[ujwala]

I had read about the altoid box conversion here on the sketching forum first and was very tempted. I ended up using a party favour paint box ( credit card sized ) as my paint box as I couldnt find an altoid box here The only problem is that its bright red moulded plastic body made mixing difficult.

Recently I came across this pill box and the first thing that crossed my mind was what a wonderful travel palette it would make. It could double up as a paint box too but i wanted wells for mixing too. It still isnt white in colour but I intend to put it on top of a piece of paper to overcome that problem.

As I've mentiioned elsewhere now all that is needed is that I go out and use these when travelling. I'm new to watercolours and had found the paints to be very dry. I believe they need to be wet before use. So I'm on the look out for a small spray bottle to complete my kit. [/img]

[Russ]

Wow, that is a nice potential paint box. I hadn't seen that one before. I wonder if it can be found in other parts of the world.

Yeah, a lot of people spray their pan watercolors before using. I do if I remember. Otherwise I'll just add a drop of water to each color before I get started.

[ujwala]

Thanks for the good advice I shall add the drops of water. Its easier than carrying one more item like a spray bottle.

This one is called a Pinko Pill Box and doesnt even say where it is made. The pill boxes that my parents have, both large and small are narrow and rectangular in shape with a little flap for each days pills. You can usually find them in supermarkets or maybe even a Pharmacy?

[BeginAgin]

Welcome Ujwala. A piece of white paper inside
the covers of these mini-sketchboxes will work for me as a mixing tray. I found
some white paper that is shiny so that I can wipe off the mix
when I want to make another mix.
PS:
Back from looking at your blog. Lovely.
I envy you taking a month at the Art Student's
League.

[vivien]

Hi your blog is on my list with bloglines


that's a great little box

[TC_Sketcher]

[inkysmudges]

Sorry if this is a thickie question but is there any further info available on that pill box? Brand, online source, etc?

I did a quick web search and came up with a bunch of rubbish that didn't look nearly as satisfactory as yours. I especially like the removable tray.

[inkysmudges]

Haven't seen a reply so I thought a bump might be in order.

[DigitalPGH]

This looks like an interesting Pill Box / Holder and Paper / Brush Holder.

Hmmm



Or....




or....


and while searching ebay - I came across this little item

[dbaby_bear]

Hi DigitalPH, The monday-sunday pillbox crossed my mind as well and I tried to keep halfpans watercolors in it, but in the end it didnt work well for me. Its too much hassel to open-close each container. For me, the altoids type tin-box works fine, but hey to each their own right? but the e-pill in the picture might be handy.

[ujwala]

I'm sorry for the delay in replying. I was expecting to get an email when there were replies to this thread. I'll be checking the settings after posting this.

dbabybear - since the pull out was white i was planning to use it as a palette. the thought of using it to carry the colours did cross my mind. i dont have easy access to ready made pans and these wells would be easy to squeeze tube paint into. but somehow i too wanted one made out of a tin box.

DigitalPGH - all of them look interesting but i especially like the middle one. it looks very cut and the wells look big enough for mixing.

inkysmudges - i'm truly sorry for not replying to you earlier. i dont have any other information on availability. I bought it in Kolkata and I live in Dhaka so it isnt possible for me to go to the store and check. I will do that when next I visit Kolkata and update this thread with the information. Having dropped and broken the hinge I'm in the market for one more!

TCSketcher - great idea. thank you and that should be easy to locate.

Vivien - thank you I've got you listed on my blogroll. love your paintings!

Beginagin - i've finally managed to lay my hands on an altoid tin and have gessoed the inner surface. i'm thinking of adding a coat of picture varnish. waiting to check if it is water soluble as that will knock it out of reckoning. I'll look around for a similar paper as it will make a nice backup plan - disposable palettes for the travel kit!

[RunningColours]

Even easier than spray bottle, get yourself a "Niji Waterbrush!" (The half-inch or 12mm flat one is my absolute favorite; I have 2 of them.) It's multi-functional--can actually be used to paint, as well as just wet pan paints!

I love waterbrushes for sketching, but they are also great in the studio just for mixing paint, or scrubbing anything that's dried on my little porcelain palettes. Paint doesn't want to stick to them, so they clean easily. In the field, they clean with a paper towel, so one can even paint without an open (potentially messy) container of water.

I see the Koi waterbrush (which comes apart into 2 pieces to be even easier to carry around) is now available for purchase without their paint set, but I want it in a flat version. Perhaps I'll wait a bit longer to see if they start to offer a flat one.

[ujwala]

Hi RunningColors, I too love water brushes. Read about them here first and managed to convince my husband to bring some back for me from Tokyo. They were Pentel Aquash and that was a couple of years ago. They dont drip and they're perfect for my sketch kit. The ink in my black pre-filled one finished recently and i'm considering my options on what to fill it up with. A couple of weeks ago i bought myself the Koi one which comes in two pieces I have to inaugurate that one soon. All the ones I have are round. Will look out for the flat tip next time.