Carl's armheld self made palette
 

Linda Brandon suggested I post my eccentrically self-made palette in a "tools" section. I hope this is the correct place.

The palette is made of thin Birch plywood. The thumbhole is filed to a comfortable bevel, and the edges of the palette rounded after cutting. The thumbhole is placed near the center so the palette balances well without a counter weight. The arm curve to thumb hole distance is custom measured to fit my arm just right. The grain was filled with spot putty and sanded smooth. Then it was painted with a spray can of a value #6 automotive primer. The value scale and my signature were painted on with acrylic paint. Then the whole thing was sprayed with a 2- part (paint and hardener) clear automotive urethane paint (resistant to mineral spirits, turps, alcohol, lacquer thinner). 5 coats of clear were sprayed on both sides.

The sharp curve on the left fits your arm and helps hold it steady. The somewhat gentler curve to the right of the arm curve fits on your body if you need it to help steady the palette and take some weight occasionally. The mixing areas are to the left and right of your arm. The cutout next to the thumbhole is large enough to place palette cups on the upper portion, and for your left hand to hold a mahlstick and brushes comfortably at the same time.

The only caveat is that, while you can mix paint on it fine with a steel palette knife, you cannot let paint dry for days on it. The heavy scraping required to remove many-day old paint, by a steel scraper, would damage the surface. I simply take my paint nuts off at days end, and put them on a glass surface (old paint frame with glass) for the evening, then transfer them back next day. I clean the old paint off with some spirits, or alcohol.

Someone is currently experimenting with my shape design and Lexan (the same thing of not letting paint dry for many days in a row would apply to Lexan also I would think). They are thinking of using clear Lexan and painting value scale and gray on the bottom side. I will likely experiment with that and see if it works out even better or not.

I have used this palette for some time now and find it very useful. I would think you could make your own, and take it to an auto body shop. When they spray a car with clear, it should not be a great deal extra for them to hit your palette with clear urethane at the same time. Better check how much$$$ first though. Actually the shape is nice to use, and would work with a traditionally oiled wood palette.

If I find the Lexan works, that could make this a less labor-intensive proposition than it currently is. In this wood/ urethane paint form, it is to "custom" and so time consuming a process, to economically produce for sale to anyone (as a number of people have asked).

Carl

But is it aerodynamic?
 

Oh, I just love this! I can vouch that it's even spiffier in person, if you can believe it. (Every day, Carl would circle the room a few times before he could find a place to park it where it wouldn't get dinged. Just teasing... :) )

I also love the value chart painted on it. If I had great ideas like this one, I'd be on the phone to a patent lawyer, Carl.

Just Remember, Carl...
 

I have first dibs on one when you start taking orders! Thanks for posting this. It brings back memories of how jealous I was....and am!

Linda:thumbsup:

I believe that if you hurled this into the air, it just might come back to you.

What are the rough dimensions of this contraption?

And if you decide to hurl, please hurl towards Tulsa, just in case.

Self-defense
 

I think a palette that you could throw and that would return would be very popular with artists. I like the rippled side - very oceanic.

I thought Carl ought to name this the "Toboika Turbo" but he didn't go for that idea at the workshop.

Hey guys,

The few times I have hurled it, it did come back, and with a new Trekell brush in tow to boot! Now THAT'S_ an_ Artists hunting boomerang for sure! :o

This is as large as I'd like to go for myself, good for larger canvases though, lots of room to mix, less wiping off, and it just avoids being so large as to be in the way. It's about 21 x 15 inches overall. I'm going to make something a good deal smaller for small canvas work though.

I forgot about the "Toboika Turbo". Thanks for the smile in remembrance Michele. :D

I don't think you can patent a shape and surface, Linda.

Those waves are the cool part I like best Tim. Practical too.

Linda, I sure enough remember that you want one, and have first dibs.

I'm going to order myself a small sheet of Lexan and see if that material is either a viable option or improvement.

Carl

Carl, I am holding out for an ABS panel!

Beth,

I've got a line on a supplier as I type. I'll let you know how the panel works.

Here's a picture of the palette in use at the Whitaker Workshop with model Cindy in the background. I didn't have the Mahlstick or brushes in my left hand when this was snapped though.
Carl

Mahl stick
 

Carl, does your mahl stick have a wave too?

But seriously folks, doesn't some type of fancy plastic come in grey (thru and thru) that is also very resistant to chemicals at least our normal solvents?

Tim, all I can think of is Corian, and I don't even know if that is plastic, but it would be heavier than the wood.

Now I wonder if the ABS plastic panels, which can come in very thin sizes could work? Bill was teaching us about using these for oils, but I am going to let Carl tell you about them. Too much of a guy thing for me. I would think you know about them, but others might not.

