Quick answer: Here is how to use palette paper pad sheets the right way: open the cover, leave the top sheet attached to the pad and place paint on its coated, slightly glossy side. Mix in the center with a palette knife, keeping colors around the edges. When you finish, move any paint you want to keep to the next sheet, then peel the used sheet off from the loose corner toward the binding, fold it inward and throw it away. With oils, laying plastic wrap over the sheet keeps paint usable into the next day.
A palette paper pad is a stack of coated sheets glued into a block, and the way you handle that block makes a real difference. Painting on the pad itself gives a firm, flat mixing surface; tearing a sheet off first leaves a floppy page that slides around. Small details like this decide whether a pad feels like a professional tool or a nuisance.
This guide covers how to use a palette paper pad from the first session to the last sheet, with extra attention to oil painting, where pads are especially popular. For pad recommendations by size, color and sheet count, see our guide to the best palette paper pads for oil painting.
Anatomy of a Palette Paper Pad
- Cover: a protective front sheet, usually printed with the brand. It folds back over the top while you work.
- Sheets: heavy paper with a waterproof coating on the top side, typically 30 to 100 per pad.
- Binding: glue or tape along one, two or all four edges.
- Backing board: stiff cardboard that keeps the pad rigid.
- Thumb hole (some pads): a hole cut through the whole stack so it can be held like a traditional palette.
How to Use a Palette Paper Pad Step by Step
- Fold the cover back. Bend it fully behind the pad or remove it if it gets in the way. Some painters keep the cover to use as a lid when transporting wet paint.
- Confirm the coated side is up. The coated side is smooth and slightly shiny. A drop of water will bead on it. Most pads are bound coated side up.
- Place the pad on a flat, stable surface. A table, taboret or the shelf of an easel. For hand-held pads, slip your thumb through the hole and rest the pad on your forearm.
- Lay out colors along the edges. Leave the center for mixing. Keep the same order every session.
- Mix with a palette knife. Press and spread with the flat of the blade. Avoid digging in with the edge, which can scratch through the coating.
- Use the whole sheet. Work in rows or zones so mixing space is used efficiently.
- Save paint before tearing. Lift any useful wet paint with the knife and move it onto the next sheet.
- Remove the used sheet. Peel from the loose corner toward the binding, fold the paint side inward and discard.
Why You Should Keep the Sheet on the Pad
The stack underneath gives the top sheet support. When you press a knife into paint, the pad stays flat and steady. A loose sheet bends under pressure, slides across the table and curls when damp. Mixing on the pad also stops paint from creeping under the edge of a single sheet onto your table.
The only time to remove a sheet before use is when you want to place it on top of another palette, such as on a glass palette for a disposable surface. In that case, tape the corners.
How to Tear Sheets Off Cleanly
Pads bound on one edge
Hold the pad down near the binding, lift the opposite corner and peel slowly toward the binding at a low angle.
Pads bound on two or more edges
Start at the corner where two free edges meet, if there is one. Peel diagonally toward the bound corner.
Pads bound on all four edges (blocks)
Find the small gap in the binding, often marked by a break in the glue. Slide a palette knife into the gap and run it around all four sides to release the top sheet.
Hand-held thumb-hole pads
Peel from the free side around the thumb hole. Go slowly near the hole so the sheet does not tear there and leave scraps behind.
Using a Palette Paper Pad for Oil Painting
Oil painters are among the most devoted palette pad users. Oils stay workable for hours, so a single sheet can last an entire session. The coating stops oil from soaking into the paper, which would otherwise leave paint dull and stiff.
Setting up an oil palette on a pad
- Squeeze out generous amounts of the colors you use most, especially white.
- Place a small cup of medium or solvent nearby rather than pouring it on the sheet.
- Premix a few key colors or value strings before starting to paint.
Keeping oils fresh overnight
Lay plastic wrap directly over the paint, pressing it gently onto the piles, and close the pad cover. Keeping the pad in a cool spot also slows oxidation. Many painters can continue with the same sheet the next day, though this depends on the colors and medium involved, since some pigments and fast-drying mediums set up sooner.
Using the medium cup safely
Dip your brush into the cup and work the medium into the paint on the sheet. Puddles of solvent can creep under the edges of the sheet and soften the binding. Keep the solvent container lidded when not in use and work with good ventilation.
Disposing of oily sheets
Sheets carrying a lot of linseed oil or alkyd medium should be handled carefully. Drying oils generate heat as they cure, which is why oily rags pose a fire risk. Laying heavily oiled sheets flat to dry in a safe place before disposal is a cautious habit.
Using a Palette Paper Pad With Acrylics
Acrylics work on pads too, but they dry quickly on the open surface. Squeeze out smaller amounts, mist the paint lightly every 10 to 15 minutes, and keep piles mounded. For long acrylic sessions, a stay-wet palette is usually a better fit, though a pad remains handy for quick mixes and color tests.
