I just hate wasting paint! Watercolours can be left to dry on the palette, but acrylics dry out within a matter of hours. Even in an airtight container the paint forms a thick skin on top and the paint goes all lumpy – enters the wet palette. Using an air tight container with a damp sponge inside, you can save paint for up to four weeks without any change in consistency. Beware though – before first use, dip your palette and sponge in some hot water with a drop of bleach in to kill bacteria – or your paint might start to mould!

You will need:

• 1 sheet of paper (A4)
• 1 airtight container (those with the clip on lid and rubber seal are best.)
• 1 piece of antibacterial dish towel or a sheet of sponge which will fit in your container’s lid
• a piece of hardboard or corrugated plastic – same size as your container
• some paper towels
• a piece of kitchen waxed paper
• a spray bottle filled with water
• masking tape

Step 1 Smear a small amount of watercolour or clear water on your container’s lid. Push the lid paint/water side down on the paper – the imprint of the lid vorms your template for cutting the rest of the layers.

Step 2 Use the template in step 1 to cut the dish towel or sponge to fit snugly into the lid of your container.

Step 3 Also use the template in step 1 to cut the piece of hardboard or corrugated plastic to the same size as the lid – this will form the palette base.

Step 4 Fold a double layer of paper towels around the palette base and give it a spray with the spray bottle filled with water – the towel should be damp, not wet.

Step 5 Cut a piece of waxed paper to double the size of the palette base. Fold the paper around the palette base and secure with masking tape. Also wet the sponge fitted into the container’s lid with water – the sponge should be wet, but not dripping.

Step 6 Place the palette base onto the sponge. You are now ready to squirt your paint onto the waxed paper.

Always tightly secure the lid of your wet palette when you are not painting and when you stop for the day, give the sponge a squirt or two with water, to make sure it does not dry out.