Weighted Palette Resource

[Elizabeth Schott]

After performing a search, I did not find any results for a "weighted" wood palette. I know that some of you found a resource through Peggy

[Elizabeth Schott]

I did not get any reponse to this search for weighted, balanced palettes, so I thought I would post my own research.

This place has a version called the "Starving Artist" which is the same as the very expensive one except for a slip and patina, it is the one I purchased and it is great. They were very nice and shipping was under $9.00

http://www.willowwispfarmstudios.com...ets/frame.html

Lee Boyton makes his own palettes which are just about the same design as the ones above. They are priced like the upper end one but the shipping was $20.00.
http://www.leeboynton.com/

Bill Whitaker has also created his own palette based on an English design he found the original in London. He likes his smaller than the ones above, and they are huge. I am sure he would share his design with you or give me permission to share it for him.

[Karin Wells]

I never heard the term "weighted palette," can you tell me what the advantages of this would be? When I have held my palette all day, I am glad that it is a lightweight one.

[Michael Georges]

I've got three of Bill's palettes traced directly off of his. I can highly recommend them.

Karin: Usually a typical kidney shaped arm palette when loaded with paint is off balance. So some people put weights into the opposite end so that the palette will balance better on your arm.

Bill's palette design does not require weights as it has a horn on the other side which balances everything out nicely and still keeps the weight down.

Here is my small palette based on Bill's design:

[Karin Wells]

Interesting...beveled thumb hole too? Can you give me the measurements?

[Michael Georges]

Sure,

My medium palette fits inside a rectangle that is 18 inches by 10.5 inches, and my small one fits inside a rectangle that is 15.5 inches by 10 inches. Using those measurements and the picture, you should be able to come pretty close to duplicating the proper shape.I used a dremel tool to bevel the thumb holes. I also have a large palette and a little baby one.

[Marvin Mattelson]

I found this site. Their largest size is weighted. They have what looks to be a rubber gasket in the thumb hole and the craftsmanship is awesome. here's the url: http://www.artisan-wood.com/MainIndex.html

Michael- do you have a particular finish you place over the wood. What type of wood did you use. Lee Boynton uses polyurethane on marine grade plywood.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Marvin, where were you 3 weeks ago?

Bill's palette is made of 1/8" birch plywood. His horn design does take care of the balance since it is smaller.

Mike Taylor's (from North Carolina) is very light, Karin, but it has extra wood added to the beveled thumb area around the cut. He does not use the lead. It measures 24 x 16. This size is hard to do the freezer trick!

Marvin can you post an image of your palette? I think the rubber in the thumb hole could be help to my dreaded arthritis.

[Michael Georges]

Michael- do you have a particular finish you place over the wood. What type of wood did you use. Lee Boynton uses polyurethane on marine grade plywood.

Marvin: I used 1/8th birch plywood I bought at a hobby store. It's pretty fine stuff - cabinet grade - made for modeling. I cut them out, sanded them very smooth with sand paper and my dremel for the thumbhole and the edges. I stained them with some tung oil mixed with Burnt Sienna oil paint. When it dried, I put on about 6 coats of straight tung oil sanding inbetween coats with 600 grit auto sandpaper. At the end of each day, I clean it with odorless turps and hand rub a coat of walnut oil into it and hang it on the wall till the next day.

I love them.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Here are the images of what $50.00 can buy you. I figured if I can't keep paint off the floor there was no way I could make my own palette!

The front: