Mixing Colours and Keeping Your Workspace Clean

Ron Gribble
Jun 4
2 min read

Mixing Colours and Keeping Your Workspace Clean

by Ron Gribble

Keeping your workspace clean — and organised — is one of the simplest ways to improve your colour mixing. If you can’t control the paint on your palette, you won’t control it on the canvas. A messy setup leads to frustration, rushed decisions, and muddy colours every time.

Below are a few habits that will help you keep your colours clean and your painting time more enjoyable:

Tips for a Clean and Efficient Workspace

• Never mix colours with a brush.

It’s the fastest way to lose control of a mix. Use a palette knife or palette trowel instead — you’ll keep the colour cleaner and your knuckles paint-free.

• Clean your palette often.

Wipe it down regularly, and always clean before switching to lighter colours. You can’t be too fussy here.

• If you're painting outdoors (plein air), manage the wind.

Use bulldog clips to secure rags, paper towels, or anything you use for cleaning or wiping brushes. The wind will find every loose edge if you let it.

• Try:

– A thick pad of recycled newsprint

– A stack of scrap printer paper

– A disposable palette pad

These give you the same “tear-off” clean surface for wiping palette knives or removing excess paint.

• Use rags for turps only.

Rags are great for removing leftover solvent from your brushes, but scrape the actual paint off onto paper — not onto the rag — to avoid smearing and contamination.