Get rid of water beads in your watercolour palette

 

Does this sound familiar? We have a brand new metal tin with brand new watercolours inside. We are brimming with anticipation to start mixing colours. We bring those colours to the mixing area…but soon, all of our mixes turn into small water beads rather than a big puddle. Why do these beads form? How to get a smooth mixing area?

Watercolour palette mixing areas are covered by an enamel layer, which tends to be covered by their factory finishes when they are new. After a while, mixing colours will eventually remove this shiny film, and the enamel will produce big smooth puddles of watercolours. If you, like me, like to start immediately, here is how to get read of those pesky beads quicker while protecting the palette.

I hope these tips help you enjoy your new watercolour palette and the mixes you will create. Happy painting!

DOs 👍

It all comes down to getting rid of the shiny surface. This can be done by softly removing the film and creating a slightly less shiny surface. I have successfully used two non-destructive methods to achieve this:

  • rubbing a simple white plastic, rubber, or kneading eraser on the palette. This is minimally abrasive, and it will slightly remove the even surface. Any brand of eraser will do. Just rub your mixing areas in your watercolour tin. When seen against the light, you will see that the rubbed areas are less shiny, which is exactly what you want.
  • Use baking powder/baking soda and an old toothbrush or non-abrasive cloth, such as microfiber. Never use a toothbrush still in use for this. Microfiber cloths can be used to clean glasses or screens. There are microfiber cloths to clean windows or drinking glasses, usually bigger than those provided with reading glasses. Mix a teaspoon of baking powder with a few drops of water to make a mix. Rub this mix on the mixing areas of the watercolour tin without applying pressure. Rinse with warm water or a wet cloth. Make sure you dry your palette well to avoid rust.
  • Use an acid-free cleaner for enamelled or ceramic surfaces such as bathtubs, porcelain baths, or kitchen sinks. Link to Amazon Germany: https://amzn.to/3GEAHxQ

🚫 DON’T

 

We are trying to clean but protect the enamel of the watercolour tin, so avoid using products that can scratch or damage the surface. So…

  • do not put your new watercolour tin in the dishwashing machine. The chemicals used in the dishwashing powders or tabs will seriously damage the delicate enamel layer. The tin will also be in contact with water for a whole cycle (sometimes longer than 1h), which can cause the metal to rust.
  • do not use abrasive liquids or creams on your watercolour tin, as these will make the surface porous and damage the enamel. If the surface is now porous or rough, colours will remain on the palette rather than wash off, leading to stains and difficulty in mixing. Some of the products NOT to use in this category are Barkeepers Friend, CIF scouring milk, or cream cleaner, a few of the most well-known brands. These are great products for other purposes; just keep them away from delicate enamel watercolour tins.

 

I hope this brings you joy with your new watercolour palettes. If you want to receive tips and tricks like this directly into your inbox, sign up to the low volume Newsletter by clicking here https://www.gardeniafair.com/newsletter. I also send around news about shop updates and promotions, online and in-person workshops, book reviews, museum visits and art recommendations Thanks for checking in. Hope to see you back here soon.