7 Best Palettes For Acrylic Paint & How to Choose What You Need

Contrary to popular belief, they toil day and night to create those breathtaking masterpieces; masterpieces that break the dull monotony of life, inspire us, and stir our imagination. 

Of course, for being such skilled crafts-persons, they need to have the right implements. Given their finesse, it is natural for them to get picky about their stationery. Pens, brushes, paper, canvas, models, pencils, you name it.

Wait, did we mention palettes yet? A palette is what an artist pours paint on to dab his brush into, and, as you’ve guessed, it’s indispensable to any artistic endeavor which involves paint and a brush. 

Choosing this all-important palette can be a daunting and challenging task, given how competitive the market is. Fortunately, we’re here to help, as we’ve rounded up the ten best palettes for acrylic paint. 

So, let’s get started! 

Best Palettes For Acrylic Paint

To help narrow down your search, we've put together a list of the 7 best palettes for acrylic paint. Whether you're a beginner or a professional artist, these palettes are sure to enhance your painting experience and help you achieve the perfect color blends.

1. Amaco Paragona Glass Palette - Best for Premium Quality & Feel

The second item on our list is Amaco’s Paragona Glass Palette. This palette is, as you’ve guessed, made of glass, but it’s no ordinary glass. It’s made of safety glass, which does not crumble away even if it breaks.

Read on to find out more about it.

The Paragona is made of safety glass, which is a very upmarket material and puts it in the category of premium palettes. It is meant to be rested on a table instead of being held in hand, so it’s suitable for jobs that don’t require moving around.

It comes with a white safety vinyl back, which helps with grip on flat surfaces as well as in hand. It measures 11 x 14 inches, which makes it larger than the Darice by half an inch on each side. The glass is tempered, which is the same technology used for making screen guards. It is also non-porous, meaning the colors won’t stick or seep through the glass.

Experience

During our time with Paragona, we found it to be one of the best palettes on the market.

The glass construction makes the Paragona feel incredibly upmarket. However, the construction does not pose a safety threat, as, during our drop test, the glass merely broke, and not a single shard was ejected.

The vinyl back makes it easy to grip and also helps it stay in place on angled surfaces.

The glass itself is non-porous, meaning colors will neither seep into the glass nor stick to its surface. During our time, we tested this palette with acrylic paint and, with a little bit of peeling, it came off easily.

The surface is, naturally, smooth, as are the edges, so this palette is kind to brushes.

This palette is, of course, washable and reusable.

2. Strathmore 300 Series Palette Paper - Best for Disposable Convenience

Okay, before we get accused of cheating by including palette paper instead of a “real” palette, hear us out. The basic job of a palette is to hold your paints and enable you to mix them, so we don’t see how palette paper fails you as far as doing that is concerned. 

We’re reviewing one of the best palette papers on the market today: the Strathmore 300 Series Palette Paper. It comes in two sizes, 9 x 12 inches and 12 x 16 inches. It comes in a tape-bound pad form which includes 40 sheets of palette paper. 

The Strathmore pad is one of the best options in the market if you’re looking to buy a surface for mixing your paints but don’t want to invest in a palette.

As the sheets are disposable, it is recommended to buy them for one-time use applications, as they are made of high quality, and replacing them repeatedly may prove to be costly.

The paper features a quality of 67 gsm, which makes mixing easy. The paper also tears easily, should the need arise to tear a bit of it.

One side of the sheet features a slight wax coating to prevent the seeping and leaking of the paint to the other side.

The sheets are also very versatile as they can be used on top of conventional palette pads as well.

Experience

In our experience, the Strathmore paper proved to be one of the best surfaces to mix colors on and works great as a substitute for a traditional palette.

Starting with the quality of the paper, the 67 grams per square meter count means that mixing colors is easy and it doesn’t feel cheap in any way. We appreciated the wax coating on one side, and during our usage, it did not let the paint seep.

We tried both sizes and felt that the smaller size is suited for casual applications whereas the larger size is best suited for more professional takes.

The disposal of these papers makes them great, and you don’t have to deal with any messy cleanup.

3. Blick Clear Acrylic Palette - Best for Traditional Design Lovers

The fourth item on our list is the Clear Acrylic Palette by Blick Art Materials.

Don’t let the name fool you into thinking that the palette is made of glass, as it is made of clear plastic.

Blick Art Materials is a family-owned business that supplies arts and craft equipment.

 

The palette has clear plastic construction, as opposed to a glass construction, as some might believe.

This palette features a traditional palette shape, i.e., it looks like an engorged crescent moon and features a thumbhole.

There are no wells or recesses for pouring your paints, so this palette should be held more or less upright.

Experience

In our experience, the Blick Clear Acrylic Palette proved to be a very well-rounded option for those looking for a simple, no-frills palette.

