Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Spring Palette

When I first started painting my figures I used Grumbacher, Winsor & Newton and Liquitex paints because that is what I was taught to paint with.    However, as I mixed colors that were impossible to remix perfectly to touch up my figures, I finally decided to give into the wide array of colors available in craft paints that could end that misery.


I am now a craft paint junkie.  I still do my test palettes, such as you see above, because as you all know the colors never dry the same color you see when they are wet. 

This spring inspired painted page will soon be cut into individual squares with the brand and color placed on the back.  As I'm trying to decide on what colors to use on a figure I can place the colors side-by-side easily to develop the color scheme.  This helps me quickly judge what shade of a color will work best with the other tints and shades found on this page.  It is sort of like creating your own paint chips from the colors you have on hand.  Spray them with varnish and they will last you for years.

It's an easy little thing that I hope becomes a tool for you too! 

Have fun painting!
Laurie
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13 comments:

  1. my tiny studioJanuary 4, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    Great tip , thank you .

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  2. UnknownJanuary 4, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    Love this idea... I think if I were to take on this task I would have a paint chip book. I have a serious addiction to paint... then again it's true of most art supplies, I tend to hoard them. haha!

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  3. Monkey-Cats StudioJanuary 4, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    Hope you can use it Rafael.

    Lori...get the velcro dots with the sticky backing and you can mount the chips on heavier paper stock and place them in plastic sleeves for your notebook. You can take them out and put them back in as you need them. Working on mine now!! :)

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  4. UnknownJanuary 4, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    Brilliant idea - why didn't I think of that? Monkey-Cat that is another great idea with the velcro dots. Easy storage there!

    Lori do you have a favorite brand of craft paint? Mine always seem to get little clumps in them that are hard to avoid when painting.

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  5. HowlingMoonDesignsJanuary 4, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    Thank You Laurie! :)
    Hugs,
    Candy

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  6. Monkey-Cats StudioJanuary 4, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    Denise,
    I like both Americana and FolkArt for the flow of the paint and pigmentation. I also use Ceramcoat, but find it picks up from the surface sometimes even after drying.

    I use palette paper with a sponge sheet underneath and don't have too much trouble with clumps. Also, I shake the heck out of a bottle before squeezing out what I need and always recap tightly. Craft paint doesn't have the elasticity in the medium that artist paints do, but by and large I still think they work nicely and haven't noticed much of a color loss with limited light exposure.

    Hope that helps.

    Hi Candy...you are an old hat at this so thanks for stopping by!!

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  7. Cody GoodinJanuary 4, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Thanks for the tip. I always forget that I can do that too.

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  8. yoboroboJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:02 AM

    This confirms what I have thought all along: you are a genius! :)) What a great tip, thank you! xox Pam

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  9. JDConwellJanuary 5, 2011 at 6:13 AM

    I always fought with myself about paint-mixing. To get enough to "be sure" you have to mix a ton, and then still might have to touch up. But trying to keep a complete range of colors sounded too expensive.

    The "paint chips" thing works with ceramics--I have tiles w/ glazes on them. Never thought to use it with paint...thanks for the inspiration!

    Jan

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  10. Monkey-Cats StudioJanuary 5, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    I have mine cut, velcro on the back and in plastic sleeves now.

    Thanks for the compliment Pam, but it just comes from being a Virgo and wanting everything in a tidy package. Drives me nuts sometimes!

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  11. DianieJanuary 6, 2011 at 4:10 AM

    What a great tip!!

    Thank you so much :)

    ~Diane

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    What a fabulous idea Laurie!!!!
    Pattee

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  13. Lori Ann CorelisJanuary 10, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    Thanks for sharing your tips Laurie . . . It's always interesting to hear how other artists work!
    May the new year bring you only good things!

    Lori Ann

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