Let’s talk disposable palette pads

I’ve tried quite a few different types of palettes. One type that I’ve used quite extensively are the disposable palette paper pads. Right now, I have three types in my collection so I thought I’d share my thoughts with you on them. I currently have versions of palette paper pads from Canson XL, Strathmore and Jack Richeson.

Each palette sheet has a smooth, poly-coated side where you can mix acrylic paints without the paint seeping through to the other side. It essentially eliminates cleanup because you just dispose of the palette sheet when you’re done with it.  

The Canson XL and Strathmore are both white and seem exactly the same. They come in pads of 40 sheets and are bound at two edges, which is an advantage because it keeps your paper more stable as you mix paint on it. If you’re choosing a white palette pad, just go with whatever is cheapest. 

Watch my video on disposable paper palettes on my YouTube channel or read on below.

The Jack Richeson pad is from their Grey Matters series. They come in neutral grey sheets which some artists prefer for more accurate colour mixing and being able to judge value more easily. It was a bid pricier than both the Canson and Strathmore but came with 50 sheets. It is only bound on one edge, which I was surprised by because I would have expected a more expensive product to have such a small but valuable feature included. 

Advantages

I use the disposable palette paper pads when I travel with my paints because they take up far less room in my bag than other palettes. I also use them if I’m doing a course and need to switch to a clean palette quickly. You can just rip away the sheet and have a clean palette sheet ready to go. There’s no waiting until your paint dries so you can peel it off, or taking it to a sink to wash it clean. 

Palette paper is also relatively inexpensive. Depending on the brand, they vary in price but you can get 40 or 50 sheets for well under $20. That can last you a very long time. 

Disadvantages

Let’s be honest, they aren’t great for the environment because they’re disposable. If that’s a major concern for you, I’d skip them entirely. 

The price will add up over time because you’ll need to regularly replace the pad once the sheets are used up. Eventually, a permanent palette will be less expensive if you paint regularly. 

While they are great for acrylics, they are just passable for gouache, which beads on the surface. I do still sometimes use them for gouache but generally I use a ceramic palette for that medium. I haven’t used it for oil paint so I can’t speak to how well it works for oils. Same for watercolours, although I imagine they would bead up similarly to gouache. 

Sta-wet palette

In a blog post about disposable palette paper, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a quick mention of the Masterson Sta-wet Palette. It’s a plastic palette and sponge that uses a disposable sheet within it. Once you’re done a painting, you can dispose of the sheet and start a new one next time. I don’t personally dispose of the sheets after each use – they’re strong enough to withstand a few cleaning and drying cycles before they get a bit fuzzy or develop holes. Some artists do dispose them though. 

It’s not as quick and simple to use as the disposable palette pads but some artists swear by them, including me. It uses a system of pretreating with water and a wet sponge to keep paint workable for hours or days. To learn more, check out my blog post on how to use a sta-wet palette. 

Get your own disposable palette paper

Pick up your own at your local art supply shop or on Amazon:

US

• Sta-wet palette (12″x13″ version) plus additional sheets
• Sta-wet palette (16″x12″ version) plus additional sheets

Canada

• Sta-wet palette (12″x13″ version) plus additional sheets
• Sta-wet palette (16″x12″ version) plus additional sheets