Wet palette issues

[nakos]

So last night I decided to try my hand at using a wet pallet. I gathered my supplies, the plastic packaging and sponge from a Dark Miniatures mini and some Reynolds Parchment paper. I loved the ability to drag colors towards each other and blend them or using my brush to load and drop paint into each other.

 

I don't remember where I saw the easy build with lid wet pallet construction thread here but it talked about using the sponge in the miniature package and to keep the water level just below the top edge of the sponge. In all the threads about construction it was mentioned over and over again to make sure to wet both sides of the parchment paper.

 

Construction went well. It was easy enough to trim the sponge and the paper. I filled the palette with water and then soaked and squeezed all the air out of the sponge before placing the sponge in the palette. I poured off enough water to keep the water about a 1/4" below the top of the sponge. I then dipped the parchment paper for a few seconds in a cup of water to make sure I didn't get the curling edges effect.

 

 My problem is that paint still dried at the normal rate as if using a dry well palette. Did I use the wrong kind of sponge? Paper? Water level too low?

 

Help? As I loved the way I could quickly mix glazes on the fly to adjust what my colors are doing.

Edited June 4, 2014 by nakos

[ub3r_n3rd]

Check out this tutorial on Massive Voodoo about it and see if it looks similar to what you have.

 

It could be the type of paper you have, you may need to boil it for 10-15 minutes to break down the fibers in the paper to allow the water from the sponge to seep upwards.

[Doug Sundseth]

1) I never boil my parchment paper. I do boil the special wet palette paper that comes with the Masterson palette, but I hardly ever use that.

 

2) It sounds like you need more water. With the Masterson sponge, I keep the water perhaps as much as a half millimeter below the top of the sponge. It's also a very thin sponge. If the sponge is floating, you might have too much water; otherwise don't worry about it.

 

3) For a ghetto wet palette, I'll often use a folded (normally twice) paper towel rather than a sponge.

 

HTH

[CashWiley]

Reynolds paper just needs to be soaked in normal water for a minute.

 

I found sponges more trouble than they're worth and use (good quality) paper towels now.

 

edit: I think Doug just called me ghetto. Thug life!

Edited June 4, 2014 by CashWiley

[Serenity]

I use Reynold's parchment paper and find it has a tendency to dry if I don't keep the water high on the sponge.  I generally keep it at or just below the level of the paper (the top of the sponge).  It could also be your sponge isn't large enough, but that's just a guess.  I'm using a large, but thin sponge in a Masterson's Handy Palette. 

 

If I keep the palette closed and remember to top off the water every few days, the paint would last a long time without drying out.  Often, I don't get back to it often enough and have to start a new paint puddle if the old one has gotten chunky.  I'm also using tiny amounts of paint and that also contributes to drying out more quickly. 

[nakos]

U3brN3rd, yes that's the kind of wet palette I'm trying to make work.

 

I'll fill the water level higher, right up to the top of the sponge and try soaking the paper in water for a min before trying to boil the paper.

 

Thanks.

[MissMelons]

U3brN3rd, yes that's the kind of wet palette I'm trying to make work.

 

I'll fill the water level higher, right up to the top of the sponge and try soaking the paper in water for a min before trying to boil the paper.

 

Thanks.

My wet pallet cost me about four dollars to make, with a wonderful foam donation from bonwirn. I use a shallow glass Tupperware container from Walmart.

[ShadowRaven]

I use a plastic sandwich container and shop towels for a sponge. I've also got a couple pieces of foam that I've cut to fit so I can transport minis I am working on inside the palette safely. 

[Talae]

I have been using a baby wipe travel container with a good paper towel folded a couple times. I pour water on the paper towel until it is soaked, then put the parthment paper on top-pat it down-then flip over and repeat. Seems to work great.

[Heisler]

Reynolds paper just needs to be soaked in normal water for a minute.

 

I found sponges more trouble than they're worth and use (good quality) paper towels now.

 

edit: I think Doug just called me ghetto. Thug life!

 

Considering you drink scotch on the rocks, I think that's accurate.   

[ShadowRaven]

ain't nothin wrong with scotch on the rocks. Water is best served in cube form surrounded by whiskey

[Heisler]

ain't nothin wrong with scotch on the rocks. Water is best served in cube form surrounded by whiskey

Another heathen that does not appreciate good scotch. A splash of water is okay but even a single ice cube dilutes this magical elixir far to much. I'll not be sharing any of my 18 year single malts with you! You probably don't even own a set of scotch glasses.

[MissMelons]

 

ain't nothin wrong with scotch on the rocks. Water is best served in cube form surrounded by whiskey

Another heathen that does not appreciate good scotch. A splash of water is okay but even a single ice cube dilutes this magical elixir far to much. I'll not be sharing any of my 18 year single malts with you! You probably don't even own a set of scotch glasses.

/grabs her scotch glasses

 

I do!!!

[Talae]

Glasses? That implies that I need more than one. You don't have to clean it if you just continuously use it 24/7.

[MissMelons]

Glasses? That implies that I need more than one. You don't have to clean it if you just continuously use it 24/7.

Obviously you need two, one for yourself and onefor the second serving.