Organizing Paint Tubes

[Verdaccio]

Currently, I have about 60 tubes of oil paint in a big box. When I need one, I have to fish through or dump the entire thing out to find what I need. I am reorganizing my studio and looking for a neat way of storing and organizing them so I can get at them mor easily.

Any ideas?

------------------
Michael Georges
www.fineportraitsinoil.com (http://www.fineportraitsinoil.com)

[bri]

Michael,

I now keep mine on a tray separated generally as warm and cool. Sometimes I rearrange them on the tray to match the different approach of my painting but they usually sit this way with various whites and blacks in the center. A couple years ago I traded my last and famous "Comfy Chair" for a three tier, rolling, stainless steel medical cart and though it's not as pleasant to sit on but it was worth it. I have about as many tubes and they all fit on the top tier nicely with plenty of extra room. The top tier is about two inches deep so I have a glass slab with tempered Masonite under it that can rest on top of the whole cart as one of my mixing pallettes. I found that this organization helps me stay engaged with the painting rather than distractions. On the lower tiers I keep oddball tubes or jars and spare solvents, rags, etc. The fact that it rolls means that I can pull it closer or push it out of my way with ease.

I just cured myself of the big box thing. I still heap them together when I go outdoors to paint but I like them right there all ready if I get the urge at 3 am.

I think any simple large tray would be great, especially with a nice big glass-on-Masonite pallette that fits on top. If I didn't have my medical cart I'd make one out of plywood with hardwood rim, or weld one together today.

My tubes themselves were suffering needlessly in the box and I rooted through like a kid in a box of toys. As fun as it was I needed the change.

---bri

[weece]

I have just recently began using our old drawers cupboard from our kitchen that we had to remove for renovations. It is just a unit on it's own, about 60cm wide by 80cm deep with 4 draws in it. I nailed a board on top of it so now I have my own workbench to put my easel ( tabletop one) on it. I use a stool to sit beside it, and just roll out the draw I need when I am searching for paints etc... The cutlery tray was left in it also, which I have organized my brushes in for easy access. I have a draw for paints, one for brushes, and another 2 for all the other things. The advantage of just rolling out the draw to look for things is that they are shallow and wide, so I can see at a glance what I need. Also my palette fits lovely across the top drawer when I leave it open, and is in a perfect spot for me whilst painting.

[This message has been edited by weece (edited May 02, 2001).]

[Verdaccio]

Thanks all for the ideas! I really like the surgical cart idea. I am on the lookout for a taboret (sp?) or cart of some kind with drawers, etc. that I can wheel up to my easel. Anything but that damn box! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
Michael Georges
www.fineportraitsinoil.com (http://www.fineportraitsinoil.com)

[VictoriaS]

Was keeping all my tubes in a big box, but was frustrated all the time trying to find the color I was looking for. Finally, I got five of those Rubbermaid food containers they have at the grocery store, and put a color group in each container: reds/oranges; yellows/greens; blues/purples; earth colors; neutrals. This works well for me. I keep duplicate colors in a separate box.

Victoria

[This message has been edited by VictoriaS (edited May 02, 2001).]

[carly]

In an earlier thread, we had a discussion on storing paint tubes. I use a canvas storage holder designed to put shoes in. It hangs on the back of a door. I use a permanent marker...write the paint names on the outside of the shoe slots and drop in the paints. Makes it really easy to grab paint when I'm going out on location and no searching thru boxes.

On one side of the door is OILS and on the other side is ACRYLICS. Since I did this I don't get the two mixed in boxes on my table either!
carly

------------------
"Everything is not art and Art is not everything, but it comes close."....carly

[aspiring artist]

Check out the OIL Painting section of Forums, where we are having this same discussion, too ...

[Luis Guerreiro]

I have posted a schematic picture of my own tube storage system. The picture shows clearly what I did. I have 30 tubes in total; 12 of them are 200 ml and constitute my basic palette. The other 18 tubes are 40 ml. ones and they serve for colours set up, tones, etc. This way I get around 700 different colour mixes safely without mudding (including tints). Hope it helps you lot http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif