Custom Watercolor Palette

Before I even started setting up a palette, I checked what watercolors I already had, then watched tons of videos about watercolor art hauls and swatches and ordered paints I’d love to have for my own palette.

swatch cards

I used watercolor paper from an old pad that already had stains from paint on it so it was no waste of good paper. I measured everything out and with a black (waterproof) marker I made a line to see the transparency of the paints.
I guess I made too many cards in the end but so I don’t run out too quickly.

process

the process of deciding what colors I want to have in my palette was the most difficult thing. Some were very similar because I love cold reds and blues so I tried several similar or the same colors but by different brands.

the palette I used is by Schmincke a 12 half pan tin. But I took out the inner part to get even more paints in it. I think the double amount even.
I named each empty half pan using a fineliner for glass and other smooth surfaces. On the bottom of the pans I stuck a magnet. (Bought a magnet stripe and cut it the length I needed it)

Pans and colors

Filling the pans with the paint tubes was harder than I thought. Some paints were really sticky, especially those from Daniel Smith. Also some paints shrink when they dry, so you have to fill them up again and use a toothpick to get rid of air bubbles.

I mainly chose Schmincke and Daniel Smith but I also ordered 3 tubes by Van Gogh, they have really amazing dusk colors.

The colors I used for my custom palette: