On saving paints and brushes

The first time I saw a glass palette I was in painting class at university. Until then, I had been using old plates as a surface for mixing paints, and the prospect of using a flat surface that could be easily cleaned with a palette knife was exciting.
An old frame with glass is a fully serviceable palette. I got my first frame/palette at a thrift store. I took out the print that came with the frame and replaced it with white paper.

As overjoyed as I was with the flat palette glass, I was still having problems. Then—as now!—I wasn’t any good at estimating how much paint I’d use during a given painting session. I didn’t like having to squeeze out dabs of paint when I was in the middle of mixing and making, so I always put out too much paint. And I was always disappointed when I had to throw it out.

At some point, I’d had enough, and I created this paint saver, shown below.

I made my own because it never occurred to me that someone might manufacture something like it. Someone does, but it’s also easy enough to make. It keeps acrylics fresh and ready to go.

The paint saver is three layers: a bottom plate where the paint lives in individual dabs, a middle section which is just a wet rag and whatever is used to keep the rag from touching the paint, and a top plate to seal the paint saver with its weight. The most complex aspect of the paint saver is what’s used to keep the rag from falling into the paint. Currently, I’m using two sheets of plastic (binder covers, green and yellow in the photos) into which I have cut a grid—I use two glued together for rigidity. I also cut a solid circle of plastic (in red) to cover the rag so that it doesn’t dry out as easily.
For added moisture (my studio/apartment tends to be fairly dry and warm), I sprits the dabs with water every so often as I’m working and once before I tuck the paint dabs in for the night.

photo by David

Saving brushes is simply a matter of doing their hair. After washing my brushes out, I comb their bristles—sort of a throw back to my Barbie doll days, but with an entirely more functional intent! Brush hairs get gunked up and knotted with use; the regular combing extends their lives, especially for my fine-bristled wide flat brushes.

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