3 Palette Ideas for the Harbron Tripod Shelf

Here are some ideas on using the Harbron Tripod Shelf as a palette:

Firstly, let me say that I don't apply paint directly to the shelf. I prefer to attach a dedicated surface to the shelf for my mixing, as it's easier to organise and manage. I use 'draftsman's' metal drawing board clips for this purpose, but there are a range of clip solutions you might have more readily to hand. For my demo, I'm using the shallowest clips I could find at 16 x 55 mm. For the last studio set-up in this article, I don't need clips.    

1: Palette Paper

The first solution is to use palette paper. I have been using the Strathmore Palette Paper, size 9x12in. I attach the whole pad to the shelf using drawing board clips and when I have completed my painting, I scrape off left-over paint into a pot (using it later to put a ground on some of my new surfaces) and then I can tear-off and dispose of the paper. The palette paper solution is very portable and hassle-free. It's a bit of a pain in windy conditions though, both in setting it up, and when clearing away. But it's light and I can easily organise a few different palettes during a painting session if I want.  

2: Acrylic Perspex Sheet

The second solution is my favoured method. I use an acrylic perspex plastic sheet, purchased online, size A4, and coloured light grey for a mid-tone. I attach this sheet to the tripod shelf using the drawing board clips. When I am finished, I scrape the paint off into a pot, and I place the palette into an A4 panel carrier for transportation or into a plastic bag when wanting to travel very light. The sheet is easy to manage in windy conditions, the mid-tone helps with my mixing, and the palette is easy to clean after a session. If the paint dries and won't scrape off, I find nail polish remover a useful solution for tackling the stains and returning the surface back to new.   

3: Studio Palette Box

In the studio I use an adapted Masterson Sta-wet Palette, size large (about A3). I have added a 6mm plywood sheet cut to size and painting a mid-grey tone, along with a top sheet of toughened glass. This makes the palette quite heavy, but the Harbron Tripod Shelf supports it well, provided the legs of the tripod are extended to give a reasonal foot print. I have ample palette space for mixing and the set-up is really good for positioning adjacent to my studio easel. 

So that is how I use my Harbron Tripod Shelf as a palette, both en plein air, and in the studio. In my next article, I'll talk about how I carry all my kit to location. 

Happy painting!

    Alex