Looking for hand-made balanced palette

Debra Norton · 10-16-2005, 10:22 PM

Jean Marie, I think the color of your palette should complement the way you paint. After I transfer the drawing, my first step on the canvas is to complete a thin quick lay-in, getting as close to the values and color as possible. So my canvas is completely covered in a couple hours; that's why I like the darker wood palette. Grey would give the same effect. Someone who paints in sections and leaves the white for a long time would benefit from a white palette.

Elizabeth Schott · 10-20-2005, 11:09 PM

Jean Marie, I don't know if you have purchased one yet, or read my response at Cennini, but hopefully I can find the images and just to repeat.

Would palettes that are made of good hard wood are a standard throughout history. They become a lighter value the more you use them and the paint develops a natural patina. You can't beat them. Especially as you become more comfortable with values it will not be such a big deal, are you toning your canvas gray? Or a burnt sienna type brown, these figure in too.

The ones Max made for me based on Whitaker's patterns are not only made superbly but are finished in the best possible way for keeping them clean.

Because of the horn design, it eliminates the extra weight to balance the palette thus it stays very light. The smaller one that fits a Masterson Box, is lighter than a tube of paint.

On top of all of this they are very reasonably priced.

I forget how Max want's them ordered on his site, he doesn't have them specified yet, so just shoot him an email for more info. I recommend them highly, for they too are a work of art.

Real Gesso Panels

Jean-Marie Chapman · 10-20-2005, 11:27 PM

Beth and Debra: Thanks to both of you for your information and comments. I've not yet ordered my palette and will probably drive you all up the wall with this revelation: I'm going to ask my son to make me one! He has all the tools, and years ago made a beautiful classical guitar for his physics project. His subject was acoustics so he placed the sound holes in places that produced the desired result. That said, I would like to ask for some patterns and plans for balanced palettes. Anyone willing to wade in on this? It will be interesting to see what my son develops based on some of the tried and true designs. Perhaps I'll be able to play it!
Stay tuned.
Jean-Marie

Kimberly Dow · 10-25-2005, 05:08 PM

I'm just going to second what Beth said - I just got my palette from Max yesterday. It is light as feather and feels great. Im not used to using a dark surface to mix, but I will adjust.

Jean-Marie Chapman · 10-25-2005, 05:44 PM

kim: Can you tell me why you chose the one from Max over the Boynton palette? I don't believe the Boynton is not as dark as the mahogony one that Max makes. But I'm not really certain of that. Have you compared the two?
Jean-Marie

Max Howard · 10-25-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean-Marie Koch

kim: Can you tell me why you chose the one from Max over the Boynton palette?

Probably because I'm such a swell guy

I've mixed paint on dark and light wood palettes but I usually just use scraps of gesso panel which are bright white, not for any particular aid to color matching, but because there's always a bunch of them around. The point I'm trying to make is that the color of the surface that I'm mixing on has very little effect on value accuracy, if I really need to make 100% sure of the value I use a gray-scale. Color and value matching is pretty easy once you grasp the rudiments of color theory, confidence also plays a major role. Trust your eyes!

Elizabeth Schott · 10-25-2005, 10:15 PM

Jean-Marie, I can confirm that Max is indeed a swell guy!

The Boynton palette is only balanced because of an extra piece of wood that is added on the down side which makes it much heavier. If you are so concerned about the mid value you can ask someone like Max to NOT finished the wood and you can paint it and do your own shellac, although it will Gray with use. Carl has a palette posted somewhere here that is a technological wonder with mid 5 Gray and a scale on the side.
Go into your kitchen and pick up a medium size sauce pan perhaps with a lid, then in your other hand pick up a 4 oz tube of paint and there you can see the difference. If my memory serves me Max's are more economical and I consider a piece of art in itself.