A look at 2 of Holbein's steel watercolor palette options. Plus, a bit about other studio palettes. Jared Loves to Draw: / xjaredxcullumx Follow me on Instagram: brianashmore_studio
Thanks for the shout out! :) I LOVE the 250. I had one I took everywhere and it got crunched. I took some pliers and pried it back into form haha and got some more time out of it. I ended up giving it to a friend who was wanting to start learning watercolor but if I saw one in the store I’d grab another just to have it on the shelf. They’re great. Great video! :)
Jared Loves to Draw Sure!! Thanks! I knew you had a couple of the 250s. Such a great little palette! Congrats on your new book full of your gorgeous illustrations coming out, today!! I may end up being a Fraggle Rock Fan. 😂
I dont mean to be off topic but does any of you know of a way to log back into an instagram account..? I somehow forgot my login password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me
@Nasir Kyng thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im trying it out now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
In Japan they like to use rubber bands or ribbons for everything. I could definitely see them using those to keep the palette closed if they had issue with it. It is interesting that they didn't make it snap closed though. The Japanese usually think of everything. I live here in Okinawa and I just love all their art supplies!
Great review! I've tried a lot of palettes as well til I found the Holbein 500. Been using it for nearly 3 years now and no rusting or chipping so far.
eunicej Great to hear!! I've loaded and have been using the 250 as my portable palette the past couple of weeks and love using it. Hoping mine hold up, as well.
I've owned both the Holbein metal and aluminum palettes and I much prefer the aluminum. I live on Maui and EVERYTHING rusts here. The aluminum palettes are also much lighter which for me is a plus as I hold my palette while painting. I use the Holbein #40 with 13 wells, and a larger off brand model with 20 wells and love them both. BTW whatever your palette is made of, if paint beads up- rub the palette with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge. Works every time!
Wow, this really took me back to when I was a palette hunter! lol! It took me a lot of trial and error (and $) until I found my perfect setup, which is the basic Meeden tin on Amazon ($8-10 bucks) and a round ceramic plate from Crate & Barrel ($3 bucks). It's super easy to clean up and I can use dishwashing soap and an abrasive sponge with no wear-down. I totally agree about the Master's Brush cleaner, though I use it more for the preservative side to keep my brush tips pointy! lol! Thanks for this and really great to see/hear your thoughts on palettes! Nice job! Cheers! :)
M.D. Campbell Hey Mark! You are totally right... whatever works best for each artist is what they should use. It's all in good fun. I've used all sorts of palettes and they've all worked just fine. Thanks for commenting! Stay pointy!! 😁
Vermont art supplies sells the steel and aluminum Holbein palettes. Problem with aluminum is that get bent easily - not for travel. Love my steel palette!
Thank you soooo much for this post (even though it’s been several months)! I’ve been looking for a Holbein steel for 2 years, and had given up hope, so I’m thrilled to say that thanks to you I was able to place an order at Vermont for my palette!!! I’m beyond excited!
Thanks for the thumbs up..I have just purchased the 350 ..direct from Japan.........and am delighted with the quality (Jackson’s used to stock them, but no longer do so!).....the 350 has the same number of paint sections as the 250. However, be aware that the postman wouldn’t deliver it until I had paid £15.97 .....comprised of import duty and £8 ‘handling fee’ to the post office !
I still have a No. 250 that I bought in Tokyo in the mid-90s for 2200 yen, which then was around $18 - $20 USD. I kept the box to keep the palette closed due to it not snapping shut, and the pice sticker is still on the box. The corners of the wells have started to rust over the years, probably one reason why Holbein switched to aluminum. I ground off the rust using a Dremel tool and used some white Tester's enamel paint to cover the spots. I'm going to Japan in June and hope to pick up one of Holbein's new plastic palettes that has customizable half and full pans.
If you bend the metal a little near the edge it will stay shut just fine. I was lucky enough to pick one up used at an antique shop for ten pounds in Wales 🏴 beautiful palette 🎨
Hmm...About the Oh mine pallets not staying closed, my very first thought on seeing that was to glue two magnets flush on the outside where a clasp would (should LOL) be. So long as they would be touching when the case is closed, and oriented properly so that they do not repel, that would hopefully do the trick without being to visually disrupting....?
