Which colors do I really need for a basic palette?

If you’re building your first palette, a great place to start is with a compact selection of primary colors. Choosing both warm and cool versions of yellow, red, and blue allows you to mix a wide and versatile range of hues while keeping your palette simple and easy to manage.

This approach gives you the flexibility to explore color mixing and better understand how different pigments interact, which is especially helpful for beginners.

Our Essential 6 Pocket Set was designed with this idea in mind. It includes six half-pans, featuring warm and cool primaries, carefully selected for clean mixing and a broad color range. The set comes in a compact metal tin with built-in mixing areas and a small color chart, making it a practical and portable option for both learning and painting on the go.