Description
This is my favorite lightweight folding watercolor palette, which I have customized with all the professional-quality paints I use both in my studio and in the field.
- lightweight folding plastic palette with 24 wells, 5 large mixing areas, 2 smaller mixing areas, extendable mixing platform, and thumb hole. Weighs just 7oz!
- 33 colors*, 15 full pans, 18 half pans, plus white gouache, all filled by hand. UPDATE as of April 25, 2023: New color added: Cobalt Teal Blue!
- Hand-painted color key taped to the front of the palette.
- NOTE: The color mixing chart shown on this page is for information only and is not included. Also, this color mixing chart was created before the April 2023 addition of one new color, Cobalt Teal Blue. You can download the image and print it for reference if you like.
I use two identical palettes, one for my studio and one for my field sketching kit. That way I know the palette and where to reach for what colors and my field kit is always ready to go. If you’d like to make this palette on your own, see these step-by-step instructions in this blog post: Customizing the Holbein Palette.
Experienced nature journaler Marley Peifer recently posted a detailed review of this palette.
*Nearly all of the paints in my palette are by Daniel Smith, a Seattle-based company I admire and respect because of the professional quality of its paints, the methods by which they are made, and its positive work environment for its employees. Colors include: Neutral Tint, Payne’s Gray, Black Tourmaline, Shadow Violet, Bloodstone Genuine, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Italian Burnt Sienna, Monte Amiata Natural Sienna, Buff Titanium, Phthalo Yellow Green, Rich Green Gold, Serpentine Genuine, Hooker’s Green, Undersea Green, Chromium Oxide, Perylene Green, Indanthrone Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Manganese Blue Hue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Cobalt Blue, Winsor Violet, Napthamide Maroon, Quinacridone Pink, Pyrrol Red, Permanent Orange, Quinacridone Sienna, Quinacridone Gold, New Gamboge, Hansa yellow Medium, Hansa yellow Light and Permanent White Gouache. Here is a description of the individual paints in my palette and why I choose them.
NOTE: Prop 65 Warning: One or more of the paints in this palette contain one or more ingredients known in the state of California to cause cancer, reproductive harm or birth defects. For more information see www.p65warnings.ca.gov, and Daniel Smith MSDS.
Paige Parks (verified owner) –
As a novice water colorist and paint mixer, this palette is worth every penny! I wanted to upgrade my paints and had decided on Daniel Smith. I have a few and loved them. But what colors to get? That’s a hard decision! Thankfully Jack’s custom palette solved that problem for me. These colors are all the perfect range for nature journaling. And organized perfectly in the palette. Thank you so much, Jack for this! The information provided on your website about the colors and their use are invaluable also. I absolutely adore using this palette for nature journaling! You will not regret buying this palette!
John Muir Laws –
Thank you so much! Paint on!
Stephanie Dole (verified owner) –
Worth every penny! This palette was a game-changer for my watercolor work. Although I had previously given a lot of careful consideration to the colors in my watercolor palette, it wasn’t cutting it for me. I decided to order Jack’s custom palette and have absolutely loved using it. These colors give me such a wide range of options, especially when depicting the natural world. The palette itself is portable and great for working with both at home and in the field. You won’t regret buying this palette. It is a great gift to give yourself!