A wet palette is a great tool for every painter. It is the surface where you will mix your paint, try different paint consistencies and prolong the working time of your acrylic paints. The Redgrassgames has been the market leader since day 1. As a painter, one of the biggest challenges I face is keeping my paints wet and usable for extended periods of time. In this review, I’ll share my thoughts on the product and whether or not it’s worth the investment over a Tupperware lid and grease-proof paper.
Why do I need a wet palette?
Let’s talk about what a wet palette is and why it’s useful. A wet palette is a tool used by painters to keep their paints wet and usable for longer periods of time. It consists of a container filled with water, a sponge or other absorbent material, and a semi-permeable membrane that sits on top. The paint is placed on the membrane and is kept moist by the water underneath.
I’ve been using the WET PALETTE PAINTER (the smaller one) all year. I wanted to really test the hell out of this thing before I wrote up the review.
What is it?
The Redgrass Games Wet Palette Version 2 is a high-quality wet palette that features a number of improvements over its predecessor. One of the biggest changes is the addition of a locking mechanism that keeps the lid securely in place.
Another improvement is the larger size of the palette. Version 2 is approximately 30% larger than the original, which means more room for paint and a larger surface area for mixing colors. The palette also comes with two hydration foam sheets, which are designed to keep the paint moist and prevent it from drying out.
Set up.
In terms of usability, the Redgrass Games Wet Palette Version 2 is nice to work with. It’s a quality product, you feel it from the bumps in the bed of the container to the security of the seals along the sides of the lid. It’s a product that’s had thought put into it. The semi-permeable membrane is thin and easy to work with, and the hydration foam sheets are soft and absorbent.
A word on the foam – some painters love to float the sponge and have a healthy amount of water for the paper to sit on top. Because of the improved design of the lid clasp, I found paints were over-saturated with water when left overnight. Just keep enough water in there to keep the sponge moist, your paints will thank me for it.
The lid is easy to open and close, and the locking mechanism feels sturdy and secure. There’s a soft rubber sealant running on the inside of the lid that creates an air-tight vacuum when secured correctly. When left overnight I did notice a build-up of condensation on the top of the lid. This had no effect on paint consistency. I guess it’s the hydration sheet allowing moisture to pass through it and slight evaporation of the water that sits in the sponge.
The plastic palettes that slide onto the side of the body are a nice addition, but I found them superfluous. No matter how well I clean out the plastic, there always seems to be a residue of paint, and after a while, it builds up. I prefer using metal lids for this sort of mixing work as I can clean it with more aggressive chemicals to strip away any build-up.
THE PAPER
The paper feels very different from V1. It has a satin finish on the paint side, with pigment slipping across the surface. It’s an odd feeling, but satisfying to mix paints and just play with the pigment on the palette.
Another unique feature of this paper is that it is reusable. And it is! You get some staining from the previous usage, especially with inks, but nothing that affects future paint mixing. I cleaned the same paper 8 times without a noticeable loss in quality when using the sheet. I stopped at that point, because who the hell has the time to wash paper over and over again? I’ve seen influencers use a sheet up to 20 times (!) – I wonder how long you can make yours last for?
PAINTS STAYED WETTER FOR LONGER
I found that my paints stayed wet and usable for much longer than they would have on a traditional palette. I worked with the same palette for around 2 weeks before the painting. This allowed me to work on my projects at a more relaxed pace, without worrying about my paints drying out or becoming unusable. I also found that the larger surface area made it easier to mix colors and create more complex shades.
It’s great for keeping the same range of colours useable for longer. I’ve even kept the palette paper from the Ultra Praetor I painted to use on NMM courses in the future.
Is this better an a Ferro Roche box with a sponge in it? Yes. Version 1 was far superior. Version 2 builds on the original and improves every aspect of it. The seal is tighter ensuring the paint is usable for longer. Much longer! The paper is markedly improved, with a positively decadent satin finish which seems acrylic paints glide across the surface.
I highly recommend the Redgrass Games Wet Palette Version 2 to any painter looking for an effective way to keep their paint usable over the course of a project. The improvements over the original version are significant, and the usability and results are top-notch. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced painter, the Version 2 is a valuable tool to have in your arsenal.
You can purchase your own here:
Palette Small
Palette Large
