I don’t judge anyone for the choices they make regarding their supplies. I don’t apologize for owning a few palettes, lots of tubes of colours and more brushes than I actually need. And yet, I manage to paint almost every single day.

Despite this plethora of “stuff” including reams of paper, I’m neither distracted nor unknowledgeable. And, quite honestly, I enjoy researching pigment data, having done my own lightfast tests.

I honestly don’t think it matters what quantity or quality of supplies that other Artists prefer. I can only comment on my own preferences and what works for me.

Reiterating what Margarete said above me – I also have different palettes for different needs. Not because I feel that more palettes would make me a better painter (or perform more efficiently) but because different palettes serve different purposes for me (one for floral, one for illustration etc)

I don’t see an issue in experimenting with different types of palettes or pigments and just bouncing off Char as well – I’m neither distracted nor knowledgeable by the tools that I have. I research the pigments before I purchase them for use in my paintings and always make sure that I build each palette properly.

However, I do agree with you that the main point for all of us is to enjoy our tools and paint! Having tools and not using them is a shame but each artist works differently so while a limited palette may work for one artist, another artist may not work in the same manner and require a different approach.

For the first year I painted in watercolors, in class I was limited to aurelian, cobalt blue, and alizarin crimson. We used a size 28 golden fleece giant by Cheap Joe and a small synthetic about a size 5. We were encouraged to get arches paper or similar artist quality paper. We used a cheap thin plastic palette. I learned a lot, but glad to have moved on to more colors and brushes. Each addition has been for a purpose after a trial period.

Yup..we are all different in our needs and desires and talents……30 years ago I went to a night school for art. Our tutor was a formally taught artiist that had attended Goldsmiths College in London…..if painting plein air he carried a metal palette,but for studio and classroom old plates were the order of the day…why?,because that was what they used at college…….

Geoff

I bet I will be able to find some nice palettes here in China

Yup! I’m sure there’ll be all kinds to choose from… watch for good enamelling on the metal palettes.

Your limited colour choices suit your style beautifully. The direction your more recent work has taken is exciting and fresh. But your palette wouldn’t make for yummy looking fruit in still lifes or vibrant petals in florals, though.

Like you, if I find something that simply won’t work for me, I give it away to someone who’d enjoy it. I remember being really excited about D. Smith’s interference colours and bought a few of them. I used them once. I had absolutely no interest in painting everything with iridescence! But, a friend does a lot of hand painted greeting cards and loved them. They’re hers now, having found a good home.

We certainly cannot make assumptions about others and we each must march to the beat of our own drum.

Well its nice to hear people discussing palettes and the answers . I can’t help but comparing it to buying clothes I wear certain clothes for certain occasions and I buy some accessories to go with a suit for instance but didn’t match I discard some I bought thinking I liked the colour then had second thoughts and gave them away to the thrift store . Life would be boring if we dressed in the same old clothes every day .I liked Chars comments and agree .

Les