Created My Own Mixing Problem

[MSWcrane]

Dennis,
I have created what appears to be my own WaterColor Mixing problem. 
I purchased small tubes of Winsor Newton Artist grade WC's, then put them into large Pill boxes (7 day type).
 

Details

I thought this would be the same as a pan paint, obviously not    
I keep them closed but they are not sealed well, so the paints dry to a very hard mass      
I can spray with a mist of water to use in painting   

Details

The problem is now that I want to make my Green Mixing Chart, they are either hard as a brick or too watered down to mix proper colors   

My page ends up with 'blotchy' blobs that are hard to control. 
Any Suggestions, on how to handle the Green Charts with these paints, other than buy new tubes, which I can't afford to do??
 
Felling really dumb today

[Fencepost]

Sue, for me the trick is to make a puddle dampen the dry paint, add to the puddle until it is as dark as I want then repeat the process with other colors I wish to mix. More work than using paint from the tube, but it's convenient and saves paint. I'll be interested in Dennis' take on this.

[Tousabella]

Hi Sue...took me a little while to 'learn' how to wake up my dry tube paints, too.  I put mine in small pill containers, ( that I can't find anymore), and about five minutes before painting, I put a very fine misty spray over them to 'charge them up'. Then, they are just fine. Don't use a lot of water, and wait a few minutes for them to 'wake up'. It takes awhile to get the hang of how much water to use, but I have slowly learned. It doesn't hurt them to dry out...but just mist-spray them, close the lid if you want, and wait a few minutes.
Good luck.

[dennis]

I do exactly what Bella does 

[MSWcrane]

I searched until I found the larger one, as I thought they would be easier to get some larger brushes into. (found these in the Dollar store).  I too did what Bella says and I guess i am not good at it ( I use my tiny mister and give a spray or two, to just dampen them) guess it will take some practice to get them right.

Am wondering if wrapping the Pill boxes in clear kitchen wrap will keep them moist for future use.

  Bella, Dennis & Judie    

So back to Green Mixes for me, guess it's not 'easy being green'   

[Val]

My paintbox dries out all the time. I guess about 1/2 of my regularly used paints are now refilled from tubes. A light misting works for me, or if I'm out and about I just run a slightly wet brush over the paint I'm going to use and roll it and the paint fills the brush no problem. Then I just add whatever water to the well and away I go. I can add more pigment if I need to. Hope this helps.

[MSWcrane]

Yes  Val, just makes mixing greens chart a bit more difficult than that shown by Dennis in the class.   

[Val]

Takes a little longer to do properly, but well worth it in the end.