Many artists construct their own glass-topped taboret to use with acrylic paints. On wheels, the glass palette is portable and the artist can use larger plates of glass without worrying about excess weight or breakage. To slow the drying of paints on glass or plastic palettes, use a small amount of retarder. About three to ten percent of Golden Retarder will keep a mass of paint from forming a skin for up to six hours, depending on the atmosphere. Excessive quantities of retarder, especially when working in thicker impasto, will leave the paint skin feeling like soft gum, as the glycol may not totally release from the film.
Some people prefer to lightly mist the paint on their palettes.
This can be a very effective technique to provide more open time. Note again that excessive levels of retarder will result in a weakened paint film that remains sticky. Excessive spraying may cause colors to drip, or to stain into the support in an undesirable manner. On the market are several covered varieties of moisture-retaining palettes that help keep acrylic paints in working condition. The Stay-Wet Palette is a large plastic tray on which a large, flat sponge is placed.