Choosing Your Perfect Wet Palette: A Guide for Hobbyists
For miniature painters, a wet palette is an indispensable tool that can revolutionize your painting experience. By keeping your acrylic paints moist and workable for extended periods, it allows for seamless blending, smoother transitions, and less paint waste. But with several excellent options on the market, how do you choose the right one? Let's break down some of the top contenders to help you find your perfect match.
The Contenders:
We're looking at four popular wet palettes, each with its unique strengths:
- Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Painter Lite
- Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Painter V2
- Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Studio V2
- Army Painter Tools Wet Palette Wargamer Edition
Detailed Comparison:
Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Painter Lite
Price: $49.99
Best For: Beginners, painters with limited space, or those who travel frequently.
Why Choose It?
This compact and portable wet palette is an excellent entry point into the world of wet palettes. Its small footprint makes it ideal for tight workspaces, and the extendable lid acts as a convenient side tray. The unique hydration paper and mold-resistant foam ensure your paints stay fresh. It's a fantastic budget-friendly option without compromising on core functionality.
Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Painter V2
Price: $79.99
Best For: Serious hobbyists looking for an upgrade, or those who want a more feature-rich experience without the full "studio" size.
Why Choose It?
The Painter V2 builds upon the success of its predecessor with significant improvements. It boasts a 20% larger painting surface, thicker foams for enhanced moisturization, and a patented airtight sealing case that keeps your paints viable for days. The introduction of reusable hydration membranes is a game-changer, offering both cost savings and environmental benefits. It's also compatible with new accessories like "Wavy" wells.
Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Studio V2
Price: $99.99
Best For: Professional painters, avid hobbyists with large projects, or those who frequently paint with heavy-body acrylics.
Why Choose It?
The Studio V2 is the ultimate wet palette for those who demand maximum painting space and superior performance. While it shares many of the V2's advanced features, such as the reusable membranes and airtight seal, its larger surface area provides ample room for extensive mixing and larger projects. The raised profile is particularly beneficial for working with thicker paints. This is an investment for the dedicated artist.
Army Painter Tools Wet Palette Wargamer Edition
Price: $69.29 (Sale price, regular price $76.99)
Best For: Wargamers and painters who use a wide range of washes and Speedpaints, or those who value integrated brush storage.
Why Choose It?
This extra-large wet palette stands out with its generous painting surface and thoughtful additional features. The included hard-plastic Paint Well Insert with 30 wells is perfect for organizing your washes and Speedpaints, preventing cross-contamination. The integrated storage for Wargamer and paint brushes is a convenient touch, helping to keep your painting station organized. It offers excellent value, especially at its sale price.
Which Wet Palette is Right for You?
For the Beginner or Space-Conscious:
The Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Painter Lite is your ideal starting point, offering great performance in a compact size.
For the Enthusiastic Hobbyist Seeking an All-Rounder:
The Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Painter V2 provides an excellent balance of size, features, and innovative design, making it a solid upgrade.
For the Dedicated Professional or Large-Scale Painter:
The Redgrass Everlasting Wet Palette Studio V2 offers the largest painting area and premium features for extensive and demanding projects.
For the Wargamer with Many Washes and a Need for Organization:
The Army Painter Tools Wet Palette Wargamer Edition is a fantastic choice, especially if its integrated wells and brush storage align with your workflow.
No matter your painting style or experience level, investing in a good wet palette will undoubtedly elevate your miniature painting. Consider your needs, your budget, and the features that matter most to you, and you'll find the perfect wet palette to keep your creative flow going for hours on end!
Happy hobbying!