A few days ago I decided to put a selection of Arkaar watercolours into a palette and start using them for my everyday sketching. If you missed it… a few months ago, I got a very generous selection of beautiful handmade paints from Trupti of Arkaar Creation – see more here.
The best way to really test new paints is to put together a palette and start using them for my everyday sketching. I wasn’t intending to share my Arkaar palette with you for a few weeks (until I got to know it a little better), but on its very first outing, the barista from La Renaissance in The Rocks posted an Instagram Reel of me painting with it.
So it’s a little hard to hide the fact that I was using a brand new palette – so clean hey?
Aside: I’m using an empty tin made by Derivan (Australian brand). I love these tins because they have three mixing wells in the lid – see this article for an explanation on why this is important.
It was really hard to limit my selection to 18 colours, and as you can see, I have many more options in a second palette. Trupti sent me a lot of earth colours, so it will take me a while to go through and choose which are my favourites. I had fewer alternatives for the yellows, reds, and blues. There are a number of lovely greens in the Arkaar range as well, so I put three of them in my palette (I would normally only have 1 green).
Please note:
- This is a testing palette – just my starting point – as I begin to explore these lovely colours. I might swap out a colour or two next week!
- I haven’t been sketching teacups much lately and so to help me get back into it I’m going to start doing loose no pressure sketches as I did last year when I was preparing for my Teacups course.
- I’m still using a waterbrush when I’m out sketching on location so I know that I’m not getting the best results with these paints. But, that means that it will only be more exciting when I get back to using my dagger!
- I know that I could use an abrasive cleaner to stop the beading on the mixing wells, but it will only take a few days before the beading stops naturally (through use!)
And finally…
Last night, I had an amazing video call with Phil Candy from Lintner Art. He has designed a beautiful new palette with so many clever features and accessories. It’s a beautiful piece of design, and I was rather taken with some of the accessories such as clip-on water containers and a support board. I’m looking forward to recieving a prototype and testing it in the coming months – and of course I will share all the details here.
If you are interested, please check out the website or Instagram account and follow for more details.
10 Comments
Really interested in Phil Candy’s new palette but couldn’t find it on Kickstarter. I did sign up for notifications so hopefully I’ll hear when it is an active campaign.
I like Arkaar’s Botanical palette but it is sold out.
What is that larger palette you are storing your Arkaar colors in? I couldn’t find it on their website so assume their colors come without a palette and that is one of your own. I like metal palettes with the third flap for mixing and that palette looks really nice. Do you remember the brand or where you got it as I’ve never seen one like that. Looks like a nice heavy enameled metal.
Hi Mary – Phil’s kickstarter is not setup yet.
I put the remaining half pans in an empty Roman Smzal palette – but you can also buy a similar one by Jasart in Australia – or Meeden on Amazon.
https://www.adamstownart.com.au/watercolour/roman_szmal/watercolours_containers.php
https://www.eckersleys.com.au/jasart-voyager-metal-water-colour-palette-boxes
https://www.amazon.com.au/MEEDEN-Empty-Watercolour-Palette-Medium/dp/B079KQ1NDS/ref=asc_df_B079KQ1NDS/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341743972509&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7964809492731146865&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9112751&hvtargid=pla-432142988315&psc=1&mcid=eb52140fba7b303c8f8bdfb099dd69d3
Hi. First, thank you for your tea cups course. I learned a lot and keep going back to it.
Question – I’m working out what kind of small palette I’d like and I’m curious about yours. How do the pans stick to the palette?. It looks like you removed the rails from the Derivan?
Hi Lena – so glad you enjoyed the Teacups course.
Yes removed the rails – more details here https://www.lizsteel.com/trip-prep-getting-my-palette-ready/
I was struck by the clean palette and super full, brand new paints! How fun to have something to mess up and new paints to play with! Looking forward to seeing how well they work! Those greens and greys seem lovely and muted.
Hi Jamie – yes a brand new palette is SO white! yes the greens and greys are really nice!
Pretty~~~ I’d love to see drawing videos from you~
Ah! At the moment as I’m working on a new course – I’m creating lots of drawing videos at the moment. Keep an eye out for the Travel Sketching course!
Where can I buy Arkaar watercolors? Seems no one in the USA has them. I am only using half pans as I no longer have the patience to fill my palettes with tubes. I also only will buy half pans that have refills available. Any suggestions?
I have enjoyed your teacups course. also Edges and your earlier course on watercolor on location.enjoyed seeing your set up as well. I cannot travel anymore , yet may take your newer travel course.
Hi Judith – you buy these paints directly from the creator – https://www.arkaarcreations.com/
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