Make a mini-watercolor travel palette
I can't remember now what got me started on this project, but I promised to pass on what I learned, so here it is. I used an Altoid mints metal container (2 1/4" x 3 5/8") and empty plastic half-pan paint wells. I glued the pans into the box using a hot-glue gun, which was less than $5.00 at WalMart (plus a bit for the glue sticks). I filled the wells with tube colors in a basic palette. You could set up different palettes for a variety of subjects and have a whole array of tiny travel palettes. The brushes in the photo were in the children's craft section and are a cut above most craft brushes. You could also trim off the handles of old watercolor brushes for packability. The whole kit--palette, an extra Altoid box for water, a brush and watercolor postcards, fits in a plastic sandwich bag.
Labels: palette, travel, tutorials, watercolor
posted by Nita at 8:45 AM
15 Comments:
Wow, Nita! This is great! And anybody can do this. Thanks so very much!
Cia
Nita, that is a great idea. I bought the oven ceramic they suggested, but it is too hard to do anything worthwhile. But this is an elegant solution!
RonRay
The wells seem very secure and dried tough within minutes. Time will tell how it holds up with use.
Wow! That's really tiny - smaller than my Cotman field kit and MUCH less expensive.
Michelle
Very nice. Thanks!
Hay... as long as I don't hafta eat those pasty Altoid's mints first! Sounds like a great idea.
I also discovered $.99 weekly pill boxes from the drug store make great portable paint holders. Each has 7 spaces for paint.
Thanks for sharing this idea.
I found that if you can live with a limited palette of 6 colors, a regular sized Altoids tin will hold 6 soda bottle caps perfectly. No glue, no staples, no trips to the hardware store. The caps can be easily removed and exchanged to use different colors.
This travel palette is least expensive and takes least amount of work to make. That's good because I'm both cheap and lazy. :-)
HG
That is a wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing it. Great for students and kids.
Dear Nita,
I am your namesake Neeta Dogra who wrote to to you 12 years ago from Istanbul. After reading your book creative collages I have spent the last decade and quarter practising whatever was in your book . I have sucessfuly exhibited and sold my work in India, Russia, New zealand. You are my art guru, and i always thank you for the rare insight and inspiration that I draw from your creative thinking. I would like to share some of my artworks with you. Please email me at neetamitra@yahoo.com
With warm regards
Neeta
Nita, For some time now I have been painting on new surfaces and have fallen in love with the fact that the resulting paintings need not use glazing in the framing process.
First was watercolor canvas, a product developed and patented by Fredrix/Tara Materials. This is a very forgiving surface especially for beginners.
The next is Rtistx board. The washes on this surface glow more than anything I have ever experienced and I have been winning awards with the paintings. Other artists are constantly asking what I am using!
Mary Ann, Watercolor-Painting-Tips
Nita, I thought this was such a good idea, that I put the photo and your information on my website with a link back to your site. Your informative website is great.
Mary Ann Boysen - watercolor-painting-tips
You can use a travel toothbrush holder to hold your brushes and have full sized ones ready to go!
Aloha Nita,
That's groovy. I like these little tin for day trips.
PEace, Kai
Hi. I found your book "The Creative Artist" at the bookstore and bought it. I just love your "out of the box" thinking and all the wonderful ideas to keep you inspired. It is so easy sometimes to get into a "rut" and not do anything. I have an art studio which is a constant work in progress and there are no shortages of things to do in there. "Inspiration" is something I've been looking for and your book is full of it. Thanks for putting that one out. God bless you in your creative endeavors.
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