Disposable palettes

[artwoman1]

Originally posted by 357 Mag:
[b]Would wax paper work as a disposable palette?
I was thinking of picking up a roll and taping it to my normal palette as a means to save cleanup time.[/b]

Way back, when I was college, I used freezer paper. It came in wide rolls and it was white. Waxed paper might be a problem because oil solvents might dissolve the wax and it could contaminate the paint. I do not know what the consequences of this might be but I think it would be a good idea to consider it.
I also don’t know if the plastic coating on freezer paper could end up as a contaminate for the same reason. Ther are also pads of palette paper that can be purchased at art and craft suppliers.
I think the best surface for a palette is piece of plate glass placed on a white surface or spray painted white on the back side. The paint can then be scraped off and wrapped in aluminum foil for use the next day or discarded.
Of course the paper pallettes are very convenient for a classroom situation or for plein aire painting. Glass is just to fragile for traveling.

——————
Davida

[This message has been edited by artwoman1 (edited September 25, 2000).]

Davida

[artwoman1]

Originally posted by 357 Mag:
[b]Would wax paper work as a disposable palette?
I was thinking of picking up a roll and taping it to my normal palette as a means to save cleanup time.[/b]

Way back, when I was college, I used freezer paper. It came in wide rolls and it was white. Waxed paper might be a problem because oil solvents might dissolve the wax and it could contaminate the paint. I do not know what the consequences of this might be but I think it would be a good idea to consider it.
I also don’t know if the plastic coating on freezer paper could end up as a contaminate for the same reason. Ther are also pads of palette paper that can be purchased at art and craft suppliers.
I think the best surface for a palette is piece of plate glass placed on a white surface or spray painted white on the back side. The paint can then be scraped off and wrapped in aluminum foil for use the next day or discarded.
Of course the paper pallettes are very convenient for a classroom situation or for plein aire painting. Glass is just to fragile for traveling.

——————
Davida

[This message has been edited by artwoman1 (edited September 25, 2000).]

Davida

[VictoriaS]

The paint will seep through waxed paper eventually (sooner than you might think), so don’t set it on the good furniture.

I've had all I can stand, I can't stands no more!
- Popeye

[bottleman]

Originally posted by VictoriaS:
[b]The paint will seep through waxed paper eventually [/b]

That’s right, although I’ve found that this varies depending on what brand of wax paper you buy.

[arcitect]

Why would you clean your palette? If there is no need to clean a palette there is no need for a disposable palette. However, if you must you use a disposable palette, waxed butcher’s paper will work fine if you can find it.

lolpix

[paintfool]

Arc are we ever going to see a picture of that palette of yours? : I was going to say that foil would work best for palette paper, although they do sell paper for this. But on second thought that could be tough on the eyes & mixing colors wouldn’t be any fun. I use my knife a lot so i’d be concerned about scraping up bits of wax if i used waxed paper. I am using a 12″x12″ glazed grey ceramic tile. It cleans very easily & if i am in a hurry i don’t have to worry about it ’cause a razor blade will remove anything that dries. The grey color is great for determining values. The tile cost less than $2.00. It can be a bit heavy at times though, so if you stand while you paint it may not be for you.
Cheryl

[This message has been edited by paintfool (edited September 26, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by paintfool (edited September 26, 2000).]

[357 Mag]

Why would you not clean your palette? Laziness?

[arcitect]

Originally posted by 357 Mag:
[b]Why would you not clean your palette? Laziness?[/b]

No need to, traditionally many painters have not “cleaned” their palettes. You just take a rag and wipe of the excess. There is no need to have a spotless palette, in no time at all the palette turns a nice nuetral grey.

It seems sort of anal retentive to keep a slab of wood spotless when you are only going to be covering it with paint again the next day. Keep two or three and rotate them and you are fine.

lolpix

[arcitect]

Originally posted by 357 Mag:
I often clean my palette several times during a session, hence maybe you can understand how messy things can get, and how water mixable oils simply cleaning.

Well, I use a 24″x36″ masonite drawing board which site on a cofee table. Lots of room to move around in and I paint with both hands, so a handheld palette is no good for me. A larger palette may be the way to go.

Taking a rag and wiping off the excess sounds plausible, but could contaminate fresh oil if the excess is still wet. Yuk.

Keep a few and rotate them or rub a touch of alkyd on them to speed things up.

---

When I was a kid I used to play a lot of streethockey. Whenever someone got hurt we would all yell, “price”. Pain was the price we played for playing hockey. Clean up time is the price we pay for using oils. Nothing in this world comes free.

lolpix

[357 Mag]

I would use a disposable palette only to do 2 things. Save cleanup time. Save solvent. I often clean my palette several times during a session, hence maybe you can understand how messy things can get, and how water mixable oils simply cleaning. There is no connection between disposable palettes and crappy paintings so don’t make ridiculous assumptions. Taking a rag and wiping off the excess sounds plausible, but could contaminate fresh oil if the excess is still wet. Yuk.

[This message has been edited by 357 Mag (edited September 26, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by 357 Mag (edited September 26, 2000).]

[Author]

Posts