Curating my perfect LANDSCAPE watercolor palette ✶ Setup, color mixing, painting

[@Bloomkyaaa]

I have a dropper bottle with a mix of glycerin and honey and I add it to cheaper watercolors and it really helps with the cracking when drying and makes them rewet easier! Making watercolor palettes is honestly so therapeutic and relaxing. It's a whole hobby of its own.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I agree!

[@Diane_McDon]

Great idea, thanks

[@lauralonghelbig]

@@Bloomkyaaa what’s the ratio of glycerin to honey? And do you mix it with paint already in a pan?

[@Bloomkyaaa]

@@lauralonghelbig I literally mixed half of each into a dropper bottle lol. I'm no expert though.

[@lauralonghelbig]

@@Bloomkyaaa thank you!

[@s.maskell7134]

When I started with watercolours in November I followed your mixing processes and now, aside from an huge pile of charts, I do pretty much what you did today and with the same aim in mind - getting that muscle/eye memory for my palette so I can get the colours I want the instant I want them Thank you for all you've taught me.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I can never get enough mixing!

[@verfpapierschaar]

well people don’t watch this video if you have to work because it is FULLLL of inspiration! really loved it!

[@jannahlyon]

I love the self made coloring book for color experimentation - amazing tip!

[@renmuffett]

Yes, I absolutely always use Glycerin in my Daniel Smith watercolors. Especially the Prematek. I've had Premateks turn to leather even treated with glycerin. The water literally beaded up on the surface. I dumped Ox Gall substitute on the dried surface and glycerin and scrubbed with metal and let it sit overnight and was amazed it started working again. My Schmincke never needs that extra glycerin though. Thanks for sharing Sarah!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

So far I’ve found the blending medium is keeping them more moist, but we’ll see about long term! Is there a reason you use ox gall substitute? I’m just wondering because you mentioned Schmincke and they have ox gall in them (except the akademie line)

[@kuraicraft]

I've been feeling a little down about starting painting again since I haven't had the time or space to get set up, but watching your videos always makes me feel more confident in starting. 👉👈Thankyou

[@jennifertait2287]

Thanks for your videos Sarah! I love your way of colour mixing. It does take slightly more time than the grid method but this way give a much better range. I made up a travel pallet of 12 colour and am mixing one colour at a time. It’s really cathartic for me and the information I’m gathering from this exercise will be very helpful.

[@gwenanderson1914]

I have just found you within the last month and I am totally LOVING everything you share. You are such an inspiration Sarah and I'm loving Scotland through your eyes. Scotland has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and you have certainly shown me so many beautiful areas. Thank you so much.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you so much! I'm happy to share the beauty

[@TheNeedleneuk]

We lived in Arbroath, Scotland many years ago. I love watching you panting on the beach and remember how brisk the wind was coming off the North Sea. 🥶

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Very brisk! Today was gorgeous and sunny and when the wind stopped, warm! But when the wind gusts came…brrrrr!

[@reneebrady1333]

I always make a color wheel with my three primaries in any pallet I have. I love to see what I can create! Then I do a full on color chart, which I love doing!

[@felicitycrowe6971]

Love the two colour mixing charts!

[@felicitycrowe6971]

… really love the various rocks with the little colour swatches next to each, too!

[@DannySabraArt]

Pre sketching things to paint later is a genius idea and I loved how those rocks turned out! Very cool. I also didn’t know about glycerine. That could be quite useful!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Use sparingly! If you use too much they NEVER dry 😅

[@ChantelleArts]

The mixing charts are a great idea, they must have taken ages! 😮I'd love to do this for my new palette but 30 ish paints seems pretty daunting

[@MrsBarnabas]

"30 ish paints seems pretty daunting" The more colours you have in your set, the more worth while the play-mixing time. Maybe just do a few at a time? 😊 Doing this will also show you that you need a lot less colours in your box, because you know how t make them yourself - as Sarah demonstrated with one of her DS colours. That, in turn, saves both time and money in the long term. 😄 I'm primarily a pastoral landscape artist, and since around 1990, have been using just 12 colours for not only landscape, but all my work. I added in one more, as it was helpful for certain scenes, but that's all. I do also have a play palette with an odd mix of samples I've picked up along the way, and that's great fun for sploshing colour about and relaxing, but those 12 basics are all I really need, which is good, as I'm now (like so many folk) on a really tight budget! PS: I added a 'like' so you'd be notified that you have a reply. 😊

[@yd3941]

This is a superb palette! Thank you for sharing it with the utmost passion and production value.

[@msfrehel8758]

I‘m very happy for you that you‘ve worked out such a great individual palette and I really adore your hard working and patience working on the mixing charts as I know myself that even though they are fun with respect to the fantastic variety of colours and shades, they are a lot of tedious work! ⭐️🎨🤗

[@MsMoniqueWilson]

Your videos are so informative and so pleasant to watch. Thank you.

[@bluewren65]

Your videos are always up on a Sunday morning and what a beautiful way to start this most restful day of the week. I love buff titanium. I make my own BT gouache using the schminke gouache base and pigment powder from Langridge. I use it for mixing all the time. It's as though any colour mixed with BT is automatically more sophisticated and more magical.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I can’t believe it took me so long to try it! Now I’m in lovvvvve

[@delta_rho]

Thank you for this video! I’ve started to explore new watercolours recently and it felt overwhelming working with unknown, but your video gives motivation to structure the process, thanks

[@SereneStudio]

It's so amazing seeing you evolve as an artist. And enjoying the prismas! They have some absolutely gorgeous granulation! :D

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Sarah, I have seen an occasional video of yours listed on the right of my KZbin screen, yet I follow so many Artists I am rather stingy on adding any more! I have subscribed to your channel after watching your interview with Lindsay and I am so sorry that I did not subscribe sooner! I have been infatuated with Scotland for years now and I have visiting there on my bucket list too! I used to create elaborate color charts quite similar to the ones you show in this video. I wish I could say that I have outgrown them, but they are great ways to keep mixtures in the front of your mind and it is a wonderful way to practice with your watercolors! My problem? Time! You get to a point where you must temper your time on inspiration and practice with time creating your artwork! I believe that we never stop learning. You simply have to weigh learning experience with creating your art. I am still trying to do both! I am glad that I am subscribed and I look forward to seeing Scotland through your eyes and Art!

[@KavithaS-w7q]

Thank you for sharing the knowledge. I learned lot about colour mixing and making ones own colour pallette .

[@SarahAndBoston]

So fun Sarah! Thanks for sharing your process. I love all your videos. ❤

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@SG-dk9gn]

I love your videos! Creating mixing colour swatches really intimidate me but you make the process look not only relaxing but also fun. I do mix as I paint but haven't made mixing swatches. I realize now how important it is to do that, less time lost in remixing and getting it wrong,lol.💞💞

[@c.f.callier]

I know you've mentioned doing custom mixes in past videos but it finally hit me today that I do have a couple of colors that I could do that with too since I mix them a lot. Thank you for sharing about that. Those color mixing charts are definitely tedious. They are one of my least favorite things to do but so freaking helpful.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yea I’m really glad I have more room for custom mixes in my travel palette, because I use them so much!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Love these ideas!

[@catepearce2138]

How informative, I now see how you use your time wisely when you have weeks of rain. This exercise is something I need to do: thank you for all your advice. Have a great week.

[@stephenwelham]

High sarah great video thank you for sharing I love these type of videos from setting up your palette selection of colours and your mini demos with a limited selection of thank for the simple way you put the ideas a cross it’s very valuable to see this in practice as always brilliant sarah

[@MedaHalmaciu]

I used to do a lot of color mixing. O am out of that phase right now, but thanks to your video I pulled out my watercolors and sketchbooks for a painting session.

[@AntiquatedPixels]

This is such a relaxing, educational video - thanks so much for sharing your knowledge, I always learn so much from you videos!

[@ultramarinetoo]

I love your little rock paintings - a great idea I will definitely steal.

[@lulabelle33]

Great video. Love the color swatching explanation and wetting experimentation. -as well as the practice of custom mixes for frequently used color combinations

[@geckonia]

Love your videos so much 🤗 I’m setting up a new DS palette too and will be using these tips! Thank you. 💚

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yay! Thank you!

