Author: Jame_H._Duckett, Contributing Editor
Looking around the net I have seen a lot of nice porcelain pallettes, yet the price for someone on limited means is anything but cheap. Like most of you, I am constantly on the search for alternatives and often I find things which are better than the original. Here are instructions for making a useful porcelain pallette alternative using a cheaply avaiable microwave browning or bacon tray. Not all trays are truly white, but if you look around I think you'll find a suitable one. You may even have one in your pantry right now. Hopefully, the instructions, and the photographs will communicate how easy this is to make. The total project will cost about $4.00. Because of the design of these trays, they lend themselves very well to being covered with cling wrap, for keeping your paints moist. They are excellent for watercolor, and I have found that on my slightly off white tray my colors tend to come out a little more vibrant due to my over compensating, so a white one is best. |
A microwave browning tray around $1.49 at a thrift store, is easy to find and makes for nice deep wells |
Take a tube of white silicone bathroom sealant and lay down beads around the perimeter for your paint wells, make them any width you want |
Make sure any gaps under the beads are smoothed in to ensure the colors do not run together. I used an old scapel, but any pallet knife would do for this. |
Define your mixing area with a bead around the centre field, and again smooth in any gaps. If the caulk is touching the surface it will stop the flow of paint. |
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