I love a good life hack and an art hack is even better. I made my own stay wet paint palette out of easy to find materials.

*This post is sponsored by Ziploc® brand products. All opinions are my own. #ZiplocHolidayUAI

One thing that I love about working in acrylic paints is that they dry fast. One thing that I hate about acrylic paints is, well, they dry fast. I know, I sound fickle but hear my reasoning. I love that I don’t have to wait for them to dry like oils do before I can move on to another layer. My creation is completed sooner. But I always hated the way they dried so fast on my palette especially if I had just mixed the perfect color.

Last year, I purchased a stay wet palette system with box, sponge liner, and palette paper from an online art store but it was huge! And expensive. My work area isn’t big and it was taking up room on my desk.  ore importantly I only ever used about half of the palette at a time. So here I was tired of wasting space and tired of wasting paint. There had to be something inexpensive and easy that would solve my problem.

I am always looking for ways to use objects other than their intended purpose. Sometimes I’ll roam the aisles of Walmart thinking up second lives or other uses for ordinary objects. And who would have ever thought you would find art life inspiration on the wraps and bags isles? But I did.

That day I brought home a variety of Ziploc® brand containers. Eventually settling on the Ziploc® brand Divided Rectangle. With one larger area and two smaller sections, these are traditionally used for keeping lunches together but I was imagining another use. This was going to become the savior of my paint, and ultimately my pocket book.

Using the sponge liner and paper palette from the original system, I cut it down to fit the larger section. The smaller sections make it easier for mixing, creating paint washes or even holding water for rinsing your brush. I can see how that would be useful if you decided to do a little plein air painting or if you wanted to keep craft time with the kids a little neater.

To watch me put my paint palette together check out my YouTube video!

SUPPLIES

• Ziploc® brand Divided Rectangle or your choice of Ziploc® brand container
• Thin sponge or other absorbent material
• Palette paper, wax paper, or parchment paper
• Scissors
• Water
• Spray bottle (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut down the sponge to fit inside your Ziploc® brand container. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You just want it to lay flat.
2. Cut the paper to cover the sponge.
3. Soak the sponge in water until it is completely saturated. You do not want it to drip or puddle in the container but you don’t want to wring it out completely.
4. Palette paper may require its own soaking instructions. Check the directions on the kind you have purchased. If you are using wax or parchment paper no soaking is required.
5. Sprinkle water or use the spray bottle to give the palette a good mist each time you go to close it up.
6. Now add your paints and get creative!

I keep a couple of these stacked on my desk. Some hold a specific color palette for a certain painting I am working on or one has everything thing I need to mix skin tones. You can organize them a variety of ways. But I am rather proud of my artist hack. It saved my paint, saved my money, and keeps me creating!

I’m using my new paint palette as I finish up the faces on these nutcracker portraits for some upcoming Christmas markets. I hope you will exercise some creative spirits this holiday season. What creative ideas are you cultivation?