[@jaimejaime1178]

Hi Sarah. Jim from Madrid, Spain. I just started a new 18 colour palette all Daniel Smith watercolors (I used to work with Windsor & Newton more often due to easier availability here) and besides swatching and some mixes to memorize colours I never used your idea for colour mix charts based on 2 colours (One on each side). That's cool!!!! I'll try it out. I wasn't as thorough and organised as you before with all the charts, but You've showed me the importance of organising the information better for future reference, and I've found it it very helpful indeed. 😃👍 Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with all of us and have a great month of April with your Plain air painting for the challenge! Cheers from Madrid!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

That’s great, I’m happy to hear it helps!

[@jenniferdoyleart]

Loved the video watching you mix was great. You and Wolfie have an amazing Easter

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thanks so much!

[@sandramathews4915]

Very helpful video about mixing essentials. Thanks.

[@essietangle9931]

I feel like I have spent time with a mixer…love when you make your own. 🧡💙💚❤️💜🐇Happy Easter this weekend.

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Thanks Sarah for sharing your thoughts & the ways you do extra color swatches & mixings of personal colors when setting up your palettes. I have been playing recently with actually mixing up some of my own colors that I personally like to use often in my paintings. Definitely a great video filled with lots of interesting & useful tips. Have a Happy Easter!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you :) I’m glad it was inspiring

[@sprucehouse9]

Great tip on adding the glycerin! I have soooo many palettes full of rock-hard paints!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yup, it’s so annoying! I recently cleaned out a big baggie full of dried half pans (accumulated over the last 5 years)…I basically had to chip out the paint!

[@ritzie3131]

WOW! Very interesting. I too love getting and playing with new watercolors. Probably should do it in a more mindful way (as you do). I can certainly see the value of the various color-mix sheets, but not sure I have the patience to do that. Your beach scene came out really well. I missed the April challenge, but I like that idea as well.

[@aidasoto2936]

Thanks you share my ideas and products and my projects keep enjoying

[@suel4269]

After watching you making a dried gouache palette, I made one using full pans in a Sta-wet backpack box. I used the poster tack just like you did .

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I’m thinking of making another dried gouache palette too this time with full pans. I am going through some of the colors quick!

[@ann-marielofberg1159]

You always inspire me to paint, or like this want me to make a new palette

[@cj_kirby]

I'm in love with your rock clusters! Now I want to try them. Thanks for sharing.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you!

[@pesto12601]

I put this much dedication into my own job... don't have the time to do this for just a hobby.. but I am impressed with your dedication!

[@graciousmom4127]

Love those colors ma'am! 😘😍🎨

[@Eovielle]

Thanks so much for this. I just made myself a palette too and this video was so helpful.

[@tasticola]

Beautiful! You're so inspirational and very patient. x Nell.

[@cynthiakammann7368]

You are absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much for sharing your ways❣️ I appreciate your thoughtful process. Looking forward to hearing more about how it's going with using glycerin and/or your medium to maintain the paints quality. I'm especially interested regarding gouache.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I’ll have lots of thoughts to share by the end of this month!

[@bristremel1554]

Hi Sarah - if you see this, I'd be curious to know how your tests turned out, re: glycerin/blending medium - did you conclusively find one worked better than the other? I'm about to lay out a Daniel Smith palette. The only colours I'm really worried about rewetting are potters pink and blue apatite genuine. I don't have glycerin or medium on hand so I have to buy one/both, and I'm wondering if you found that one works better than the other or if it was more a case of one works better for some, the other works better for others, etc.

[@faerwen]

I would love to see an update on the colors you picked now that you’ve had time to used them for a couple of months 😊

[@charmaineadriaanse4054]

Can you elaborate on the rock mixes they stunning

[@edithrussell9078]

Thank you so much! I learned a lot, and also I was inspired, as I have been I'm a slump.

[@VitasArtworks]

thanks for sharing this sarah ^_^ i also take part in Plein Airpril the first time. so much fun 🥰🥰🥰

[@banangebliss3387]

This is awesome! Can you tell me, are you using the Draco broadcast lighting system that you talked about in a video a couple years ago to light this video, or something else? I’m trying to decide how to best light my own studio for tutorials (for flower piping, not watercolor, but the recording angle etc set up is quite similar). I’m in love with the clarity of your videos! 🤩😍

[@katjastar3621]

that was so helpful. thx a lot

[@vupps]

