palette box
The list goes on.
Most importantly is that these palettes keep the gouache in liquid form. Beware: they aren’t all made equally – some might have a slow air leak, or not keep the colors separated very well. The silicone seals on the lids might be of various thicknesses and effect the performance. You may need to try a couple until you find one that suits your needs.
These are the ones I’ve used successfully:
Studio Essentials Foldable Bucket Brush Washer (12 Wells)
Buy this palette.
This is the weirdest name for a palette box, but OK. It is one of my favorites because it’s compact and VERY airtight. It comes with the collapsable water dish, and the mixing tray is on the underside of the lid.
I’ve kept my gouache in there for several months and never had any of them dry out.
In fact it’s so airtight that I think people tend to have issues with mold – which is why I shared this video about keeping the palettes mold-free.
Airtight Palette Box (24 Wells)
This is one of my oldest palette boxes (which is usually marketed online as a watercolor box).
The lid is tight and the wells are deep (except for a couple at one end). It’s great if you like a lot of colors.
Buy this palette.*
(I am not affiliated with Amazon but it’s the only place I can find it)
*Note: I’ve noticed that every few months the manufacturer names of these palettes change. If this one in particular is no longer made, just search for “watercolor box 24 well” or similar.
Airtight Palette Box (12 Large Wells)
And now we’ve come to my new palette, (and quickly becoming my favorite). This is a another 12-well palette box, but the wells are HUGE. I can fit my largest brushes in these wells, which is fantastic.
Being able to use larger brushes with this type of palette is a game changer! Not that I always do, but having the option is nice. Previously I was restricted to smaller brushes, or trying to carefully dip the corner of my big brush into a smaller well, which makes it difficult to scoop out enough paint.
I’ve been loving this palette so much, just seeing it on my desk inspires me to paint more often (especially because it’s so convenient).
However because bigger brushes tend to hold more water, it does mean I need to be careful with NOT introducing too much water into the palette – so I wipe my brush off before dipping. Otherwise the wells fill up with dirty water and my paint gets gross real quick.
Buy this palette*
(I am not affiliated with Amazon but it’s the only place I can find it)
*Note: I’ve noticed that every few months the manufacturer names of these palettes change. If this one in particular is no longer made, just search for “watercolor box 12 well” or similar.
What Colors are Inside
For now, I have my autumn palette in there (All Shinhan):
- Lemon Yellow (BUY)
- Yellow Ochre (BUY)
- Permanent Yellow Deep (BUY)
- Burnt Umber (BUY)
- Opera* (BUY)
- Primary Magenta (BUY)
- Quinacridone Red (BUY)
- Burnt Sienna (BUY)
- Viridian (BUY)
- Cobalt Turquoise (BUY)
- Ultramarine Deep (BUY)
- Prussian Blue (BUY)
- I always use a tube of fresh white gouache on the side. (BUY)
*Note: this color is not lightfast
Tips
- Don’t over-fill. Doing so will make the colors more likely to cross-contaminate. It can also lead to color sticking to the lid, which makes more of a mess.
- Keep the palette upright as often as possible.
- Adding a drop of clove bud oil to each well can help prevent mold, but not guaranteed. The best way to prevent it is to avoid adding too much water to the palette, and to use it regularly. If left alone for a long time, it’s more likely to grow mold. I try to open and use or at least check/stir mine every few days.
Thank you Sarah for some excellent information about palettes for gouache