I have used two different sizes of Masterson’s Sta-Wet Palette for quite a few years now. They are both good and bad. Due to my own painting quirks, I have developed the habit of using them for special situations only. I don’t use a Sta-Wet palette for my normal studio work.
For those not already acquainted with it, the Sta-Wet Palette is a plastic box, with a lid. Inside you layer a special, rather mysterious piece of Sta-Wet paper over a wet, sponge. Your paint goes on top.
If properly used, your acrylic paint stays wet for approxiatmety two weeks. More or less depending on your specific enviromental factors. See our article, How long does it take for Acrylic Paint to Dry?
Sta-Wet Palette Works Well but Stinks
Truth is, the Sta-Wet works exactly as the product manufacturer claims. Your paints stays wet for several weeks. I have found that when I store my closed palette for more than a day or two, when I open it up again the odor is overwhelmingly yucky. I am not a picky person, I am a rather laid back, messy artist that doesn’t get uptight about much.
Gnats & Flies in my paint? No biggie. Worn out, fuzzy brushes ? No biggie.
But I personally cannot tolerate stinky paint. I takes all the fun out of my painting session.
Over the years, I have heard all sort of recommendations to avoid the oder and eventual mold issues that arise with frequent use of the
Masterson Sta-Wet Palette Seal.
- place a penny under the sponge
- place a tablespoon of bleach into the sponge
- place 1/4 tablespoon of ammonia into the sponge water
- keep it in the refrigerator
- run your sponge through a cycle inside the dishwasher every few months
Visit the official tips straight from the manufacturer, Masterson’s Tips and Trick for the Sta-Wet Palette.
Do you enjoy painting big, messy, and exuberantly?
Then the small working area of even the largest Masterson’s Sta-Wet palette will not be big enough for you.
My friends who paint big and bold usually buy acrylic in jars, open all the lids, and paint right out of the jars. Usually using a big platter or desktop to mix color.
These bold painters frequently double dip into these jars, not caring if they muddy the color or create a big fat mess. It’s all part of their process.
Expensive Technique? Very.
Bold and Brave? Absolutely!
Should you buy a Sta-Wet Palette?
Here are my top reasons to purchase one of these contraptions:
Classroom Use
If you are taking an acrylic painting class that continues for several days or weeks, and you imagine you will be using lots of small dabs of paint mixes on subsequent days, a Sta-Wet palette might come in handy.
The fact you can close the palette up with a handy dandy lid keeps your classroom buddies from dipping into your palette if they just “have” to try a little of your blue, red, or yellow because they ran out. Don’t Laugh! I have seen grown women almost duke it out with fists in a workshop once over the fact that one decided to borrow some paint off another’s palette without asking.
As you know, artists can be a wild sort.
Pick on my family, make fun of my butt, push me down the stairs … whatever .. but don’t you DARE touch my palette!
Special Color Mixes
If you paint precisely and carefully, I am specifically thinking realistic still life or portrait painters , you might really benefit from using a Sta-Wet Palette for your acrylic paintings. The Sta-Wet will preserve your color mixes for days and days.
As we all know, most acrylic paint dries slightly darker than it appears when wet, due to the nature of the binder being white or light in color. See our article, What is Acrylic Paint Color Shift? Keeping your paint wet will save time and also make it easier to mix another batch of a certain color since you will be matching wet paint to wet paint.
You used to work as an Engineer
I say this with a grin, but seriously, if you are a precise and meticulous type of painter, you will like technical aspects of the Sta-Wet palette.
If you are a messy, random type of painter, you will hate confinement of the Sta-Wet palette.
Interesting post – I never thought about how differently it might be perceived by people with differing painting styles! I recently bought one of these, and used it on the last 3 paintings. I even bought the small one! What I found was that it was fabulous for colors I mix. I like the Chroma Atelier Interactives, and If I’m using colors straight from the tube and mixing them on the canvas, I use a regular palette. But if I want to mix a color prior to putting it down on canvas, then I can mix a fair bit at once, and not have to trust myself to get the mix just right when I come back to it. (Or even remember which colors I started with!)
I have just washed the sponge with regular dish soap after each painting, leaving it to dry completely and the odor has never been oppressive…..noticeable, but not awful. I love my Sta-Wet Palette!
thanks Lee Ann! Good to hear you thoughts on it as well! Can’t wait to visit your blog! thanks for commenting, Cindy
I love this palette. It is also great for traveling…as long as you keep it level.
I have kept the same paint for over a month in it. i add ammonia to the water spray bottle that i mist the paint with, and it keeps the palette fairly fresh.
The mfg does not recommend using bleach.
i will have to also try the penny under the sponge.
thanks cindy
Hi
Although I love the idea of the wet pallet, I would never buy one, since it is much cheaper, and much more fun to make your own. Using antibacterial kitchen wipes instead of a sponge and ordinary wax paper instead of the mysterious paper palette supplied, I always have everything I need for a refill available. To keep the odour and bacterial growth in check the antibacterial kitchen wipes works a treat. There is a detailed tutorial on creating your own palette on the crealuna website if you are interested.