Sarah you are soooo super amazing and so thorough in what you do. Your gouache as well as the watercolor paintings are super fantastic. You are inspiration personified. I’ve been motivated to give it a go on trying guache and have been waiting forever for your paint brushes to be available. It’s still sold out! Hope i can get them soon. I enjoy your journeys and blogs- feel like I’m traveling with you. Please keep up this amazing work of yours for an utterly no talent person- me!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

They will be released again this month, if you sign up to be notified about launch date on the Craftamo website hopefully you won’t miss it :)

[@vupps]

@@SarahBurnsStudio Yes, Sarah, i keep pressing the notify button on their site and it keeps saying that i have already signed up for being notified when available! As you said hopefully it will be available soon! Thanks for your kind reply

[@hArtyTruffle]

Thanks Sarah 👍🏼

[@AbiNomac]

Love the rocks

[@ericakauffman5786]

Love the mixing and sketch book work. Why don't I do this????

[@slateportraichu5416]

Thank you for the video and great tips=3

[@martconner-w5y]

Could you do more teaching on custom color mixes

[@thebirdartistscottage]

This is such a great video and so inspiring! At a random estate sale, I found a lovely vintage Winsor and Newton watercolor set that was barely used. I’m following along how you swatch and mix your colors to get acquainted with it since most of the pans aren’t labeled and I have no idea what the color names are! One quick question: what sketchbook are you using there are the end when you do your rock paintings? I am so grateful for all the know-how you share, Sarah! Lots of love from Oregon! (Where we have lots of rocky coasts!)

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

It’s a Hahnemule 100% cotton sketchbook (square version) which i really enjoy

[@sarahmcarthur9107]

Hi Sarah from another Sarah (though older by at least one or two generations!) I love this video because it gives me a concrete idea (well, concrete is ultimately made from rocks, right?) about a way to combine just getting something on paper (and practicing) and learning more about what I've got in my palette. I've dibbed and dabbed at similar ways to swatch, but never as thoroughly as this; I do like doing only two colors at a time as it takes out all the speculation about what would happen if I added just a bit more (or less) of the ___ and so on. I do have a question though--I see many people talking about using single pigment colors when mixing their convenience mixes because of potential for muddying--clearly your green gold wouldn't be muddy, but have you found that to happen otherwise? I've not played with mixing paints yet, but I'm thinking about it, and you made it look very doable. Thanks for all your hard work, especially in showing how you put this all together!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yes there is potential if you mix multi-pigmented colors, but they vary so much from color/brand that it is hard to give a perfect answer to say what will work or not. So really for me it comes down to trying it! I have so many tubes from over the years that I can try. Some mix great, others not so much. 😊

[@sarahmcarthur9107]

@ Thanks so much for your reply--and I can imagine it will be much the same for me as I already have many tubes of similar colors to work with! ❤️

[@Saahrish]

Sarah, A MASSIVE THANK YOU for sharing all your research, tips, and tricks. You are God sent for everyone! Bless you! Will you teach how to paint these beautiful rocks? Like will there be a tutorial on your Patreon?? I know you have a skillshare class but the rocks in this video are so so so so beautifully painted!!!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I did record this rock painting for a future tutorial :)

[@Saahrish]

@@SarahBurnsStudio my eyes will be peeled for it 😊

[@teresac6166]

Really useful tips. I loved the rock clusters. What type of sketchbooks do you use for that kind of exercise? Do you stick to 100% cotton?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

It’s the Hahnemuhle 100% cotton sketchbook. And. Yes I use 100% cotton for watercolor. For gouache it doesn’t have to be, as long as the paper is sturdy

[@reneecailloux2573]

A lot of ideas! Thanks for that. Question: have you added watercolor medium or glycerin to gouache to keep it moist? I think I remember you saying that you prefer putting on your palette only the gouache that you need but still I was wondering. Thanks!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yes the blending medium

[@carolefreeman2544]

Gorgeous pictures and mixes. Again, you are so talented, I aspire to be able to paint even half as good as you. What DS colours did you finally pick for palettes? Thanks 😊 🇨🇦

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you, I posted a recent video about all the colors :)

[@leanngoodall7602]

Another fabulous video. I was wondering about your fountain pen...specifically what nib it has?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

It’s a Sailor Fude pen 55 degree nib

[@leanngoodall7602]

@@SarahBurnsStudio thanks! I'm thinking of getting an omni-flex nib...

[@harmonizedgetaways]

Hi! What did you mix to make green gold?

[@aidasoto2936]

Hehe Nice To Meet You hehehehe!!!! By Daniel Smith

[@peterihnat108]

May I ask for some advice please for a beginner with limited budget - what colours would you recommend from your lovely set please? Up to 10 colours might be realistic for me to afford… Many thanks&greetings from Edinburgh UK!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I just posted a video sharing my latest core colors. They are all so lovely. You could get the majority of the colors minus the PrimaTeks, maybe only one of the blues and one yellow, and skip the oranges

[@jam4441]

So lovely to see your new palette. Very much looking forward to seeing all your amazing artworks with these beautiful new colours. I wonder if you are using one of your brushes in the studio ( looks to have a blue handle)? Also wondering what the travel brushes were that you were using plein-air?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yes the brush is the larger round/pointed one from my set. And I use them outside too

[@jam4441]

@@SarahBurnsStudioI hadnt realised that your brushes were designed for watercolours. The studio brush looks amazing ...good coverage and fine detail strokes . The brush you use at the end of the video has a polished silver end is this also one of your brushes? Last question I promise...are you still selling your brushes?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

@@jam4441 oh sorry! I mixed it up with another pleinairpril video - the brush with the silver ends are the Escoda travel brushes. I use different things each day just for fun. But if you ever see brushes with the turquoise handle, those are mine (hope that clears it up)

[@jam4441]

@@SarahBurnsStudio Many thanks . Hope you will be selling your brushes again soon:)

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

@@jam4441 they should be restocked in April ‘soon’

[@kimallen8521]

Hi Sarah, I'm coming to Scotland in September and very excited to expand my Daniel Smith to take with me, as I know you live that way is there one colour you couldn't do without on your palette for the Scottish landscape? By the way you have endless patience 😂, I definitely don't 😂

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I guess it depends what you like to paint! If you plan on painting fields/hills/foliage, having a few strong greens is a good idea (maybe similar to Diopside Genuine and Green Gold If you like beaches and rocks, definitely something similar to yellow ochre, Bronzite genuine, so you can mix those earthy but muted sandy tones A couple blue options and a dark color (I'm loving bloodstone genuine!)

[@suel4269]

Do you always paint on your cutting mat? I noticed a lot of youtube artists do and I would think a new sheet of paper could get contaminated when you’re cutting it.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

It varies from time to time, I sometimes have a blank table top, or a big sheet of grey paper, or the cutting mat. But I have 4 cutting mats…this one is solely for doing ‘whatever’ on my table. I often use it when I’m switching a lot between painting and cutting swatch cards (like I’ve been doing recently for my new palettes.

[@s.courtneywalton1737]

Can you tell me more about your red water container?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I got it ages ago, unfortunately i cant remember the name

[@franclark467]

I made my own palette with watercolor. It dried out, but after some time, the paints started to crack really bad. Are they still good to use.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

If they are high quality, If you drop some water in and let them soak they should be able to be reactivated.

[@debsmith7050]

....fun for me :)

[@SharonCullenArt]

I’m surprised you’re even needing the blending medium with Daniel Smith watercolors. I’ve always found that they reconstitute immediately.

[@Goldi-Luc]

it seems to only be certain colors. i only have maybe 12 ds colors and one got rock hard and is hard to rewet but the others are fine ! it was ultramarine that got so hard btw. one of my most used colors so it isn't that it sat unused forever.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I don’t need it for most of them, but I did it as an experiment to compare to. But for some it’s absolutely necessary

[@thao3t]

could you list all names of colors? thank you

[@Makachopping]

"I'm kind of experimenting..." So another day that ends in "y" 😂😂😂What kind of paper were you playing on?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

The rocks are in my Hahnemuhle 100% cotton sketchbook

[@Makachopping]

@@SarahBurnsStudio what about with your color wheels?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

@@Makachopping that’s scrap pieces of Arches cold pressed

[@artbyashley6613]

Sarah what sketchbook are you doing the rock play in ? There's no paper wrinkle ! Share the juju 😂

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

It’s the Hahnemuhle 100% cotton sketchbook

[@artbyashley6613]

@@SarahBurnsStudio thanks 😊 grabbed a couple

[@awatercolourist]

First comment!