Using Acrylics in the heat! - Making your own Wet Palette

It's well over 30 degrees as I write this, so I thought it was a great time to introduce wet palettes to those that don't yet know what a huge difference they can make to painting with acrylic paints in the heat.

Acrylic paints dry very quickly, and even quicker when it's hot. A cheap wet-palette (such as my Jucoci one shown here) or an even cheaper home-made alternative can make a huge difference and allow paints to stay wet for up to a week or so - useful even if it isn't hot!

Here's how to make a simple wet palette with some readily available items:

1. An ice cream tub or similar. A takeaway tub or shallow storage box works fine - I just seem to be on a diet of ice cream right now in this heat.

2. Kitchen towel (several sheets) or sponge. I have marked this by tracing round the tub to enable me to cut it to size. Once this is done I will wet this with cold water. This will keep a certain amount of moisture in the air inside the tub.

3. Parchment paper, paper pallete, tracing paper or similar (I have used glassine paper which is used to wrap pictures safely as it was to hand) This will be used as the palette itself. Trace round the tub and cut to shape, then place on top of the damp kitchen towel. Paints can then be placed directly on this for use.

4. Lid. Store the tub with the lid on when not in use, preferably somewhere cool, or even in the fridge.

   

You can now start painting using your home made wet palette! Enjoy!