Ice cube tray palette

[JeffTibbetts]

So... I plan to make myself a wet palette one of these days, but I thought I'd share a trick that I've been using for some time.

 

The concept is the same basic premise as a wet palette, but it works on a different principle. All you need is a generic ice cube tray, frozen with, uh... cubes in it, plus a sheet of tin foil. Honestly any shape or size will work but the long and skinny type makes it easy to get a small piece of tin foil that completely covers it. 

 

You just pull that bad boy out of the freezer and lay the tin foil over the top. You can press the foil down gently over the top, so it forms little mixing areas that sit right on top of the ice. That is literally all you need to do. 

 

Here's why it works: you know how condensation makes your cold drink sweat in the summer? That. When the water forms on top of the foil, it keeps your paints wet just like a wet palette. Not only that, but the chill keeps the level of evaporation in the paint itself down. This isn't something that lasts very long, of course. I can get a solid hour or two under several painting lamps, but that's about it. Over time it can collect so much water that you have to be careful they don't get watered down too much but you get the hang of it pretty fast. 

 

It's simple, kinda ghetto, and really cheap since you probably have the stuff laying around. Beats the heck out of doing nothing to keep your paints wet. Beware the cat who wants to drink the water even though he has perfectly good water not 10 feet away, but if you're cursed with a cat you already know all about that. 

 

Anyone else tried this or have a variation on the theme? 

[nurglespuss]

I've been using wax sheet pallete books from the works, they absorb no moisture from the paint at all! Which is handy, but will try out your technique, as I find the new GW paints do dry out much to quickly for my liking (especially Abaddon Black and Ceramite White)

[JeffTibbetts]

Let me know how it goes. I found it works wonders with those base paints. 

[Trevak Dal]

Sounds interesting, I'll fill up a tray (I have like...10 that came with my apartment.  I rarely use ice, preferring more beverage) and give it a shot-though I'll use some Wax paper too.