Another con is the positioning of the thumb hole makes the palette unsuitable for left handed people. The mixing areas would be on the outside of the right arm, so you would be taking mixed washes over the top of the paint wells, leading to increased risk of dirtying the paints in the wells, and to more twisting, which is ergonomically not ideal.
I’m a firm believer in using a limited palette...I just don’t understand why I have so many of the dang things. And so many tubes of paint when I can mix anything from 6 to 12 colors. Having all this stuff isn’t going to make me a better painter. It just means I have a lot more crap to lug around and find space for.
apologies if my comment shows up multiple times, i tried a few times and my comment does not seem to show. I just wanted to let everyone know that if you are in the united states you can purchase this palette at artxpress. I ordered from them and it came in the holbein box and had the sticker on the thumb flap, so i am certain that it is the legit holbein palette. I got the 1000 and they seem to have the 500 and 250 for sale as well. I hope this helps someone who is looking to procure this palette.
Yes, it is legit. It is a small art store. I called before I made an order because I was apprehensive as well. To be honest i was nervous up until i got it. For sure though, the one i received is the real deal. I got the 1000, it is bigger than i thought it would be, which makes me happy.
I have become palette obsessed . I have a large John Pike type palette. Similar in size to the Robert Wood you had. Your Robert Wood seems to waste a lot of space with its high sloped wells that limits the mixing area. And my large palette has wells all around. I don’t bother using the lid because as you said, it takes up too much desk space. I’m not gloating. My large studio palette is right now in storage and I really miss it. As for the Holbein...sorry, I have a pet peeve: . I hate palettes where they put some of the wells in the lid.
I really appreciated this review! I can't find many reviews for Holbein palette and yours was very detailed. I've been at for Holbein palettes. I bought one from Amazon but it felt cheaply made. Then, I found circle with name Atelier on blue box and never found anything with Holbein. I'm returning mine tomorrow. Would you mind telling where you purchased the 1000? I love that soap! I was introduced to it when I was "piddling" with oil painting. It does take out paint.. Thank you again.
Hi Nancy! It's been 2 or 3 years since I've bought the Holbein 1000. I believe I bought it from Jackson Art Supplies in the UK. They are fairly tough to find in the US. I would suggest, perhaps, buying from a Japanese seller on eBay with really good feedback. Since they are made in Japan, they are much more abundant and for sale, there. Hope you find one! That stinks that you got a knock-off from Amazon. :(
I have the 250 and a similar knock off that is of pretty high quality for the price. I use them on a flat surface not in hand because I am left handed and the thumb hole contraption don't work great for me. Other than that I think they are pretty great and I have had no rust issues and the clasp on the Holbein isn't great but it is better than what you show in this video and the clasp on the knockoff is actually very solid!
Marissa Swinghammer That's too bad that they don't make left-handed models. That's definitely a down-side to these palettes with thumb holes. Glad to hear you haven't had rust problems, either. My less expensive aluminum palette has a nice "snap" to it with closing, too. I guess that's why it's a bit frustrating that Holbein doesn't do the same with their models. It probably wouldn't take much to modify the Holbeins to snap closed.
$100 for that pallet? That is robbery. Iv used one of the plastic one's you first showed for many years as a professional watercolor street artist so it go's through a lot of travel and if I ever break it, I can get a new one for like $3.00. I also think it is a better design than the holbein and it has never stained. Plus, with a black pallet, you can not write on the back with magic marker notes on paint you are using in particular wells.
I bought one from a seller in Japan, and ended up,having to pay import duty at this end (UK) ....AND an extra £8 to the Post Office for handling the extra duty!
Thanks for the review. I get a little tickled when people go through the likes and dislikes as they go to the next one they try. Why, well if if they dont work out we still keep them. I am right up there on my list. I have a cabinet full of them. I’m never sure if its that there is a little paint left in them or what. Thanks for the brush cleaner tip, maybe I could just make them look better...nah.
Essie Tangle Yeah, it seems like we are always on the search for the perfect palette even though they all have their own issues. It’s hard to throw the old ones out. They're like old friends.
