At the end of each year, I prepare for the upcoming year by making a new journal, cleaning and reorganizing my studio, and thinking about the direction I want to go.
~ The new journal is ready. ~
Somehow I got on a “palette” thing. I’m always on the lookout for the latest and greatest….a smallish palette to hold my 30+ colors (too many as far as I’m concerned) with several mixing areas.
2018 Find
The Robax palette was a new one on my radar this year. I was introduced to it through Angela Fehr’s watercolor videos. It is made in the U.S. and comes in sizes with 12 wells to an extraordinary 85 wells. There are options for additional mixing inserts, well liners to pop colors in new locations, a carousel to spin those colors closer to you and a few other goodies artists want (but don’t necessarily need).
The palette is big, and pricey….and plastic.
My 2018 Setup
I customized a Martin Mijello Airtight Leak-Proof Fusian Watercolor 24-Well Palette into a 48 well/4 mixing area one by purchasing a second palette. I removed the side with the wells and replaced the large mixing area in the original one. 12 square inches of watercolor love.
Two issues: it’s plastic and it stains. This bothers me.
My 2019 Setup
I have a bunch of the 4″ porcelain mixing/nesting bowls. I pulled them out to use as mixing trays. One for each color family, i.e., red, orange, blue etc. Ooooh, love. So easy to mix. Paint stays wet longer. Paint rewets easier. A bit inconvenient to reach into the palette to retrieve colors.
My Big Idea
I went to my favorite art supply site, Dick Blick, to get some ideas. I’ve studied and tested a lot of palettes, but now I narrowed it down to a porcelain palette….yes, yes, that’s what I need (really????) I perused the various offerings. Then I did some additional checking on other sites, Amazon and Cheap Joes, in case something new was released while I was sleeping.
Next, I took a break to think about what I REALLY want. My break consisted of painting so I could examine my current setup, try out the porcelain bowls and think about what would be BETTER.
In the Meantime….
I decided the studio needed to be rearranged.
OK, I do this on a regular basis. I humor myself by trying out various setups and usually go back to something very close to what I started with.
I like to stand to keep my paintings loose. My joints don’t like that position so I stop and end up doing something else.
Recently, I moved my tabletop easel and supplies to the kitchen bar. It’s a great area because of overhead lights so I can work when the lighting conditions are less than favorable. It’s near the kitchen (need I say more?) for easy water access. There’s plenty of room for a barstool so I can rest my weary joints. The only problem is the countertop is very narrow which limits a comfortable workspace.
Lightbulb moment! In my studio, I raised the work surface and moved the barstool! Even better, I propped up my paintings on my easels. Cool idea because I can move those babies to the spot with the best light and best access and slide them out of the way when my painting sessions are over.
Now it’s time to test the setup and rethink the palette thing.
During all this rearranging my brain made a decision! What is it you ask? The 7-well porcelain palette from Hobby Lobby! On sale for $2.99 each (Blick has them too, but they’re $5.00 each). Ordered online because they didn’t have any in stock at the Dubuque store.
So……
…my BIG IDEA is one 7-well palette for each color family (red, yellow, blue, etc.). The outer wells will hold the individual colors and the center well will be the mixing area. These palettes are less than 5″ in diameter (easy to hold) and hopefully will stack.
2019 will be my year of the porcelain palette no matter what form it takes.
Side Note
It’s exhausting being me. I need to test every idea that pops in my head. Others may weigh the pros and cons; not me, I jump right in. Time for a nap.
Canvas & Camera 