Ah, the painter's palette. Probably the most romantic implement in the painter's arsenal. However, did you know that some of the most famous artists in history didn't use them? That's right. Monet used wads of old newspaper, and Picasso used dinner plates! Like most artist tools, palettes come in a variety of flavors. The one shown on the left is the standard wood palette. This particular one is made of mahogany wood. If you buy an untreated wooden palette, be sure to rub it down with linseed oil before putting paint on it, or the wood will absorb the natural oils contained in the paint.
	This particular palette is made of a clear acrylic material. Some artists prefer these clear palettes to wooden ones, due to their ease of cleaning. There are many schools of thought as to which type of palette makes it easier to discern hues of color. My advice to you, try them both - experiment. Make sure that in the end you select a palette that is comfortable and easy to use.
Palettes also come in paper form (not pictured). These disposable palettes are great, as you can simply pitch them when you are done with a session.
If you buy a portable easel (often called a "box easel"), they often come with a palette tucked away inside the fold-away case. This is great, as you don't need to lug a palette around with you on your field trips for plein air work.