Hello Brian....thank you for the great review and information... I notice that Holbein now do Aluminium palettes (as per their website). What would be your thoughts on these? I live in a humid climate so your comment about rust and the metal palettes was very pertinent to me. Thank you in advance 🙂
Hi Jeanette, Thanks for watching! I've never used an aluminum Holbein palette but I would imagine it would be ideal if you live in a rust-prone climate. I'm guessing the aluminum palettes are a bit lighter but still of high quality as I've never used anything from Holbein that wasn't nicely made.
@@brianashmorestudio That's some friend! I have the Craig Young palette and the House of Hoffman palettes and they're FANTASTIC! I just ordered the Holbein 1000 from studio-six.com/ Crossing my fingers they're a legit retailer
The downside, for me, is that ring. When I ordered my Hoffman I specifically asked the creator to replace it with more slots. Without the ring, the palette lays flat on my table surface.
I've been using the Holbein Aluminum Folding Watercolor for a couple years now. its been pretty nice, only issue is that it's a little flimsy in my bag and some times gets stuck over top of itself. But it was 36 dollars with 13 wells, and at that price i just about view it as disposable.
I scrolled through this entire comment section to make sure I'm not asking something already answered. I see that there are pans on the lid portion. If you were to fill those with paint and close the palette, won't those paints spill onto the others via transportation? Any comments would be much appreciated!
@@labaccident2010 Given the thumb hole on this device, I figured it was designed for work outdoors. Using tube paint, it would take a bit of time for the paint to dry significantly before snapping it up to go. I've bounced between gouache and watercolor and certain pigments really contaminate others without a proper plan for transportation. Thank you, by the way!
Sorry for the late reply, Alex. Someone already addressed this but I thought I'd answer, anyway. I carry dry paint in these types of pallets. It gets a bit wet when in use but I try to make sure they are dry enough before closing things up. It hasn't been an issue, yet. I could definitely see this being an issue if you use paint from the tube while painting.
Brian Ashmore Studio My 250 came in the mail, recently. I filled it with more brighter hues than my other kits. Still, I made the stupid mistake of putting cobalt teal on the lid side! That particular paint takes forever to dry and runs everywhere. So, I’ll keep this kit at home and take the other brass kits outside. Nothing compares to using fresh tube paint
I think those wells in the lid are pretty useless, and of course makes a mess when you close it. Best not to use them. Especially for plain air work sitting around waiting for paint to dry is not very convenient. I wish they would make a model without them. I'd rather have more mixing space, and no thumbhole for the same reason. I have the cheap knockoff version that I like better for that reason. I did modify it, adding height to the divisions between mixing wells on the palette side and adding a divider on the lid side with thin aluminum from the hobby store. Some people just make a tall bead with a glue gun.
I love target, I have a plethora of ceramic plates for palettes. But now I have to go to the bath dept for those rubber bottomed ones. Thanks! Oh and the brush cleaner, i think because it has oil in it that is why it works better. Oil and a gentle cleaner is great for paint. When I clean my brushes I use Childrens shampoo and bio oil. Weird I know....but I’ve saved some really wild haired sable brushes with that and banana shaped brushes with the boiling water trick. Because of where I live (PHX) I have to condition my brushes because the moisture sucking climate makes my investment in brushes a quarterly conditioning routine that takes a few days for the process to attend to all my brushes. Great review!
Erin S. Good point! That's probably it. I've heard of using fats and oils to remove staining, before. I might have to try your conditioning trick. I have so many battered brushes from years and years of painting that might "come back" a bit from a treatment or two. Yes, definitely check out the rubber-bottomed trays at Target. I don't think I've seen something so perfect for extra mixing as this. They should be selling these in art supply stores. Ha, ha!
Yep, I'm only seeing the aluminum ones as well. Found them on ebay... boy, quality ain't cheap! But, hopefully, you'll only ever nees to but it once!Great stuff Brian!
hopeless paints they sell advertising as transparent I have bought large tubes of Jaune Brilliant one and Grey on grey. They are so opaque full of white when you apply looks and works like gouache, Be very careful !!!!