Cleaning the Pocket Palette
OK, it’s true that most of the time, my palettes look like a creative mess of color. Every so often, though, I clean them up for a fresh start! I’ve put together a short video demo highlighting my tips and tools for cleaning, enjoy!
29 Responses to “Cleaning the Pocket Palette”
Carol
Hi Maria,
Thanks so much for going over this in a video. Geez, I asked the question about how to clean the mixing area a week ago and I got your email reply plus a video with a few more additional tips!
I am using my new palette to paint instead of my regular one so I can get a feel for it. Plus I have found it to be wicked convenient to just sit down and do a little painting on the fly during the day. New to Daniel Smith paint, I love how easy it is to bring up the color using the pans. Amazing!
Great customer service! Looking forward to my new Rosemary brushes that are on their way…
Best wishes and happy painting!
Maria
Hi Carol,
You are so welcome! You inspired me, I realized I hadn’t put together a post on palette cleaning in years. Happy painting and I hope you enjoy your new brushes, too!
All my best,
Maria
Bruce Osborne
Thanks so much for the great Tip. Hope you are doing well and thanks for supporting our Art community.
Maria
You are welcome, Bruce, I so appreciate your support!
Sandra
Really, really helpful video.
Over the years your customer service has always been fabulous. Thanks!
Maria
You are so welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
JoAnna Crone
Great tips! What kind of oil do you use on the magnet? Thanks!
Maria
Thank you! I typically use a little olive oil. I’ve been meaning to experiment with a little bit of grease or Armorall as well.
Steve F
Really like my R13 Rosemary & Co travel brush and just discovered that they are less than 5 miles away from my new home.
Maria
That’s wonderful, lucky you to have them so close!
Ute
Thanks so much Maria for posting this. I would not have thought of using an eraser for more stubborn stains.
Cheers,
Ute
Maria
I learned the eraser trick from Wendi @wwendi on Instagram, I love how easy it is!
Jo
Those blue shop towels can be washed in your washing machine and come out of the dryer softer than ever. I learned that from a workshop companion who showed up with a pile of clean, slightly stained, soft and fluffy shop towels.
Maria
Wow! I’ve only ever just hand washed them. I love how soft the towels are, I’ll have to try them in the washing machine now!
Nancy
Hi Maria..thanks for the great tips. I notice that the bottom of your pans are numbered. What kind of system do you use to keep track of the colors in the pans? Many thanks. Nancy
Maria
You are welcome, Nancy! I use abbreviations for my paints, no real system, only 2-3 letters on a mini pan (a few more on letters for standard pans) to remind me.
Denise
I’m redoing my palette properly and carefully selecting my colors sooooo – needed to clean it out. I was wondering how to clean the mixing surface completely and thought, I’ll bet she has instructions. Yup! Great video. Love this tiny palette – so easy to pack with other supplies for travel.
Maria
I’m so glad it was helpful for you, Denise!
Brook
I see how you clean the white surface, I wonder how long they last? What are they made of? Paint that may wear off or?
Maria
Hi Brook, the mixing surface is plastic. It’s quite durable, I have never personally had an issue with needing to replace one!
Margaret Hart
Thank you for this very helpful video. I’m following your suggestions now and am happy with the results.
Maria
So glad it was helpful for you!
Isabel Patchett
Thank you for this Maria, I was cleaning one of my small palettes the other day and I had never thought about using my Mister Clean Magic Erasers so now I know I will definitely be using it. Thank you once again Maria you give us so many good ideas , very much appreciated. Isabel
Maria
You are welcome, Isabel! I’m so happy to help!
Janine
I’m just setting up my palette. I’m not sure how much oil I need to use on the magnet. I have a can of olive oil spray I presume will be fine. Just a light spray? How long before I can replace the pans. Thanks very much for your practical tips.
Maria
A light spray of oil should be fine! Your pans should last a good long time, I just clean mine periodically to refresh them. Have fun! Maria
Tricia Shelton
Love my palettes (and I have quite a few!), and love my new large one! I take some of the smaller pans and use white nail polish to turn them into mixing pans-works great! Thanks Maria for some really great products, and your customer service is great!
Maria
Yay! I’m so glad you are enjoying them, Tricia!
Frances
Hello Maria,
Greetings from Australia!
I’ve just ordered a folio palette (as a birthday gift to myself) and cannot wait for my delivery! It will be perfect for painting in miniature.
I saw on a YouTube video that you can clean the mixing palette with isopropol alcohol. This was used for cleaning a standard tin palette. Do you recommend this for your mixing palettes? And why do you need to condition the pans with oil?
Thanks so much!
Frances