Getting ready to paint with acrylics - at least the way I’ve taught myself - requires quite a bit of planning. I have to make sure that I have the colors ready for when I need them and that they don’t dry out before I actually finish the painting!

- First I give myself some parameters for my palette by making a digital color swatch like this one.
- Then I mix up all the colors (adding a bit of Golden’s GAC 100 to each little pile) and place them in small butcher’s tray
-And then I spray them regularly with water and and when I’m not painting, I place the trays in plastic bags from the art store to keep them wet - for up to 1.5 months!

This digital color swatch is for “Oh What a World!”, acrylic on canvas, 20”x20”, 2018.

Color prep for “Oh What a World!”, acrylic on canvas, 20”x20”, 2018.