Sister Friends show up on Catrina ATCs

Catrina ATCs

Do you recognize these girls in face paint?

Catrina face painting in progress
Much to say
and
I don't know where to begin.
So, first I guess I shall share that I am going to Mexico next month which should explain why all of a sudden I'm painting Catrina faces.
I need many for an ATC trade with other artist.

New paint palette
But mostly I wanted to share with you;
My new paint palette.
What led to it.
and
Although early for a full-on review...

I'm sharing some of what I know so far.

First, what led me to a new palette?

Well, if you have taken one of my online classes,

you know that I use a very tiny homemade palette.

Which is for the purpose of getting the view of the palette in the video instruction. I feel it is helpful for the student.

Second, while I haven't painted much this year, I started painting much larger canvases and on a humongo easel.
and
still using that tiny homemade palette.
It was time to get loose with paint.

I realized that I was still in the pre-retirement mode when I had only short time periods to paint and didn't want to lay out a palette and let the paint go to waste.
 I needed to make some changes and get out of the pre-retirement mode!

That's when I happen to see this post about her paint palette.

In her video, Gillian Lee Smith, told about using a Masterson Sta-wet palette.

I decided, it was time I should give it a try. 

After all, I was painting huge and needed huge quantities of paint out. 

Hahaha

Except for my big journal page (previous post) the "big" paintings I am doing are these 2.5 inch X 3.5 inch little ATCs.

Here's what I know so far about the palette:

• Trying to mix the three pools of dark, medium, and light values in the middle was very awkward for me. The palette sides seemed to be in the way and I kept getting my hand and arm into the paint already laid out around the edges. A different palette knife will fix that (I think).

• I may have left the sponge and acrylic film palette too wet. As you can see, the paint looks and is very runny.

• When I needed a color that wasn't out, I found myself reaching for my tiny homemade palette. Maybe I need two of these.

• I didn't do a good job of laying out the paint around the edges. I'm sure I will do better the next time. 

• Only once when unexpected company from Oklahoma showed up did I walk off and leave the top off. When discovered, several hours later I put the top on and it seems to be just fine and juicy.

• I'm sitting at my desk with the palette and little ATCs. However, I'm trying to think how I will situate me, my humongo easel and new filled palette when I start on a large canvas. 

• Yes, indeed I think my paint will last a long time and I won't be wasting dried up paint.

• And I think the bonus is, I am more inclined to sit down and paint knowing the paint is right there waiting for me. 

LOVE THAT!

♥