Wet Palette issues
- Thread starter dshavers
- Start date
kathrynloch
New member
lol! He gets a Ravagor if I ever finish the damn thing. 
Thanks! I had the logo made up so might as well put it on some stuff. Okay, /hi-jack. Sorry folks.
Thanks! I had the logo made up so might as well put it on some stuff. Okay, /hi-jack. Sorry folks.
Jbickley00
New member
I use a masterson wet pallete. Keep it wet, and boil the paper. I use the masterson paper, it seems to work a bit better than parchment, which is almost too permeable for me. Also, with the masters paper, when the paint gets unworkable, I just take it off with a palette knife. I use a new sheet every month or so, so I got close to three years worth of paper for like 6 bucks.
dshavers
Member
Ok so I gave it another try this morning using the boiled paper method, and got the same result. The blobs of paint that I add as you can see in the photos seem to stay pretty wet, but as soon as I start mixing colors the paint seems to dry in less than 30 min.
The color on the right is P3 Thrall Flesh, and the color on the right is P3 Coal black and a small amount on Thrall Flesh mixed in on the palette.
The color on the right is P3 Thrall Flesh, and the color on the right is P3 Coal black and a small amount on Thrall Flesh mixed in on the palette.
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kathrynloch
New member
When I go to mix, I get my brush loaded with water (you can also use the other end of the paint brush) mix a little, go back get some more water, mix, and so on until the paint gets to the consistency I want it. Sometimes I'll put two colors reasonably close together and pull some out of one, and start mixing from there. But even then I need to add water with my paintbrush, putting more paint together requires more water.
Because I have fans going in here, my paper does dry out no matter what I do, so every so often I take a dropper bottle and just put a couple of drops here and there - avoiding the paint - to keep the "osmosis" going. lol! Sorry couldn't think of anything else to call it. I've also discovered I need to be neater trimming my paper if I have any that sticks up a little, it dries out very quickly. Yours looks just fine tho.
Because I have fans going in here, my paper does dry out no matter what I do, so every so often I take a dropper bottle and just put a couple of drops here and there - avoiding the paint - to keep the "osmosis" going. lol! Sorry couldn't think of anything else to call it. I've also discovered I need to be neater trimming my paper if I have any that sticks up a little, it dries out very quickly. Yours looks just fine tho.
QuietiManes
New member
After you mix it up, do you leave it all spread out on the paper? It tends to not have a chance to work if it's spread out super thin on the palette. If you push it all back into itself, making a deeper puddle, it might work better, if that's where the problem lies.
dshavers
Member
That is pretty much exactly what I do. I'll keep your idea in mind when I'm trying it next. I think thinning it a tad bit on the palette might also help, as kathrynloch suggested.
I have been trying to create wet palette too. But have run into a new problem (I think). The paints seem to lose a bit of water and leave the pigments back on the paper (I think that is what happens).
In regard to retaining water in the box I found washcloth to be great for holding water - but bought some sponges today too to try out. (and some white washcloths if it turns out that is the best way to go).
To show what I mean by the pigments being left back I have attached an image. look at the far right bladck and the one in the middle of the dark blue and the big black.
View attachment 14325
Any ideas what I am doing wrong?
In regard to retaining water in the box I found washcloth to be great for holding water - but bought some sponges today too to try out. (and some white washcloths if it turns out that is the best way to go).
To show what I mean by the pigments being left back I have attached an image. look at the far right bladck and the one in the middle of the dark blue and the big black.
View attachment 14325
Any ideas what I am doing wrong?
QuietiManes
New member
Is the paper making contact with the cloth/sponge? It looks like it's lifted up, all around the edges. Cut the parchment smaller, to fit in the tray, so it lays flat. It needs to be in constant contact, not just pushed down occasionally.
If that's not the issue, it looks like your paint is separating, which would be due to diluting with too much water. Basically, when you thin it out that way, eventually the binder fails and the pigments separate. How much water are you mixing in to your paint? If that's the issue, you just need to start thinning with an acrylic medium as well as water, so it stays homogeneous.
Also, washcloths are meant to absorb water, I guess sponges and paper towels are too, but I don't know how well a washcloth would work, probably not well. So little of the cloth will make contact with the parchment as it will just sit on top of a couple threads.
That's all I can think of at the moment, good luck and nice necro.
If that's not the issue, it looks like your paint is separating, which would be due to diluting with too much water. Basically, when you thin it out that way, eventually the binder fails and the pigments separate. How much water are you mixing in to your paint? If that's the issue, you just need to start thinning with an acrylic medium as well as water, so it stays homogeneous.
Also, washcloths are meant to absorb water, I guess sponges and paper towels are too, but I don't know how well a washcloth would work, probably not well. So little of the cloth will make contact with the parchment as it will just sit on top of a couple threads.
That's all I can think of at the moment, good luck and nice necro.
