Paletteful Packs November Unboxing: Art Supply Review & Tips

Unboxing Paletteful's 5th Anniversary Art Supplies

The excitement is real when a Paletteful Packs box arrives bulging at the seams. This November marks their fifth anniversary, promising special surprises. Inside, we found seven curated items perfect for artists. The branded pencil case stands out immediately—a compact felt bag with faux leather details that fits easily in any art bag. Next, Amsterdam Acrylics' six-color set (20ml tubes) includes essentials: Titanium White, Primary Yellow, Primary Red, Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Green Deep, and Oxide Black.

Key observation: Tube symbols reveal opacity levels. White and black show solid squares (fully opaque), while blues and yellows display partial fills (semi-transparent). The green's line-through symbol puzzled me initially, but testing confirmed its transparency.

Rounding out the box: Art Alternatives' oval flat brush with sapphire-blue handle, three 8x10" canvas boards, a stretched cotton canvas, Winsor & Newton 0.5 Cool Gray fineliner, and a petite violet Posca marker (0.7mm). The anniversary sticker featuring paintbrush candles adds celebratory flair.

Testing Amsterdam Acrylics: Transparency Challenges

Understanding Paint Properties

These student-grade acrylics behave differently than expected. Transparent pigments like Ultramarine Blue require layering for coverage, while opaque Titanium White covers in one stroke. Critical finding: Mixing white into any color boosts opacity significantly. When painting over the gray fineliner sketches:

• Yellow and green layers remained translucent (showing lines beneath)
• White completely obscured underlying marks
• Red created semi-opaque coverage

Practical Color Mixing Tips

Creating skin tones? Blend Primary Red + Yellow + generous White. For earthy browns: mix all primaries + touch of Black. Pro tip: Add white early—it transforms mixtures into gouache-like consistency for smoother application. My terracotta blend (Red + Yellow + White) worked perfectly for pottery, while a "Shrek green" (Permanent Green Deep + Yellow + White) gave vibrant foliage tones.

Canvas Project: Adapting to Material Limits

Switching Strategies Mid-Creation

Initial attempts at zebra plant illustrations highlighted transparency frustrations. Switching to character art on canvas boards proved wiser. Key adjustments:

1. Used Posca marker for preliminary sketches
2. Mixed all colors with 30-50% white for better coverage
3. Embraced a stylized approach (thick outlines, flat colors)

The violet Posca marker excelled for final linework, though its wet acrylic ink required careful handling. When mistakes happened, opaque white paint enabled quick corrections. For textured details like glove seams, the oval flat brush created clean ridges.

Resource Recommendations

• Beginners: Opt for heavier-body acrylics (like Liquitex Basics) if transparency frustrates you
• Detail work: Supplement with smaller brushes—this box’s size 8 brush suited filling areas, not fine lines
• Surfaces: Use these canvas boards for practice; save the stretched canvas for final pieces

Final Verdict & Artist Insights

Paletteful delivered exceptional variety for their milestone box—especially valuing the professional brush and versatile paints. However, the experience revealed acrylics' learning curve. Transparent pigments demand patience; beginners might prefer gouache for immediate opacity.

My actionable checklist:

1. Test paint opacity on scrap paper first
2. Premix colors with white for easier coverage
3. Use Posca markers after base layers dry
4. Keep a damp cloth handy for mid-project brush cleaning
5. Seal finished pieces with varnish to prevent reactivation

The Amsterdam set offers strong pigmentation but requires technique adaptation. Noteworthy insight: Their affordability makes them ideal for practice, while professionals might upgrade to heavy-body options.

What's your biggest acrylic painting hurdle? Share your struggles below—I’ll suggest tailored solutions!