Better late than never, right?

Pictures of the w/c box, all cleaned up and ready to fill.  I still haven't decided just what to fill it with, but it's ready when I am.   One of the little ceramic pans has a tiny chip in it, which I might have done myself.  Otherwise, it's in excellent condition and I expect it will last many years.  I couldn't be happier with it. :)

Current Palette

I know it's almost protocol -artists (and wannabes) have to post their current palettes for the world to ogle.  And since I do a lot of ogling, I guess I should give back some.  So...here's my current palette, subject to change at any time. :)

1. Quin. Magenta (Winsor & Newton)
2. Perm. Madder Lake (Rembrandt)
3. Winsor Red (Winsor & Newton)
4. Pyrrol Orange (Daniel Smith)
5. New Gamboge (Winsor & Newton)
6. Nickel Titanate Yellow (Winsor & Newton)
7. Bismuth Yellow (Winsor & Newton)
8. Permanent Sap Green (Winsor & Newton)
9. Permanent Green (Rembrandt)
10. Viridian (Rembrandt)
11. Ultramarine Turquoise (Daniel Smith)
12. Peacock Blue (Holbein)
13. Cobalt Blue (Winsor & Newton)
14. Prussian Blue (Winsor & Newton)
15. French Ultramarine Blue (Winsor & Newton)
16. Indigo (Winsor & Newton)
17. Quin. Gold, Deep (Daniel Smith)
18. Burnt Sienna (Rembrandt)
19. Sepia (Rembrandt)
20. Payne's Gray (Winsor & Newton)

Well...that's the 20 I use most.  I have a "secondary" palette that cotains a few things I only use on occasion.  I intend to start doing more works using these extra colors so I can learn more about them.  After I do that, I just may make some changes to my list above.

1. Permanent Rose
2. Opera Rose
3. Cadmium Red, Medium
4. Indian Red
5. Cadmium Orange
6. Cadmium Yellow, Medium
7. Yellow Ochre
8. Raw Sienna
9. Green Gold
10. Olive Green
11. Terre Verte
12. Hooker's Green
13. Cerulean Blue
14. Cobalt Violet
15. Ultramarine Violet
16. Burnt Umber

I also have some metallic paints that I haven't really tried.  I keep gold and silver in my auxilliary palette, but almost never even think to get them wet.  Maybe I should try those this weekend, just to get a "feel" for them.  Honestly, I think I'm kind of afraid they might a) be addictive and b) mess up my brushes.  So I guess I should put those fears aside and just dip in.  Who knows?  I may love them.

I also have several watercolor "starter sets" that came pre-loaded with different colors, but so far I haven't really been fond of many of the choices.  I think they just load them up with a few colors they know everyone can use, then fill it out with cheap stuff.  The result looks good, but isn't really very practical.  And I don't understand filling slots with black or white...how many watercolorists really use those?  I only use white to cover a mistake, and black if I'm doing something monochromatic -and for that I prefer sepia.

One exception is my Yarka paints.  The set of 24 has a great color range that I found completely useful.  Sadly, most of their colors aren't lightfast.  If they would fix that, I would probably only use Yarka brand, as I love most of them.  They're grainy and moody and I love the "semi-moist" aspect.  They flow nicely and I always enjoy using them.

My last finished painting

I'm proud of it. But...I want to redo it again because the elipse on my coffee cup is out of whack.

The sketchbag followed me home from a flea market several months ago. I've filled it to the brim with art supplies -in fact, I had so much stuffed in there at a watercolor workshop I took that people were really surprised. It seemed everytime someone needed something they'd forgotten, I had..."Sure, I have tracing paper" or "Oh, you need a french curve?" to "You've run out of tape? Of course I have some...." And it's such a lovely bag, made in Italy with hand stitching. Built to last a lifetime, and I just couldn't be happier with it.

The little orange calcite? onyx? demitasse cup and saucer are part of a set I picked up at yard sale. I just couldn't resist -I think they may be my favorite dishes. Ever. Honestly, I want to buy more stuff just like them but haven't seen any. Most of the stone dishes I've seen just haven't had the character.

The tiger eye stones have been here awhile, tumbling around in my desk. As soon as I pulled them out for my drawing, my cat went bonkers. He kept jumping up on the table to steal a stone, then playing with it 'till he lost it under the sofa or behind the appliances, then he would come grab another one. I started out with a handful, and by the time the drawing was complete there was only one left. :) He had a blast, though, so I certainly don't begrudge him a few little pebbles...whatever makes him happy.

I really love Rembrandt sepia paint (much nicer than W&N)...but I wish the drying shift was less dramatic. Wet, it has beautiful golden tones that almost disappear once it's dry.

I intend to try this again in the next couple of weeks.