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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Water containers for journaling on the spot...

I've been experimenting with our friend Richard Sheppard's great idea of using palette cups for travel sketching.  (If you haven't seen his Flickr, it's here--have fun!)

Richard is the author of The Artist on the Road: Impressions of Greece and if you love travel journals AND bright fresh watercolors, you'll enjoy this one as much as I did!  It's in my permanent collection now...


You can see that the cups, either single metal ones or double plastic, here, will clip to several types of palettes...

An added advantage here is that the clip itself raises the mixing area so that it's much flatter, when laid on a firm, flat surface (you still need to watch spilling if you're holding this in your hand by the loop on the back though...)

It will fit on my old folding plastic palette, too...very versatile!  Of course these don't hold much water, even the double ones, so if you're painting larger than, say, 7" x 10" you're going to want a source of more.  I like the doubles because I have a source for mixing and a source for rinsing my brush...if I remember which one to dip into!

I used the single metal cup and my small palette when doing this double spread in my current journal, and it worked great!  (Too bad I didn't remember to shoot my painting setup!)


Here's Richard's own kit, beautifully done in his signature style:


Thanks for the inspiration, Richard!

22 comments:

  1. Very cool idea! I had some of those....once upon a time. Wonder where they are now?!!!!! Hmmmmmmmmm......

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  2. Love everything you do Cathy, you motivate me!

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  3. Thanks for posting this Kate. Anything to make working more comfortably is great information (he said as he tries to wipe the recently spilled full bottle of Liquitex phthalo blue ink from his paws).

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  4. I have never seen these before, but I really like the idea. Where do you find them and are they really called just palette cups? Thanks.

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  5. Thanks, all! You notice I put in a disclaimer about holding your palette with your hand...if you don't have much water in the cup is still works fine, but that little flat mixing area wants to tip, and splash!

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  6. You're welcome, Maria! I have to thank Richard, again...I had some here, but hadn't thought to clip them to my palettes!

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  7. Kay, yes, palette cups should get it...here's a single at Dick Blick's: http://www.dickblick.com/products/aluminum-palette-cups/

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  8. Thanks again for all that you do! Great read!
    Tweeted it here:
    https://twitter.com/sketchysteven/status/127129559383556096

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  9. Thank-you Kate for featuring my work on your blog! I hope this post helps others to create a useable kit of their own. I've used these supplies for over two years now and even the cheep ($4) children's paint set is still going strong after traveling to Greece, Chicago, and around my home of northern California.

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  10. It looks wonderful, Richard! I often use my old metal Prang box I refitted with artist paints, and had thought about the white plastic one...glad to hear it works so well! I actually have had one sitting in my studio for a couple of years, thinking I'd try it. No reason to spend a fortune if you don't want to!

    And you're quite welcome. You know I love your book!

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  11. Thank you Kate and Richard for the helpful info.

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  12. I've been using palette cups for ages, they are small and portable, and don't cost a fortune to replace if lost/forgo home.
    My setting it's a bit awkward http://www.flickr.com/photos/paperandhand/3960437028/ as I work on a small folder, I should invest in some board!

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  13. Thank you for the link! So what do you have the cups clipped to? I loved the idea of Richard's board, but pretty sure I won't try to fit one in my purse...

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  14. By the way, the masonite board I use is from an art supply store not a hardware store. It's thin (1/8") and smooth on both sides and is a pleasure to use. As for fitting in your purse Kate, it might be a bit big. ; )

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  15. Thanks, Richard...I have a very small drawing board made of Masonite, but it has a big chrome clip and a hole for a handhole. It looks like yours is simpler than that!

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  16. I use a flat file folder, one of those closed with elastic string, size A5, it's a bit small but fits inside any bag. It's also useful to hold lose sheets of paper, you never know, I also stick some lines of art tape on the front in case I need some later.

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  17. Thanks for featuring Richard today Kate, I visited his Flickr site, and then found his Greek travel journal on iTunes... What a delightful book/travel Journal I downloaded it to my iPad and am thoroughly enjoying reading about Greece, and enjoying Richard's wonderful artwork. Well worth the $4.99 price tag for the book.

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  18. A5 IS a pretty good size for most bags...equivalent to 5 1/2 by 8, right? Sounds like a good solution, frostdoll. And Elaine, you're welcome! That IS a good price...

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  19. Thank you Capt Elaine Magliacane for your kind comments about my book! So glad you are enjoying my travels!

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  20. Thank you Kate for showing us Richards wonderful artwork! I too bought Richards book, which is filled with beautiful colors and drawings.....

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  21. You're very welcome! Isn't it delightful? I'm looking forward to his new book on the California vineyards, too...

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