How to make a puddle on a new watercolor palette, by Andrea Nelson Art on YouTube. 1 min 20 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 20 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Put a drop of clean water in one well with your size 8 round brush. If it pulls into a tight bead instead of spreading, the new surface is still too slick to hold a puddle.
Try the slow route first. Load the brush with water and paint and mix in the wells as normal. After a few sessions the surface dulls and puddles get bigger.
To speed it up, squeeze a small blob of plain toothpaste into a well. Scrub the bottom and sides with an old brush or your fingertip.
Work through every well you plan to use, then rinse the palette under warm water until no toothpaste is left. Let it air dry flat.
Or scuff the surface instead. Wet a corner of a Magic Eraser, squeeze it out, and rub gently inside each well. Rinse well and dry.
Test again with a drop of water. When it spreads into a shallow pool instead of sitting in a bead, the palette is ready.
Load your brush with water, touch it to the pigment, and swirl in the well to build the puddle you mix from. Add water a little at a time.
Tips and common mistakes
Use plain white toothpaste, not a gel or one with scrubbing beads, so you do not leave grit or dye behind.
Rinse thoroughly and let the palette dry before loading paint, since leftover toothpaste dulls colors.
Press lightly with the Magic Eraser, because heavy scrubbing can scratch the plastic and trap pigment.
You can skip all of this and just paint, since most palettes break in on their own after a few sessions.
Questions
Why does water bead up on a new watercolor palette?
New plastic palettes come out of the mold very smooth, so water pulls into a bead instead of spreading. Dulling the surface gives the water something to grip.
Will toothpaste or a Magic Eraser damage the palette?
A light scrub with plain toothpaste or a damp Magic Eraser only dulls the surface, which is what you want. Avoid harsh abrasives and heavy pressure.
How long does it take to break in just by painting?
It depends on how often you paint, but most new palettes start holding wider puddles after a few mixing sessions.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