Starting with the design, the traditional ‘C-shape’ of the palette brings back memories of old wooden palettes to mind. It features a thumbhole whose position is very well-judged.

The lack of wells and recesses of some sort means you will have to hold the palette more-or-less upright, which can get tiring at times.

The edge(s) of the palette are smoothened out, and this palette is brush-friendly. Cleaning, though, is a tough task, as you will need some alcohol solution to clear the dried acrylic paint from your palette.

4. Masterson Stay-Wet Premier Palette

The fifth item on our list is the Masterson Stay-Wet Premier Palette. As the name indicates, this palette is designed to stay wet and prevent your paints from drying up.

Paint life is the main priority for Masterson. It features a patented sponge along with permeable palette paper, which works together to keep the paint moist. It also features a lid that keeps the paint wet for use, even between painting sessions.

The palette ships with one sponge insert and five palette paper sheets, so you might incur recurring costs if you plan on using this product for a long time.

The palette measures 16 x 12 inches, one of the largest palettes we’ve come across so far, so space shouldn’t be a problem.

Experience

In our experience, the Masterson proved to be a wonderful palette that truly does keep paints moist.

Starting with the setup, it is fairly straightforward. Just run the sponge through tap water, place it in the box, place the paper on top and you’re set!

We were surprised that the paper is porous when most of the industry is trying to make their sheets as impermeable as possible. However, permeability is essential if the paints are to remain moist.

We found that the sheets are washable and reusable, which is novel and rather surprising!

This palette not only saves money on paints, then, but also saves money on sheets.

5. Richeson Wooden Palette

Yep, here it is! This is the traditional wooden palette that the Picassos of Yore used to create their masterpieces. This palette by Richeson is as simple as it gets.

This product is, basically, the same old wooden palette that has continued for centuries. It features a traditional design, which, when viewed from a certain angle, looks a man talking!

It comes in six size options, ranging from 9 x 12 inches to 18 x 26 ½ inches. The palette comes in four shapes: rectangle, oval, and two for left-handed or right-handed people.

On all of these palettes, the thumbhole is reinforced with extra wood to boost stability.

Experience

In our experience, the Richeson palette is the best example of the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) rule.

The wood on our test unit was well-polished, smooth, and devoid of protrusions and jagged edges.

The wood also helps keep paint from falling off, should you feel the need to tilt the palette, which is why it was the preferred material for a long while.

We found that the extra wood under the thumbhole, while great for stability, also prevents the palette from sitting flat on surfaces, which is appreciated, as reaching a flat palette is cumbersome.

The edges need a little work, though, as they might damage your brushes if you aren’t careful.

6. Artilicious Paint Tray Palette

The seventh item on our list is the Paint Tray Palette by Artilicious.

It has a plastic construction and comes in either a 3-pack oval shape or a 6-pack round shape.

It features white plastic construction.

This palette comes in two shapes. The oval shape features a thumbhole and mostly round wells, with a few exceptions. The circular shape features ten uniform round wells and resembles the chamber of a revolver.

The palette is made of white molded plastic for durability and ease of cleaning. It is suitable for containing oils, watercolors, and acrylic paints.

Experience

During our time with the Artilicious, we found it to be very similar to the Darice paint palette, albeit with a different shape and with a few other differences.

We tried the oval palette first and are glad to report that it preserves the classic palette shape properly. It has six round wells and four irregular wells, which do an excellent job of holding the paints in their places.

The round palette drops the thumbhole but gains a large center area in addition to the ten small round wells.

The palettes are made of durable plastic which neither looks nor feels very premium, but it enables the Artilicious to be light on the wallet and easy to clean. We had a great time painting with these palettes and found that the colors come right off with simple tap water, even if you leave them overnight.

7. Large Plastic Palette

Well, we’re yet to see a more meta name! The Large Plastic Palette is, well, just a large plastic palette! Measuring 11 ¾ x 16 ½ inches, this palette will not leave you wanting for size.

This palette is like most of the other palettes we’ve featured on the list so far. It has a plastic construction and features the typical oval shape with a thumbhole, so it’s suitable for artists who prefer to work standing up.

Instead of wells, the palette features three thin dividers, which aren’t very useful for organizing but are useful for preventing watercolors from spilling and mixing.

Experience

During our time with the Large Plastic Palette, we found that it works just fine as a, well, large plastic palette!

The palette is, obviously, made of plastic. It is high-quality plastic, though, and feels reasonably premium in hand. It is resistant to stains, and if they do occur, they’re very easy to wash off.

This palette is huge and does feel slightly unwieldy at times, but, if you’re looking for a lot of real estate from your palette, you will not be disappointed.

