How to make a cheapo wet palette - possibly?

[finn17]

I have really become fed up with my paint drying whilst in use. I am not a skinflint, but I try to be as economical as I can when using expensive pigments. The trouble is, when using the very small quantities I tend to mix, the paint dries in a very short time leading to frustration and wastage. I have read threads about \'wet pallettes\' and have seen them for sale in my local art shop. The problem however, with commercially available wet pallettes is, they are:
1) Very expensive for what they are - a few sheets of blotting paper, some \'membrane\' which looks like tracing paper and a couple of plastic mouldings which are of \'chocolate box liner\' quality.
2) The damn things are huge! Even the small ones are ginormous for mini painters as they were originally designed for the \'\'traditional\' artist using a big canvas on an easel.
To get to the point... (muffled cheers) I thought that the technology, if it exists lies in the idea, which can easily be adapted. So, I bought a refill pack, very cheap, $3, and was then left with the problem of thinking of a case which would be suitable for a mini painter. I came up with the idea of a cassette jewel case. Simply cut a layer or reservoir or blotting paper to fit along with sheet of the membrane material and insert them in the jewel cases. Simple idea and they are nice and small so you could use several to accommodate different ranges of colours.
To be frank, I haven\'t got the faintest idea if this will work, but I thought I would share the idea in case anybody wants to experiment at the same time as me:flip:

 

[KatieG]

Cheapo wet pallete

I haven\'t tried this myself, but a friend of mine has. Use a tupperware type container of whatever size you wish, put a few damp paper towels in the bottom, and the sheet of paper on top (there is a direction to it, you\'ll have to figure it out by using the paper). That\'s pretty much it... obviously you\'ll have to change things, and also add water when things dry out. But the tupperware keeps it from drying when its not in use, so you can use the same paint the next day if you wish (useful for those mixed colors).
--Katie G.

 

[finn17]

Keeping things moist...

S\'gotta be worth a try. I wanted to avoid the tupperware model only \'cos I would find it difficult to work with a palette that\'s an inch deep.
I would be interested to know if any members know what the so-called \'membrane\' material actually consists of. Looks awfully like tracing paper to me?? So... so far we have a shallow dish, some blotting paper and a \'membrane\'/tracing paper. Maybe it\'s just me but I am sure visitors to this site can make their own, save money, and develop something more appropriate to mini painting.

 

[Muzza]

An alternative

I\'m frustrated by a similar problem, not so much the paint drying on the pallete too quick but also on the brush or mini, especially if I\'m sitting too close to my lamp (hot).

I\'ve seen a product which retards the drying process of artists acrylic paints so that they handle more like oils and so stay wet for longer. I\'m sure using this with the acrylics we know and love should work as well.

I can\'t tell you a product name but I\'m sure there are several suppliers around the world that make the stuff. Any decent art supply store should stock it. It is probably relatively expensive but a bottle of the stuff would last forever when used with the comparatively minute amounts of paint we use on minis. In the long run a saving may be made on wasted paint but i would use it purely for the convenience.

I haven\'t used this stuff myself yet but intend to try it out very soon. I\'ll post the results when i do so.

 

[kkoene]

hmmm

Maybe tracing paper will work? All you need is paper thin enough to allow the water from the sponge or paper towels to slowwly seep through, thus keeping the paint wet without thinning it to ink/wash-like levels. I have one at home where I have a layer of paper towles, then a small sponge wrapped in wax paper, I have used tracing paper as well, it works great! I believe there is an article here somewhere that talks about making a wet pallette.

 

[Flashman14]

Would it be insulting to suggest adding water occasionally to your mix?

 

[kkoene]

uhm

water is ok but wouldn\'t that in fact dilute the pigement after awhile? Thus making all your paints washes? Not sure though, my degree is in computers not art or physics for that matter (uhm...wait would it be chemistry? dang! I don\'t know just a theory)

 

[finn17]

None taken...

Originally posted by Flashman14
Would it be insulting to suggest adding water occasionally to your mix?

No, it\'s not insulting in the slightest, but as kkoene says it dilutes the pigment. I have used extenders and retarders and can\'t wait to experiment with KY jelly! but they all subtely affect the \'nature\' of the medium which is ok if you start out using the additive. If you use the additive halfway through a job the paint just \'behaves\' differently and I can be useless enough on my own without any additional help! (The most useful additive I have found so far is airbrush medium).
What I was really seeking to achieve was a method whereby I could blend a certain colour and apply it over a period of time with it remaining at a roughly constant consistency and without it losing its covering ability. I was also incensed by the cost of commercially available wet palettes which basically amount to $16 for a pathetic plastic moulding. a sheet of blotting paper and a couple of sheets of what I could swear is tracing paper.

 

[Samurai_Girl]

[quote couple of sheets of what I could swear is tracing paper. [/quote]

It\'s heavy parchment, you can get it at most butcher shops.

Get yourself a petri (spelling?) dish with cover, cut 3-4 discs of paper towel to fit and wet them down, then cut a disc of parchment and put it on top. Simple and costs under 5$. I have 2 of these. They can keep paint wet for several days of disuse.

 

[smokey]

an article on this very topic....

I\'ve found this article by CMON\'s very own Danny Grimes to be very useful. I think that a container that blue electrical tape comes in works best for me. It\'s not as deep, seals tightly, and is easy to trace. the paper is, as Samurai_Girl said, parchment. if you have a problem finding it, just go to a bakery and offer to buy several sheets, if they can spare it (they should be able to).

Cheers!!

Smokey

 

[smokey]

forgot the link...

here is the link to the article. is this the one you were talking about kkoene?
???

http://www.coolminiornot.com/go.php?go=articlephp&aid=116&orderby=date&levels=99

Smokey

 

[ejsaunders]

I made one myself a while ago out of a small plastic box with a lid, the black backing from a mousemat which is dense foam, one sheet of \'baby wipe\' (sometimes called wet wipes) that I washed off and let dry and one sheet of medium duty paper (about 80-90gsm).

I don\'t have any problems with it and I\'ll I do is top up the water occasionally which is absorbed into the mousemat padding and then up through into the other two layers. I just use a packet of paper and some \'wet wipes\' which cost less than £/$5 for a huge amout of both that will last you for ages.


Cheers - Elliott

 

[kkoene]

Originally posted by smokey
here is the link to the article. is this the one you were talking about kkoene?
???

http://www.coolminiornot.com/go.php?go=articlephp&aid=116&orderby=date&levels=99

Smokey

Yep this is the one!