Phil gave me a Masterson “Sta-wet” palette for Christmas. I have always just worked on a glass mixing surface I had cut, which I scrape clean with a scraper when the paint is dry. However living in this part of the world where laundry dries before it is even hung on the line I find I waste a huge amount of paint as it dries faster than I can use it and the less I squeeze onto the glass the quicker it dries. Very frustrating indeed!!!! I have been thinking about a sta-wet palette for a while now, but never fancied the idea of working on paper that crinkles like grease proof paper when you wet it. Much to my relief and excitement this one does not!

The key to the success of a Sta-wet palette is proper preparation before use. What is brilliant about this palette is the paper can take a beating as long as it is soaked well beforehand. After you have finished with your palette you can clean off the paint, ‘wash’ the paper, leave it to dry and reuse it. The only thing that may affect you is the paper is no longer pure white and this may affect how you see your colours from an accuracy point of view if you are trying to match something realistically. For me I think it will be fine, but I am not sure I will use it past two ‘sessions’. We’ll see. For now it is all still very experimental.

The key to success with your Sta-Wet Palette is the proper preparation of the palette.

1) Prepare the Sta-Wet Acrylic paper by placing a sheet of Masterson’s acrylic paper in the sink and turn on the HOT water. Wait till paper is fully submerged and then soak for 15 minutes. Soaking longer will not hurt the paper.

2) Wet the sponge. The sponge material has been compressed. Once you moisten it with water, it will expand. The first time you use the sponge, rinse it thoroughly. Then, fully saturate the sponge with COLD water. DO NOT WRING OUT THE SPONGE. Place the wet sponge in the palette tray.

3) Place a wet piece of Sta-Wet Acrylic palette paper on top of the sponge and use a paper towel or soft cloth to wipe off the excess moisture from the top surface of the paper.

4) Place your paints on the paper. The paints will slowly absorb moisture from the sponge, through the paper. Darker paint colours may bleed back into the sponge. Simply wash out the sponge when your project is completed. The paper is strong and will not easily tear, even if a palette knife is used.

5) When you have finished painting, place the lid on the tray, making sure the lid is properly sealed, and your paint will remain fresh for many days (I found it was still good for 2 weeks. I personally have not tried longer).

Working on the paper surface will take some getting used to for me after working for so many years on a hard glass surface. I love the fact that I can leave my colours and colour strings on the palette without worrying about them drying and pick up tomorrow knowing the colours I was using yesterday will still be there moist and pliable and ready to use. And best of all… I won’t have the hassle of colour matching the perfect colour I mixed the day before for my canvas! Short answer is, it’s brilliant and I love it!