Tillie Doyle
Watercolour pan sets are a convenient way to paint on the go, with a fixed set of colours in a portable palette box. You can buy pre-filled watercolour pan sets, or you can make your own. To make your own, you'll need a metal palette with a lid, and empty pans. You can buy empty pans separately, or as part of a set with a palette box. Then, choose your paint colours, and squeeze them from the tube into the pans. You can fill the pans halfway, or in thirds, stirring with a needle or toothpick to release air bubbles, and letting the paint dry for a day or two between fills. This will allow the paint to dry flat. You can also make your own colours by mixing paints before filling the pans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pros of making your own pan set | Customisable, cost-effective, and easy to set up |
| Cons of making your own pan set | Time-consuming, risk of paint drying inconsistently |
| Pros of buying a pre-made pan set | Convenient and ready-to-use |
| Cons of buying a pre-made pan set | Limited customisation, more expensive in the long run |
| Steps to make your own pan set | 1. Find a suitable case. 2. Choose your colours. 3. Squeeze paint from tubes into pans. 4. Label the pans. 5. Let the paint dry. |
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What You'll Learn
Buying vs making your own pan set
There are several factors to consider when deciding between buying a pre-made watercolour pan set and creating your own. Firstly, convenience and ease of use are important aspects to keep in mind. Pre-made pan sets offer a simple and straightforward option, especially for beginners, as they come ready-to-use and often include a variety of colours in a single palette box. This makes them easily portable and ideal for those who want a quick and convenient setup.
On the other hand, creating your own pan set provides the advantage of customisation. You can choose the specific colours you want, ensuring that every pan in your set suits your needs and preferences. This is particularly beneficial if you have certain colours that you use frequently or if you want to create a harmonious colour spectrum within your palette. Additionally, making your own pan set allows you to select the size of the pans, such as full or half pans, based on your personal preferences and brush size.
Cost is another factor to consider. While pre-made pan sets can vary in price, creating your own set may be more cost-effective in the long run. Buying individual tubes of watercolour paint and refilling your pans can often be cheaper than purchasing new pre-filled pans, and a single tube can refill a pan multiple times. This makes it a more economical option, especially if you use certain colours more frequently than others.
However, one challenge of creating your own pan set is the drying process. Different brands of watercolour paints have unique recipes, and the drying characteristics can vary when the paint is transferred to pans. Some paints may take longer to dry, and others may never fully harden. Additionally, the paint may shrink, crack, or develop mould if not properly dried and ventilated. This requires patience and experimentation to find the right paint brands and techniques for filling the pans in stages to minimise shrinkage.
In summary, buying a pre-made watercolour pan set offers convenience and ease, while creating your own set provides customisation, potential cost savings, and the ability to choose pan sizes. However, making your own set also comes with the challenge of managing the drying process and paint shrinkage. Ultimately, the decision depends on your personal preferences, level of involvement in watercolour painting, and willingness to experiment with different techniques.
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Choosing the right paint
If you want a palette that suits your needs perfectly, you can make your own. First, you'll need to find a case with enough space for the number of colours you want. You can then buy individual pans of watercolour, or you can buy empty pans and fill them with paint from tubes. This allows you to choose the exact colours you want and gives you the option of buying from different brands.
When choosing a brand of paint, it's important to know how it behaves when it dries. Different brands dry differently, and some may crack or be difficult to activate when wetted. Some brands, such as M. Graham and Sennelier, use honey as a humectant, which means their paints remain moist for longer. Other brands, such as Daniel Smith, are glycerin-based and dry to form a normal cake of paint that easily reactivates with water.
When filling your pans, leave a small reservoir at the top to make it easy to form a pool of water and activate your watercolours. You can fill your pans in stages to improve the adherence of the paint to the pan and fill any gaps. Make sure your pans are completely dry before putting them in a palette box.
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Filling the pans
Filling your pans with paint from tubes is a simple process, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to consider the type of paint you are using. Different manufacturers use slightly different recipes, and some paints dry better than others. For example, paint containing honey, such as Graham, may never fully dry.
Before filling your pans, you should decide on the colours you want. You can either fill your pans with paint straight from the tube or mix your own colours. If you are mixing your own colours, it is a good idea to do a test swatch and let it dry before committing it to the pan, as watercolours lighten as they dry.
When filling the pans, only fill them halfway or one-third of the way, leaving a small reservoir at the top. This makes it easier to form a pool of water and activate your watercolours. You can use a toothpick to smooth out the paint and fill in the corners, then wipe the excess from the toothpick onto your palette.
Some people like to leave their pans to dry for a few days and then fill them the rest of the way. This helps to fill any gaps and improve the adherence of the paint to the pan. It can take several weeks for a pan to dry fully, so it is important to keep them covered but not sealed during this time to prevent mould.
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Drying the pans
To ensure thorough drying, it is recommended to fill the pans only partially, allowing each layer to dry before adding a new one. This helps prevent cracking and ensures that the paint adheres well to the pan. Filling the pans in stages also allows for filling any gaps and creating a reservoir at the top for water activation.
When drying the pans, it is generally advised to avoid placing them directly in the sun, as UV rays may affect the colours. However, some artists choose to let their pans dry outside in the sun, especially when pressed for time, and have not noticed significant differences in colour compared to air-drying indoors.
If you are travelling with your watercolour pans and need to accelerate the drying process, you can place the pans under a fan for a few hours. To prevent any mess during transportation, wrap each pan individually with cling wrap before placing them in your bag. Keep in mind that the pans may still be soft and could be considered "liquid" during security checks.
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Organising the colours
If you decide to create your own palette, the first step is to choose a case that has enough space for the number of colours you want. You can find metal tins with empty spaces that allow you to add more colours as you expand your collection. Next, you need to decide on the type of pans you want to use. Pans come in two sizes: full pans and half pans. Full pans are larger and easier to dip your brush into, while half pans allow you to have smaller amounts of more colours.
Once you have your case and pans, it's time to start organising your colours. One popular method is to arrange the colours in a spectrum, like a rainbow. This helps you locate similar hues easily and reduces the problem of colour contamination between pans. You can also label your pans with numbers or colours, especially if you plan to create a written key for easy reference.
Another approach is to group colours by their properties or how you intend to use them. For example, you might want to keep all your primary colours together, or arrange them by warm and cool tones. You can also leave some space in your palette for mixing colours and creating custom shades.
Remember, the organisation of your watercolour pan set is a personal preference. You can always rearrange the pans and try different layouts until you find the one that works best for you.
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Frequently asked questions
Creating a custom watercolour palette means you get all the colours you love in one place. It's also more economical in the long run, as buying tubes of paint and refilling your pans is much cheaper than buying new pans.
You should consider how many colours you want in your palette and buy a case that can accommodate that number of pans. If you want to maximise the number of colours, opt for half pans instead of full pans.
Watercolour paints are available in tubes and pans. You can buy empty pans and fill them with paint from tubes, or you can buy pre-filled pans. Buying empty pans and filling them yourself is more cost-effective and allows you to create custom colours. However, some paints, like Graham, don't dry well in pan form.
First, tape a piece of scrap paper to the inside lid of your palette and write the names of the paints as you put them in the pans. Squeeze the paint from the tube into the pan, filling it only halfway or one-third of the way. Use a toothpick to smooth out the paint and fill in the corners. Wipe the excess paint from the toothpick onto the palette.
It's recommended to let the pans dry for at least 24 hours before putting them in a palette box. The pans will be touch-dry at this point, but it can take several weeks for them to dry fully.
