Sta-Wet Palette Tips & Tricks: What I Wish I Knew Before Buying One

I've been using Sta-Wet palettes for more than 10 years, and after making my first video about them, I realized there were a lot of things I hadn't covered. In this video I go beyond the basics and share the Sta-Wet palette tips, tricks and lessons I've learned from actually using them for years as an acrylic painter. We'll look at: • Which Sta-Wet palette size is right for you • How wet the sponge should really be • How to properly prepare the palette paper • Why the paper can curl and how to prevent it • Why your paint can become too watery • Why acrylic paint can still dry on a wet palette • How I keep paint usable between painting sessions • Dealing with smell and mildew ... you don't have to! • How long the sponge and paper can really last • A few tricks I've picked up after years of using Sta-Wet palettes If you're thinking about buying a Sta-Wet palette, watch this before you buy one. I'm an acrylic wildlife artist and have no affiliation with Sta-Wet. I'm sharing what I've learned from using these palettes for my own paintings. My original Sta-Wet palette video:    • How I Use the Sta Wet Palette for Acrylic ...   Thanks for watching — and if you're an acrylic painter, consider subscribing for more painting tips, techniques and full painting videos. 0:00 Sta-Wet Palette Tips & Tricks 0:38 Which Sta-Wet Palette Size Should You Buy? 4:18 Which Palette Would I Buy Today? 5:15 Getting More From Your Palette Paper 6:21 How to Prepare the Paper and Sponge 9:35 Why Is My Paint Too Watery? 10:35 Why Is My Paint Still Drying Out? 12:22 The 2-Sponge Trick: No More Smelly Palettes 14:28 How Long Can Paint Stay Usable? 14:57 Do Pennies Actually Prevent Mold? 15:47 How to Clean a Sta-Wet Palette 16:19 How Long Do the Sponges and Paper Last? 17:34 Things That Don't Matter / Matter More Than You Think 18:42 Features I Never Use 19:38 Which Sta-Wet Palette Would I Buy? 20:37 The Biggest Time-Saving Benefit 21:13 Final Thoughts Some of my studio essentials are listed below. For Painting: Masterson Sta-Wet Painters Pal Palette no. 912 - https://amzn.to/4aOptHT StaWet Palette Sponge - https://amzn.to/4qct9aZ Tri Art Liquid Acrylics - https://www.tri-art.ca/collections/tr... Mont Marte Gesso - https://amzn.to/3LGPTRz Brushes - I use multiple brands, from cheap to moderately priced, nothing expensive. For Filming: Camera - Canon 80D with EF 50 mm F1.8 STM Joby GorillaPod 3K Kit - https://amzn.to/4qPluPX Microphone - DJI Mic Mini - https://amzn.to/3YwTqF6 Neewer 2 Pack Light Kit with Two 75" Tripod Stands/U Bracket - https://amzn.to/3NDSPik Neewer 22" Magic Arm w Desk C Clamp, Overhead Camera Mount - https://amzn.to/4szB5oy My Favourite Instructional Books: Drawing and Painting Birds (Tim Wootton) - https://amzn.to/3LGPTRz Color and Light (James Gurney) - https://amzn.to/3Z5MVZX Keys to Painting - Furs & Feathers (Rachel Wolf) - https://amzn.to/4qfcbJ5 Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist (James Gurney) - https://amzn.to/4brNvIS Wildlife Painting Step By Step (Patrick Seslar) - https://amzn.to/4bqY272 On some of the (affiliate) links above, I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me continue creating art content on my channel.