01 / Open surface
Mixing area
A flat area lets colours spread, blend and be adjusted. The available space affects how many mixtures you can prepare at once.
Nobel Creators' Atlas · Accessories
Understand your palettes.
A palette is a working surface for arranging, mixing and controlling colour. Its shape, material and layout affect how paint moves, how easily you judge mixtures and how quickly you can clean up between sessions.
What is an artist's palette?An artist's palette is a surface or container used to hold and mix paint before it is applied to the artwork. Flat palettes provide open mixing space, while palettes with wells separate colours or hold fluid media. The best choice depends on the paint medium, the way you mix and the amount of portability or cleanup you need.
01 · Know the parts
Palette anatomy
A palette is designed around how you separate, combine and access paint. The mixing surface, wells, grip and cover all affect how you work.
Wells · Mixing field · Thumb opening · Outer profile
Wells · Mixing area · Grip
02 / Containment
Wells
Shallow wells keep small amounts of fluid paint or individual colours apart, reducing unwanted mixing and spills.
03 / Handling
Thumb hole or grip
Some palettes are designed to be held while painting. Their weight, balance and grip affect comfort when carried for longer periods.
04 / Storage
Lid or cover
A cover can help protect paint from dust and accidental contact. Whether paint stays workable depends on the medium and the palette design.
Think about your workflow: a palette is not only a container. It should provide enough room for your mixing habits, keep colours organized and suit the consistency of your paint.
02 · Explore the formats
Palette types and layouts
Different palette formats solve different problems. Consider the space you need, how fluid your paint is, whether you travel and how much cleanup you want.
Open mixing space
Flat palette
A broad, flat surface is suited to mixing larger puddles and combining colours freely. It is useful when mixtures need room to spread, but may offer less containment for very fluid paint.
Consider it forAcrylic, oil, gouache and other paints when the palette material is compatible.
Separated colour areas
Palette with wells
Wells keep colours or small pools of paint apart. The shape and depth of each well affect how much paint it holds and how easy it is to access with a brush.
Consider it forWatercolour and other fluid or water-based media, depending on palette design.
Portable colour storage
Watercolour palette box
A compact box combines paint storage with a mixing lid or attached mixing areas. It is convenient for travel and small working setups.
Consider it forWatercolour painting on the go and compact studio use.
Convenient cleanup
Tear-off or disposable palette
A disposable sheet or tear-off surface reduces cleanup between sessions. Check that the surface is intended for the paint medium and will not interfere with mixing.
Consider it forWorkshops, quick studies and sessions where easy cleanup matters.
Moisture-retaining system
Stay-wet palette
A stay-wet design uses a moisture-retaining setup to slow drying of suitable water-based acrylic paint. It is not intended for every medium and requires proper maintenance.
Consider it forAcrylic workflows where keeping paint workable is useful.
Portable working station
Pochade or travel palette
Compact palettes may be integrated into a travel painting setup. Size, lid security, weight and how the palette sits during use all affect practicality.
Consider it forPlein-air work and artists who mix while moving between locations.
03 · Choose the surface
Palette materials
Surface finish, weight, durability and cleanability matter as much as the palette shape. Match the material to your medium and care routine.
Smooth, non-porous feel
Ceramic and porcelain
A glazed surface is generally easy to wipe clean and provides a smooth mixing area. Ceramic palettes can be heavier and are more fragile than many plastic options.
Consider it forWatercolour, gouache and other compatible paints where weight is not a concern.
Lightweight and portable
Plastic
Plastic palettes are often light and easy to carry. Surface finish and design vary, so test how paint spreads and whether stains or residue remain after cleaning.
Consider it forTravel kits, classrooms and general-purpose use.
Traditional flat palette
Wood
Wooden palettes are often associated with oil painting and hand-held mixing. They may require appropriate preparation and care, and should be used according to the manufacturer’s guidance.
Consider it forOil painting and compatible studio workflows.
Smooth mixing plane
Glass or enamelled surface
A smooth non-porous surface can make colour mixing and cleanup easier. Glass is heavy and breakable, so a stable, protected setup matters.
Consider it forStudio mixing where a flat, cleanable surface is preferred.
Durable, portable option
Metal
Metal palettes vary by coating and design. The surface finish determines how paint behaves and how easy it is to clean, so check suitability for the medium.
Consider it forPortable palettes and compatible paints, depending on coating.
Material is only one factor: shape, surface finish, paint chemistry, cleaning method and the palette maker’s instructions all affect performance.
