Arranging a Watercolor Palette Layout

QUESTION: Hi Susie, I have a new palette with 32 wells and I don't know where to start or how to arrange the paint in my new palette. Is there a formula or a map or a chart to help with adding colors? Also, is it OK to put more than one color in the same well? Thanks, Mary Y

SUSIE'S REPLY: Hello Mary!
Setting up a new palette can be such fun! I love to see the bright colors of the fresh watercolor paint as I fill each well. But I admit it can be a little intimidating too.
The arrangement of the watercolor paints on your palette will become a personal choice for you as you continue your artistic journey. Possibly even more important than a formula for particular placement is that the watercolor paint be in the same familiar location so you can find it easily without guessing which paint is which while you are painting.
My personal choice is to place my paint in a sort or chromatic arrangement, similar to how the colors fall on the color wheel.
My suggested palette layouts can be found on my web site.
Basic Palette Layout & Expanded Palette Layout

Happy Painting!
SUSIE

Color Wheel Placements

QUESTION: Susie,
I have both the Susie Short basic 7 set of split primaries and the "intermediate" set from Daniel Smith. My question is how do I know where the intermediate set fits in on the color wheel--in other words, is there a way to tell if Quinacridone Coral is warm or cool? Do you have a handout that shows how those colors fit in?
Thanks --- Judi

SUSIE'S REPLY: Hi Judy, Thanks for your question. There is not a hand out for placement of the intermediate colors on a color wheel. I do have a recommended palette layout for watercolors on my website that includes most of my colors by Daniel Smith. (It's rotated for easy printing.)
One of the best ways to determine if a watercolor paint is warmer or cooler than it's neighbor is to paint a little postage stamp size swatch of each and compare them. If you still can't visually see the difference, try mixing a secondary color with it. For example: If you were testing a red (like Quinacridone Coral!) mix an orange. If you get a pretty clean orange instead of slightly dirty looking orange then the red doesn't contain blue and would be considered a warm red. For secondary colors you simply need to visually compare them to each other, no mixing required.
BTW: Quinacridone Coral is a nice warm red. Compare it to Quin Rose or Quin Pink which both have a touch of blue in them.
HINT: If you make swatches of all the colors you plan to put in your palette you can arrange these little color swatches in the order you want to place them in your palette. Its easy to make adjustments and rearrange them "before " you squeeze out the paints.

I hope that helps! Thanks again for your question!
SUSIE
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Palette & paint question...

QUESTION: Hi Susie, I'm confused. Some books say to only use dabs of fresh paint and others talk about keeping paints moist in their palette wells. But what do you do when they dry in the wells? Also, I am confused about what artists do once they finish a painting and move on to another. If I try to wash the paint off, the water gets in the wells and wastes the good paint. What do most artists do with the leftover paint in the mixing areas of their palette? Thank you. Mary

SUSIE'S REPLY: Mary - There are several answers to your paint and palette questions.

• Many artists prefer to squeeze out fresh watercolor paint for each new painting and simply discard unused and polluted colors when they finish.
• Others choose to squeeze a generous amount of paint into the wells and carefully wipe the mixing area with a sponge or paper towel being careful not to get extra water in the wells when cleaning their palette. They also try to keep the paint moist between painting sessions by misting them with water and/or placing a damp sponge in the mixing area before they cover the palette.
• I prefer to paint with dry paint (tube paint squeezed into the wells and allowed to dry hard) and I rejuvinate the colors with a wet brush as I need them. By allowing the paint to dry I have far less wasted and polluted paint washing down the drain.

My painting methods and techniques do differ from many of the watercolor books and instructors. I don't think there is a wrong method, if it works!

As for what to do with the left over paint in the mixing area. I prefer to discard it. Unless I'm painting a series using the same colors I'll want to start with fresh colors anyway. AND I don't clean my palette immediately (while the paint is damp) I like to wait until the next time I paint then wipe away the dried used paint with a damp paper towel or a sponge. This allows me to pick up any splashes of dried paint that may be sitting on top of another color in my palette with a dampened brush. I find I don't have as much waste this way. I only take my palette to the sink and rinse it when it is really full of messy polluted cross-overs. Even then I have very little paint loss.

I hope that helps. You should find what works best for you and your painting style... it just takes practice and LOTS of it!
Good luck and enjoy the process!
SUSIE
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