Thanks for the answer the paper in in full contact (cut another to fit better). Might be me thinning it too much - but I use the same ratios as when painting with a normal palette (1:2).
I have bought a few sponges and will try those instead - the washcloth just seemed to absorb and hold water really well - and stay really nicely wet (as well as keep the contact with the parchment (a thing my original try with a sponge did badly).
It might also be the paper I use - so I have bought another brand and will give that a go (the water could make the paper crumble.)
p.s thanks for the tips - I love how people on these forums are so helpful - it is the best environment for improving and learning!
I have bought a few sponges and will try those instead - the washcloth just seemed to absorb and hold water really well - and stay really nicely wet (as well as keep the contact with the parchment (a thing my original try with a sponge did badly).
It might also be the paper I use - so I have bought another brand and will give that a go (the water could make the paper crumble.)
p.s thanks for the tips - I love how people on these forums are so helpful - it is the best environment for improving and learning!
skraaal
New member
Ok, did a test with another type of paper (think it has a wax finish) that makes the paint lay differently and most important of all it doesn't clump - so that was the reason.
Now I just need to figure out was is best - sponge or washcloth
You do not want to use the type of paper that has a wax finish. If you do, you'll end up having bits of the wax substance come off into you paint. This can end up ruining your paint job.
Think I spoke wrong - the paper is 100% cellulose (don't know if it actually waxed it just makes water gather into little pearls). (p.s it is baking paper).
On the same note I testes sponges, wash cloth and paper towel. They all seem to work just as well. The paper towel shoulders a bit, and the sponges i hard to form - so I think the wash cloth is really great (since it is easy to cut to a form and layer)
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QuietiManes
New member
Some baking parchment has a dull side and a smoother, satin side, just from the way it's made, nothing added. Any wax or oil on the parchment will prevent the water osmosis as well.
As long as your parchment is staying wet, for hours and hours, not drying out, whatever you are using underneath is working perfect. I have no idea what's going on with your wet palette, it is very odd. Was it just bits of parchment coming off? It generally doesn't last long, you'll want to change it before it starts to break down. Should last a couple days but I know lots of folks throw it out after every session, some even use paper towels as well, tossing the lot daily. But I digress...
As long as your parchment is staying wet, for hours and hours, not drying out, whatever you are using underneath is working perfect. I have no idea what's going on with your wet palette, it is very odd. Was it just bits of parchment coming off? It generally doesn't last long, you'll want to change it before it starts to break down. Should last a couple days but I know lots of folks throw it out after every session, some even use paper towels as well, tossing the lot daily. But I digress...
Thank you then I can use my baking paper with a calm mind
(can't seem to figure out which side is which though): It was just bits of parchment coming off - I did a test without paint and it did the same thing when I brushed on it. I talked to a guy who creates paper today at work (as a medical student you meet a lot of different people) and he told me that I should check that since the fibers is shorter in the paper I used (which is used for wrapping food) and therefore could be ripped - if that was a problem I should try normal baking paper. (He knew nothing about painting just the composition of the paper).
Thanks for the help and tips. (I now have an awesome wet palette for just about 2€)
QuietiManes
New member
That makes sense, I guess, the durability required for a sandwich wrapper versus a baking sheet would probably mean it would be made a little better. Neat!
Anyway, glad it all worked out.
Anyway, glad it all worked out.
OLDCell
New member
Never heard of boiling the parchment paper, I'm just using none waxy grease proof paper for cooking.
I give it a quick rinse using filtered water and I use distilled water in my container which is just an old takeaway plastic tub from the Chinese.
Kitchen paper towel folded to correct size and placed in bottom of the container, a small amount of distilled water to soak, and then the grease proof paper placed on top and pressed down. You don't want the water to soak right through, you just want it to feel cool to the touch.
When you add your paints and then mix you still need to use a thinner, I just use distilled water again to thin out the paint on the palette. I also have a dry palette and I use paint from the wet palette to add to my dry palette instead of getting more paint from the pot.
I give it a quick rinse using filtered water and I use distilled water in my container which is just an old takeaway plastic tub from the Chinese.
Kitchen paper towel folded to correct size and placed in bottom of the container, a small amount of distilled water to soak, and then the grease proof paper placed on top and pressed down. You don't want the water to soak right through, you just want it to feel cool to the touch.
When you add your paints and then mix you still need to use a thinner, I just use distilled water again to thin out the paint on the palette. I also have a dry palette and I use paint from the wet palette to add to my dry palette instead of getting more paint from the pot.
Einion
New member
:good: Exactly.
I'd never heard of boiling the parchment paper until recently either, but this type of product obviously varies greatly - some benefit from it, others don't need it.
Distilled water is a great choice for stay-wets BTW if you have it available, it can greatly extend the time it takes for the reservoir to go funky with mould and/or bacteria.
Einion