Side note: Carl you look much cuter than your palette! :)

Can't you patent that design? I've never seen anything like it!

Heavy is good
 

Beth, I think artists need very heavy easels and I even attach weights to my brushes. It's the main form of exercise I get.

New WAVE mahlstick
 

Cynthia, I'm pretty certain it is not at all like a copyright. An inventor friend once tried to get a patent and was turned down because every component existed in some other application already, even though the whole concept was new. He was told that he had to have a unique, never before used component in there, to get a patent.

Tim, Yeah, I have one of those lightning rod mahlsticks. You never fall asleep using it, and the shape keeps you on your toes, too. :D

I think Lexan plastic may be a good solvent-resistant choice and am going to try it out. I'm sure it comes in gray, however what value gray I don't know. Clear would allow you to paint that little grayscale, and put a signature on the back side, then cover the back in an epoxy, or urethane gray value of your choice. The value scale and signature would be visible through the clear on the front. So, I think I'll mess with the clear first.

Thanks Beth! Bill W. informed us that through his research he has found that ABS makes a good painting surface without the need for primer. The thin ABS gets mounted to 3/8 inch thick Birch plywood to make the panel. Once mounted, you go right at painting.

I'm ordering a sheet of ABS along with a bit of Lexan to play with and see how this all works.

Carl

Carl, why am I not surprised that you have inventor friends? It couldn't hurt to visit the government patent website and do a search on "artist palette" (or similar search).

If the only criterion for patentablity is a new component to your palette, I'm sure we can all come up with something for you ... windshield wipers for fast paint cleanup?

http://www.uspto.gov

Ok Linda,

I'll look into it and see what I find out.

First though, I'm going to see if I can get hold of some ABS and beat you to that panel making thing. I can't wait to try that stuff out.

Did you get your Trekells?

Carl

Where is the palette?
 

Hi All,

Would someone on here kindly point out where I can find the picture of the palette, or the link to it? I cannot see it anywhere in this link.

Thanks,
Mai

Hi everyone. I felt that I could contribute to this on a technical level. I deal with plexiglass, lexan, pvc or abs etc. with my signs. I normally use regular white acrylic for a palette. Lexan is great for a 'shatter proof' palette for all those angry artists out there ;) but regular acrylic will do. Lexan is much softer and will scratch easy (like a cutting board), while acrylic is a little tougher , but not as fragile as glass. I would imagine that ABS is just as good, as well as cheaper than acrylic plastic, as long as you are careful scraping the paint off. One note on Lexan: when I use a strong solvent, such as lacquer thinner, lexan becomes brittle and cracks. This may not happen as readily with milder turpentine, but it is a slow process that could occur. Lexan will also 'yellow' over time. I would stick with acrylic, which, by the way, comes in different colours as well - 1/4" thick. Acrylic and especially Lexan is not cheap, but if you take care of the palette, I would say it is your best choice. If any of you live in the Toronto area, I could probably help you out with this. Let me know if this helps.

David

Repin's palette
Peggy probably can tell us how Repin designed a palette when he is injured.
I was told that Robert Bruce Williams with Steven Morpes and a lady designed a nice easel.

SB, do you know something that you're not telling us? For a couple of years I've been trying to track down a photo of Repin's palette that appears as if it's strapped around his waist. It stuck out like a tray, and he could walk around with it while keeping both arms free. Is this what you're talking about?

If any enterprising, high-tech artist would like to come up with a prototype for this kind of palette, I would be very interested.

David, I am delighted to discover another high-tech artist* on the Forum! By the way, there are many references to ABS throughout the Forum, pros and cons, for use as a ground for oils and drawings. Please consider this an invitation to post your opinions on those threads as your time and inclination allows.

*I'm editing this to clarify that I'm not a high-tech artist, by any stretch of the imagination, but I pester those who are.

Nice design. Does this palette prevent stickness of dried pigment ?

Linda:

Repin---Linda. He suffered atrophy of arm muscles in his senior year. Does one works too leisurely not to use palette in hand?

Also, Sargent grips a brush in his tooth so no time wasted.

Lexan
 

Carl,

I have a Large Lexan, and I scrap paint off of it. But usually, I clear off the big, easy to remove chunks then drizzle Turpenoid Natural over it and after about 20 minutes wipe it clean.

I love the clear pallet. Really help me see color and value. If you can make this shape in that material you will have a winner. I'll market it for you!!!!

Carl: Hi, I'm looking for the perfect palette, and it appears that you made yourself one...I love the gray scale! Are you making these to market? If so, put me on your list..
Jean-Marie