04 · Match the medium
Choose a palette for your paint
Watercolour, gouache, acrylic, oil and ink behave differently. Use the table as a starting point, then follow the instructions for your specific paint and palette.
| Medium | Palette features to consider | Why it helps | Check before use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watercolour | Wells plus a smooth mixing area | Separates concentrated colours and provides space to dilute washes. | Wells should be easy to access and the surface easy to rinse. |
| Gouache | Flat area or wells with generous mixing space | Allows opaque mixtures to be adjusted and spread for colour checks. | Clean before dried paint builds up; keep mixtures covered when appropriate. |
| Acrylic | Flat palette or compatible stay-wet system | Provides room for blending; a moisture-retaining design can slow drying for suitable acrylics. | Do not let paint dry onto surfaces unless they are designed for easy removal. |
| Oil paint | Stable flat palette with suitable surface | Open space supports larger mixtures and extended blending. | Follow material compatibility, solvent handling and cleanup instructions. |
| Ink and fluid media | Small wells or a non-absorbent mixing surface | Containment helps keep fluid mixtures separate and easier to control. | Confirm the palette surface is compatible with the particular ink or medium. |
Important: no single palette is ideal for every paint. Choose by medium first, then consider space, portability, cleanup and storage.
05 · Work with intention
Organize your mixing space
A clear layout helps prevent accidental contamination, makes colour comparisons easier and leaves room to adjust mixtures before they reach the artwork.
Organize before mixing
Keep colours in a repeatable order
Build a predictable layout
Arrange colours in a consistent sequence, such as warm colours together and cool colours together. A repeatable layout makes it easier to find pigments and compare mixtures between sessions.
Protect clean mixtures
Leave room to mix
Keep unmixed paint separate from active mixtures. Reserve a few clean areas for neutralizing colours, adjusting value and preparing larger batches.
Check the colour in context
Test before applying
Paint a small swatch on the intended surface. Paint can look different on the palette than it does when spread thinly, applied opaquely or allowed to dry.
06 · Care for the surface
Cleaning and maintenance
The correct cleaning method depends on the paint and palette material. Prompt, compatible cleanup helps prevent buildup and keeps the mixing surface usable.
Clean before they dry
Water-based paints
Follow the paint and palette instructions. Rinse or wipe compatible water-based paints away before they harden, and dry the palette before storage where appropriate.
Avoid dried buildup
Acrylic paint
Acrylic can become difficult to remove once dry. Clean promptly or use a palette system designed for the way you work. Follow disposal guidance and do not wash large amounts of paint into drains.
Use the correct cleanup method
Oil paint
Oil paint and its associated cleaning materials require medium-specific handling. Follow product labels for solvents, ventilation, cloth storage and waste disposal.
Keep the workspace safe: do not mix cleaning products, and follow the label instructions for paints, solvents and palette materials. Keep residue and tools away from food surfaces.
07 · Start with a routine
Set up a palette step by step
A repeatable setup saves time and makes it easier to recreate colours. Arrange, mix, test and clean in a way that suits your medium.
01
Choose the layout
Use wells for separated colours or open space for larger mixtures. Make sure the palette is stable and comfortable to reach.
02
Arrange your colours
Place colours in a consistent order and keep enough distance between them to avoid accidental contamination.
03
Reserve mixing space
Leave a clean area for combining colours, adjusting value and making small test mixtures before painting.
04
Test and clean
Check a swatch on your painting surface. Clean the palette using the method recommended for the paint and palette material.
Good habit: make a small test mixture and record the proportions or colours if you need to recreate it later.
08 · Choose what suits you
Find a palette for your workflow
Start with how you paint, then compare the palette features that make the biggest difference to your setup.
Look for wells
I mix fluid washes
A palette with wells can keep concentrated colour separate while giving you a place to dilute it into washes.
Consider it forWatercolour or other compatible fluid media.
Look for flat space
I mix large colour batches
A broad, flat palette provides room to combine more paint and adjust a mixture without crowding.
Consider it forLarger acrylic, oil or gouache mixtures when compatible.
Look for portability
I paint away from the studio
A compact, secure palette with a cover can make transport easier. Consider weight, spill resistance and whether it can be cleaned on the go.
Consider it forTravel painting and plein-air sessions.
Check the system
I need paint to stay workable
A palette designed to retain moisture may slow drying for suitable acrylic paint. It does not prevent drying indefinitely and is not appropriate for every medium.
Consider it forAcrylic painting where the system is designed for that paint.
Check surface and format
I want quick cleanup
A smooth, compatible surface or tear-off format may reduce cleanup effort. The right choice depends on the paint and how you dispose of residue.
Consider it forClasses, studies and short sessions.
Check material compatibility
I want a dedicated mixing surface
A durable, smooth palette can provide a repeatable mixing surface. Confirm its finish suits the paint and the cleaning method you intend to use.
Consider it forStudio workflows with a consistent medium.
Keep exploring
Choose tools that support your process.
Explore Nobel paints, brushes and other Atlas guides to build a setup that suits your medium and working style.
