Woman holding a colorful gouache palette for painting setup.

Pros, Cons, and How I Set Mine Up

If you’ve been following along in my recent posts, you’ve probably noticed one tool that keeps making an appearance—my wet gouache palette.

It’s become a staple in my studio. Not because it’s perfect (it’s not), but because of how well it supports the way I like to paint—intuitive, and ready to go when inspiration strikes.

In today’s post, I want to take a deeper look at this setup. We’ll talk about the pros and cons, how I personally set up my palette, and a few important things to consider if you’re thinking about trying one yourself.

I’ve also included a video in todays lesson where I walk you through my exact palette, the colors I use, and how I keep everything working smoothly.

What Is a Wet Gouache Palette?

A wet gouache palette is exactly what it sounds like—a palette where your gouache paints stay moist and usable over time.

Instead of squeezing out fresh paint every session, your colors remain active, allowing you to jump right into painting without that extra step.

For me, that’s been a game changer.

Why I Use a Wet Palette

The biggest shift for me wasn’t just convenience—it was consistency.

When your paints are already hydrated, you’re not constantly having to squeeze out more paint. Everything is already in motion, already workable.

It creates a smoother painting experience.

Watch the Full Walkthrough

In the video below, I take you inside my palette and show you exactly how it works.

I go over:

The colors I use
How I arrange them
How I maintain the palette

If you’re curious about trying a wet gouache palette—or improving your current setup—this will give you a clear, real-world look at how it functions in practice.

MY FAVORITE GOUACHE SUPPLIES BELOW

The Pros

Always Ready to Paint: This is the biggest advantage. You can sit down and begin immediately. No setup. No hesitation.
Less Waste: You’re not constantly squeezing out fresh paint, only to have it dry out. The paint you put down stays usable much longer.
Encourages Practice: Because it’s so easy to get started, you’re more likely to paint often—even if you only have a short window of time. 

The Cons

Maintenance Is Required: You can’t just leave it untouched for long periods. It needs a little care to keep things fresh and usable.
Color Contamination: Because the paints stay soft, it’s easier for colors to mix unintentionally if you’re not careful.
Not Ideal for Everyone: If you prefer a very controlled, precise approach, or enjoy squeezing out fresh paint each time, this setup might not be for you.

The wet gouache palette has become one of those tools I didn’t realize I needed until I started using it.

It makes painting feel more accessible. And most importantly, it keeps me coming back to the work.

Like anything, it takes a little getting used to. There’s some trial and error. But that’s part of the process.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, or just want to make your painting practice a bit more fluid, this might be something worth exploring.


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Learn more about Gouache Dry PaLette and how you can try it out in this featured video below. 

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Linda Glover Gooch
Linda Glover Gooch

I hope you enjoyed this post. Besides being a Professional Painter, my Creative Journey has taken on a life of teaching, inspiring and helping others find their voice, grow and become skillful with their craft. Watching others gain the knowledge through practice and detailed instruction is a great reward. For the Collectors: My goal is to capture their vision, their imagination and take them to a place, a moment in time that touches their heart and soul.

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