My New Glass Palette and Multiple Post Day

After feeling refreshed from an early afternoon nap, I started to paint.  I used my glass palette for the first time.  It was a joy to use!  Now, I could kick myself for not using it sooner.

I bought a 12"x16" Masterson's Artist Palette Seal from my local AC Moore (50% coupon).  This palette container has a blue rubber-like cover that snaps shut.  Literally, the cover is a tight fit.  I have to run my palms around the edges to lock the cover in place.  When I'm ready to open and remove the cover, it's hard to pull the cover off.  Other than that, I do like this palette container.  It's huge!

My painting cart with my supplies including my glass palette

I found a piece of glass at my local Home Depot.  It's called Clear Replacement Glass.  It's 3/32" thick and the dimensions are 12"x16".  It fits in my container without any problems.  I just have to be careful of the sharp edges of the glass when I'm handling it.  

Here I've mixed my green values using my stainless steel palette knife:  

My glass palette sitting in a Masterson's Air-Tight Palette Seal

When I finished painting after several hours, I just scraped the paint off and gave the glass a good wipe down with a paper towel:  

Easy clean up!  No fuss, no mess

You've probably noticed that the glass looks gray.  I've placed a piece of gray palette paper underneath the glass.  In my research, I have found that it's easier to see and mix true (correct) colors when the background is gray.  You won't see me using a wood palette or white plastic palette when I'm painting.  

Masterson's Artist Palette Seal and Grey Matters Paper Palette

This 50-sheet pad of gray palette paper will last a long time as I probably won't have to change it out while it sits under my glass palette.  

Painted Tonight...Christmas Candles

I did a quick painting tonight.  I ended up using 8 brushes to paint this small painting.

Yellow Ochre wash sketch

Painted in the dark value

Decided to paint the candles next

The finished painting...Christmas Candles

My palette.  The only color I did not use was the blue...which turned out blah!

Three Apples - WIP

In less than two weeks, I'm on my fifth oil painting which is an apple study.  I used titanium white, lemon yellow, alizarin crimson, cerulean blue and yellow ochre.  The three primary colors represent cool colors.

My palette of mixed colors

Used yellow ochre mixed with thinner to create a light wash for my outline

Still a work in progress...to be completed later this week

My New Hobby...Oil Painting

I've been interested in drawing/sketching since Jr High when I took the required art class, but I never pursued a career in the arts.  Let alone an education in that field.  In 2000, I picked up watercolor painting. I took a local class that got me off to the wrong start.  One, may paintings were miserable looking and two, my instructor wasn't that good.  That was a short lived hobby.  In 2002, I decided to get back into watercolors and took an 8-weeik course at an Old Town shop.  I studied with a wonderful lady, Karyn, who painted beautiful and lively scenes.  I wanted to paint like her.  My painting skills improved immensely as she introduced me to artist/professional paints and brushes.  That made a huge difference.  I continued painting for another year or so.

Since then, I have taken on additional hobbies like sewing and knitting garments and accessories.  I really enjoyed spending time in my fiber arts.  My short lived painting experiences helped me see a gamut of colors, hues, and textures.

Now, I've taken up oil painting.  I looked around for classes, but decided to learn this new hobby on my own.  The money I would have spent for lessons, was instead used for my new supplies (paints, palettes, and brushes).

My first oil painting called 'Values'

After playing around with the oils, I can honestly say that I enjoy it more than watercolors.  I did a wet-on-wet or single layer painting technique called Alla Prima.  It took only two hours to complete this painting.  

Here's my mini painting studio area:

My painting area.  One of my watercolor paintings is hanging on the wall (upper right)

I got the hang of holding the palette in my hand and didn't feel any fatigue.  It felt natural.  I also managed to hold additional brushes and a paper towel in the same hand.  I do need to get a larger palette once I start painting and mixing additional colors.  

My clear acrylic palette