|
I have been looking for a more convenient way to store 15 ml/.5 oz. watercolor tube paint. I have tried one system after another and found all of them lacking for one reason or another. My failed systems included the following: a drawer system, fishing tackle box, art box, and clear bags. Here is a diatribe on my failed systems to date: 1. I didn't like the drawer system because it was too large and bulky and not portable (and frankly I don't have room for it); 2. I didn't like the fishing tackle box because I couldn't tell at a glance whether I needed a certain color - I had to dig around in the compartments. There was the option of having more tackle boxes, but they are large, bulky, pricey, and take up a lot of room; 3. The art box is surprisingly less well designed than a fishing tackle box. Shocking since it is supposed to be purpose built. Plus, I found the closure system to be inadequate for travel; and 4. Clear bags worked, but I had still had to search for the colors - too much time wasted. Since none of these were optimal, I would end up throwing my paint into an open shallow cardboard box and rummage through it for a particular color. Oh so convenient, but again I would waste too much time searching through the tubes of paint. Worst case I would find the color I wanted but it would be dried out or empty. I would purchase a new one and then discover I already had a full tube. Fail! So it has been my mission to find a storage system that included the following criteria: See-through, small, portable, long enough sections for one or two tubes of 15 ml tubes of paint, and a dependable locking system. Finally, I have been successful and want to share the information with you.
I hope this helps to make your painting experience more enjoyable and less frustrating. These are easy to pack and you can tell at a glance without unlocking the box if you are shy a color or need a replacement. I keep them in the order that I place them on my palette, so if I'm running low I know just where to look. Back to my brushes.
"To be in hell is to drift, to be in heaven is to steer." - George Bernard Shaw
10 Comments
 Got all my info submitted for Splash 16 today, and got the news that Splash 15 will officially hit the bookstores on June 27th! You can order it from North Light Books at their website, pre-order on Amazon, or look for it at your local bookstore. So here is a photo of the cover. Can't wait to get my copy!
I've started a new painting so I will get back to my brushes. "It is always wise to look ahead, but difficult to look further than you can see." - Winston Churchill  Got a scan done of my latest work and dropped off two paintings at the framer today. It is so rewarding to get a piece framed and see it completed. If I were to give one piece of advice to a person taking up painting I would tell them to frame their work. At the very least, frame your best work of the year. I don't care how horrible you will think it is five years from now or how you would paint it differently in the future. You WILL gain confidence if you respect your work enough to frame it. And here is another truth…it will look better framed. For your enjoyment another photo of a second story from downtown. Back to my brushes tomorrow.
"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." - Michael Jordan  Had a great time at the OK Mozart International Festival and got to spend some time with family. I've added this photo because for me it's not just a thing or a place. My late aunt did a little painting of this depot and you can see why - it's charming. Not it's original location of course, but lucky that someone had the foresight to save it.
Nice to be home, but it is getting hotter and my AC was not working yesterday, but it is fixed now and blissfully cool. I have a couple of clean-up areas on this painting and it will be complete. Already signed and I will take it off the board today. I do not look forward to removing the staples - a real downside to using this paper. But, worth it since you can get a really nice, crisp line on it. Glad to be home and…back to my brushes. "Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?" - Henry David Thoreau In an effort to attain some semblance of a work/life balance I have taken my youngest to the OK Mozart International Festival this week. Back to my brushes soon.
"Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have grown not only gray, but almost blind in the service of my country." - George Washington  Attended the opening reception of Watercolor USA this evening in Springfield. The weather cooperated so that our drive was rain-free both directions. A lovely venue and the food and drinks were much appreciated since we didn't have time for dinner. Enjoyed meeting Cindy so that I now have a face to go along with the name. I really appreciated the way the works were displayed. All-in all, a delightful evening. Back to my brushes.
"When we see a natural style, we are astonished and charmed. For we expected to see an author, and we find a person." - Blaise Pascal  Unexpected company this evening, so I'll keep this brief. After meetings this morning I headed south to have a scan done of a recently completed painting. This painting was such a joy to paint that it continues to make me happy when I look at it and recall the experience. I haven't put it on the site yet. In fact I have about five new paintings that aren't available for viewing yet. The opening reception of Watercolor USA is this Friday, June 6th at 5:30 p.m. If you are in the area you should stop by and see the exhibit. I am honored to have one of my paintings included.
This week in our area we are having the annual influx of WalMart stockholders. So my goal this week is to stay home and miss the additional traffic. For your enjoyment, here is another second story that isn't too hard to figure out. Back to my brushes. "A man sits in his car at the traffic lights, waiting for them to go green." - Michael Frayn Waited all day for someone to show up who was supposed to be here between 10 and 12. Don't know what happened to them. But, I painted all day and may have to put it away. It is just taking too long and I don't think it is that good anyway. I may work on it the rest of the week, try to drag it to the finish line... like a dead horse. Perhaps you can tell that I'm not at top game today. Anyway, I did add another review in the documentary section. It is 10 p.m. and I've been painting since 9 a.m. Think I'll call it a day. Back to my brushes…tomorrow.
"God bless perseverance. Because it's not easy." - Junot Diaz Work/Life balance - what's that? Back to my brushes.
"Destiny is the invention of the cowardly and the resigned." - Ignazio Silone |
Archives
June 2025
|
RSS Feed