Dried acrylic on a sheet forms a flexible plastic skin that will not rewet with water. Rather than trying to revive it, scrape fresh paint onto a clean area or start the next sheet. Let the used sheet dry fully before discarding it so no wet acrylic ends up rinsed down a drain.
Gray vs White Pads
| Pad color | Use it when | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gray | Painting on a toned canvas; portraits; value-focused work | Mixes are judged against a mid-tone, so values read more accurately |
| White | Painting on a white ground; glazing; bright, high-key work | Shows color brightness and transparency clearly |
Some painters keep one of each and choose based on the painting at hand.
Choosing the Right Pad Size
| Pad size | Good for |
|---|---|
| Small (around 6 x 9 inches) | Plein air, small studies, sketch kits |
| 9 x 12 inches | Most paintings up to around 16 x 20 inches |
| 12 x 16 inches | Larger canvases, more colors, premixed strings |
| Larger studio sizes | Big paintings and extensive premixing |
If your mixing area constantly feels crowded, the pad is probably too small for your painting size or color count.
Layouts That Work Well on a Pad
Top-edge layout
All colors along the top edge, white at one end, darkest color at the other. The rest of the sheet is open for mixing.
L-shaped layout
Colors along the top and one side, meeting at white in the corner. Leaves a large mixing area and suits bigger pads.
Premixed value strings
Below the row of tube colors, lay out short strings of premixed values for the main subject, such as skin tones or sky colors, from light to dark.
Holding a Thumb-Hole Pad at the Easel
Hand-held pads let you stand back from the canvas with your colors in hand, much like a traditional wooden palette. Slide your thumb through the hole from underneath and let the pad rest along your forearm. Arrange heavier piles of paint, especially white, closer to your thumb so the pad stays balanced instead of tipping outward.
You can tuck a few brushes between your thumb and the pad to keep them handy. A full pad of 50 sheets carries some weight, so if your arm tires, set the pad on a nearby surface for part of the session. Many painters peel the cover off entirely on thumb-hole pads because it gets in the way.
Making a Pad Last Longer
- Do not tear sheets for minor tests. Use a corner of the current sheet instead.
- Clear space rather than starting over. Scrape old mixes off part of the sheet with a knife and wipe it with a paper towel to free mixing room.
- Match the pad to the job. Use a small pad for small studies so a big sheet is not wasted on a few colors.
- Keep the pad dry and flat in storage. Damp or bent pads lose sheets to curling and warping.
These habits stretch a pad noticeably, which matters if you paint often. If you are burning through pads quickly, it is worth comparing sheet counts and sizes; the pads in our palette paper pad comparison vary widely in both.
Using the Cover as a Lid
On pads with a sturdy cover, folding it back over a sheet of wet paint protects it from dust and keeps it from smearing while moving the pad. It does not seal like a palette box, so oils will still slowly skin over, but it is useful for short breaks and for carrying the pad from studio to car. For longer storage, cover the paint with plastic wrap first, then close the cover over it.
Common Mistakes With Palette Paper Pads
- Tearing the sheet off before mixing. It slides, curls and gives a weaker surface.
- Using the uncoated side. Paint soaks in and may bleed through.
- Pressing hard with the knife edge. This can scratch through the coating.
- Pouring medium onto the sheet. Puddles creep under edges.
- Throwing away usable paint. Move it to the next sheet first.
- Carrying an open pad. Wet paint smears onto bags and clothes; close the cover or use a flat box.
Troubleshooting
The next sheet has paint on it
Paint or solvent seeped through a damaged coating or around the edge. Peel the affected sheet off as well, and avoid flooding the surface.
The sheet is curling
Too much water or very wet paint. Keep it attached, use clips at the corners and reduce misting.
The pad keeps sliding
Place it on a non-slip mat, or tape the backing board to the table.
The thumb hole tears when peeling
Peel more slowly and support the sheet around the hole with your fingers as it lifts.
FAQs
How do you use a palette paper pad?
Leave the top sheet on the pad, put paint on the coated side, mix in the center with a palette knife and peel the sheet off when finished.
Which side of palette paper do you use?
The coated side, which is smooth and slightly shiny. Water beads on it.
Do you tear palette paper off before using it?
No. Keeping it attached to the pad gives a firm, flat surface and prevents sliding and curling.
How do you keep oil paint fresh on palette paper?
Cover the paint with plastic wrap, close the pad cover and store it in a cool place. Many colors stay usable into the next day.
Can you use a palette paper pad for acrylics?
Yes, for shorter sessions. Mist the paint and use small amounts, since acrylic dries faster on an open sheet.
How do you open a palette pad glued on all sides?
Find the small unglued gap, slide a palette knife in and run it around the edges to free the top sheet.
Next Step
Using a palette paper pad well comes down to a few habits: mix on the pad, use the coated side, protect the coating from hard scraping and save good paint before tearing. Pads differ in size, color, binding and coating quality, all of which affect daily use. To compare options built for oil painters, see our roundup of the top palette paper pads.
