Full vs. Half Pans

[Sharon Nolfi]

I received a 12 half-pan tin of Schminke watercolors as a Christmas gift. This is my first time owning half pans, and they seem tiny to me! (I’ve used tube paints squeezed out into a standard plastic palette, or full pans in a tin.) It’s hard for me to load much paint from these pans. Any tips for how to use these? Does anyone else find these pans annoyingly small?

• This topic was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by Sharon Nolfi.

[Teri Casper]

I love my half and whole pans!  They are so great for traveling or just out sketching.  And quite honestly I’ve never used paint from a tube. But then, I always paint fairly small 😄

and I have a Schmincke set and love their colors. I really hope you enjoy them.

[Sandra Strait]

A lot of people dislike the half-pans because of the size and they can cause your brush tips to wear faster and make it harder to load the proper amount of paint.  I have cheapo brushes that I use to transfer paint to a mixing area – even if I’m not going to mix colors, and then use my good brushes there.  Not a good solution if you are traveling though.

[Debra “Kate” Powell]

I hate half pans.  I use them ONLY with a waterbrush or do as Sandra says to transfer them to a mixing area.  Often I’ve given them away… Lately I’ve thought about turning a couple of colors I like a lot over in a full pan or into my mixing palette (below, very sloppy and messy and often I can’t remember the colors I am using there) to use until they are gone.  Also, I use mostly pans or a mixing palette, but I tend to not fill the pans up fully when I do it myself — I angle them slightly so there is a bit of a place for water to linger at one edge.

[Sharon Nolfi]

Teri, I wish I liked them better. Out of 12 colors in the palette, I only like 2. The Schminke colors seem mush more subdued and dull compared to the Daniel Smith I usually use. What kind of brush do you use in the half pans?

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by Sharon Nolfi.

[Sharon Nolfi]

Thanks for all your responses. Kate and Sandra, I think the idea of getting the paint out with a cheap brush will help solve the problem. I use a mixing palette with angled sections similar to the one Kate posted.

[Jennifer McLean]

I use both, in fact, in my larger studio palette, I use the full pans as “spacers” so I can tell which color is on the left or right of a large pan. It’s hard to tell sometimes if a color is blue or grey or green so I use them as place holders. I find that if you put a larger amount of water in the top, you don’t have to ruin your brush tips. Just let the water sit for 5 minutes and the paint in the half pan softens significantly. Then you’re not “digging” with your brush tip. Now, you have absolutely full half pans in your new Schmincke tin so you’ll have to be careful as you use some of the paint up so you can get water in the top. If you have full pans you could always use an exacto knife and pull the dry paint out of the half pan and put it into a full pan. I’ve done that many times but I also know you want to use your new palette. I’d just use a waterbrush for a while to move the pigment to the mixing area until you have enough space to get several drops of water in the top of each half pan. Have fun with your new Schmincke set!! I’ll be doing several new posts in the new year about that palette  if your interested. My blog is Just Add Water Silly

[Sharon Nolfi]

Jennifer I was just reading about your studio palette on your website last night! You obviously have an extensive collection of paints and a deep understanding of color. I am not pleased with the Schminke paints – they seem so much duller than Daniel Smith. I received the special collection that came out in October – the palette has problems. My daughter bought it from FineArts America, through Amazon (US$69). I’m going to complain directly to Schminke. I’ve corresponded with their rep before when I requested the dot card of the newest paints.

[Pamela Smith]

My paints are in palettes some half pans and some full pans,I spray them to soften and have never had a problem with them drooling in there neighbors space,I only use tube paint to fill a pan..I love reading how everyone prefers to do things..always something new..

[Pamela Smith]

I have a 12 pan set of schminke and didn’t like them at first they are very transparent,I have played with them more and like them better now,it takes a lot of layering to achieve color sometimes,which actually works for me because I tend to keep working things to death,lol…I’m sorry that you are having such a frustrating time with them…

[Anonymous]

Sharon, I just read about your problem with your new Schmincke palette.  Most of my half pans are Schmincke and I haven’t had any problems with them.  I prefer them as they are not as granulated as say, Winsor & Newton.   Therefore, it may depend on whether you prefer a granulated look…many artists do. I prefer to buy Schmincke in the tube and top up my pans. Having said that, I purchased a 12 half-pan set when I was recently in Germany and have had no issues.   Please post your response from Schmincke, I would be interested to see what they have to say.

[Sharon Nolfi]

Pamela, the colors I have are mostly opaque, which is one of the things I don’t like.

[Jennifer McLean]

I totally agree with susan, I’d love to hear the answer you get from Schmincke. I know, the colors in the 2017 palette aren’t the most transparent but hopefully if you add other colors, these can be corollary colors.

[Sharon Nolfi]

Susan and Jennifer, I will post here when I hear back from Schminke.

[Jennifer McLean]

Thanks Sharon, hope you get a great response!

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