We are, however, disappointed with the thumbhole. If you’re right-handed, you won’t face any problems, but if you’re left-handed, the ridges and irregularities will not let you work properly.

The same goes for the edges of the dividers, which are rough and can potentially harm your brush.

Best Palettes For Acrylic Paints Comparison Table

Buying Guide For The Best Palettes For Acrylic Paint

If you’re in the market for a new palette, keep these factors in mind before deciding on one.

1. Wells

Some dividers come with wells for organizing your paints whereas some feature a smooth, flat surface. Decide which kind you want beforehand.

If you are methodical in your approach, get a palette with wells, and if you’re a free spirit, we recommend a spartan palette.

2. Shape and size

We have reviewed several palettes in this list, and they come in many different shapes and sizes. Get a palette that perfectly suits your needs.

For example, get a large rectangular palette if you plan to work sitting down on a table, otherwise, get an oval palette with a thumbhole.

3. Thumbhole

The aforementioned thumbhole should be your number one priority if you like working standing up. Look for a palette (preferably oval) that has a thumbhole and make sure that it’s not too rough and fits both your hands.

4. Construction material

Palettes come in several different constructions, the most popular being plastic.

If you’re looking for a premium palette, consider a safety glass or wooden palette, otherwise, if you’re on a budget, consider a plastic palette.

5. Disability

We’ve also featured disposable sheets on this list, which are essentially sheets of hard paper that can be disposed of once you’re done with them. These usually cannot be washed. So, if you’re fine with the recurring costs, go for it, otherwise, buy a traditional palette.

Palettes For Acrylic Paint FAQ's

How many wells should a palette have for acrylic paint?

The number of wells a palette should have for acrylic paint depends on your personal preference and the type of painting you will be doing. Some artists prefer palettes with many small wells for precise color mixing, while others prefer palettes with fewer, larger wells for more fluid mixing.

What is the best material for an acrylic paint palette?

The best materials for an acrylic paint palette are glass, plastic, or acrylic. Glass is a popular option because it is non-porous, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean. Plastic or acrylic palettes are also durable and easy to clean, making them popular among artists.

Do I need a palette with wells or compartments for acrylic paint?

While it’s not absolutely necessary to have a palette with wells or compartments for acrylic paint, it can be helpful for keeping colors separate and organized. This is especially important when mixing small amounts of paint to achieve precise color blends.

How do I clean my acrylic paint palette?

First, remove any excess paint with a paper towel or cloth to clean an acrylic paint palette. Then, use warm water and soap to gently scrub the palette clean. For stubborn stains, you can use a paint scraper or plastic tool to gently scrape away the paint.

Can I use a paper palette for acrylic paint?

Yes, paper palettes are popular for acrylic paint because they are disposable and easy to use. However, they may not be as durable as other types of palettes, and they can become soggy if too much water is used.

What size palette should I use for acrylic paint?

The size of the palette you should use depends on the size of your canvas and how much paint you will be using. A larger palette may be more suitable for larger paintings, while a smaller palette may be more suitable for smaller paintings or detail work.

Should I choose a palette with a lid?

A palette with a lid can be useful for keeping your paint wet and preventing it from drying out too quickly. However, it is not absolutely necessary, and some artists prefer not to use a lid.

Conclusion

Thank you so much for joining us on this colorful journey as we explored the best palettes for acrylic paints! We hope this article has been informative, engaging, and helpful in guiding you toward the perfect palette for your artistic needs. We understand the importance of having the right tools to enhance your creativity and let it shine. With so many great options available, it's finally time to reveal our top three recommendations:

Out of these 7 best palettes for acrylic paints, here are our top three recommendations:

1. Amaco Paragona Glass Palette is an ideal option for artists seeking a premium, upmarket feel. Its tempered glass construction not only feels luxurious but ensures that colors won't seep through or stick to the surface. The white safety vinyl back provides added grip and stability, making this palette suitable for table-based projects.

2. Strathmore 300 Series Palette Paper is a good option for those who want a disposable, hassle-free surface for mixing paints. With its high-quality paper and convenient wax coating, this palette paper works great as a substitute for a traditional palette. As a bonus, it comes in two different sizes to suit varying artistic needs.

3. Blick Clear Acrylic Palette is the right choice for those desiring a simple, functional, and traditional design. Its classic "C-shape" look, comfortable thumbhole, and rounded edges create a user-friendly experience. Bear in mind that cleaning the palette might be slightly challenging and it lacks built-in wells or recesses.

Now that you have our top three picks, it's time for you to unleash your creativity and let your art flourish with the perfect palette! Remember, the right tools can make all the difference in the final outcome of your work. Once you've selected your ideal palette, go forth and create masterpieces that showcase your unique artistic expression!

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