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Steve Padden (Portable Painter Designer & Founder)
- Nov 24, 2020
- 1 min
Just Six Colors Can Be Plenty!
When we first experimented with watercolors as children, it’s likely that the palette below from the 1960’s might have looked very attractive. Yet in practice, the sheer number of colors that are available can be completely overwhelming. Experienced watercolorists often limit their color choices as a way to better understand the medium. It can also be easier to create a harmonious painting when using a smaller range of colors. This is where the benefits of a tiny palette (ot
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Steve Padden (Portable Painter Designer & Founder)
- Sep 30, 2020
- 2 min
Finally, Travel Accessories That Can Recharge You!
These gadgets are compact, pocket size and completely wireless. They can bring color into your life and allow you to capture the flavor of the world around you. No, they aren’t smart-phones, they’re watercolor palettes that are lighter and every bit as convenient to carry as many phones. Watercolors are one of the oldest and most accessible ways to paint and with Portable Painter it's never been easier to have a set with you. The Classic and the Micro are incredibly compact,
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Steve Padden (Portable Painter Designer & Founder)
- Sep 9, 2020
- 1 min
Portable Painter Playing with Lego®
One of my friends, Jesse Miller, runs a Lego® Work/Playspace in Long Beach, California. It’s called Brickersville and Jesse is the honorary mayor. A while back, he invited me to visit and play. Boy, those bricks have come a long way since I was kid! I made a few penguins and a fantasy bird, then I had a flash of inspiration, leading to the creation shown below. Where have we seen this before? Do you think I might have a one-track mind? Find out more about Brickersville at
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Steve Padden (Portable Painter Designer & Founder)
- Sep 1, 2020
- 1 min
Instantly Add More Colors to Your Portable Painter CLASSIC Palette
This is a tip for anyone who has wanted a Portable Painter CLASSIC palette that can hold more than twelve colors. Several artists who use the CLASSIC gave us the heads-up on this clever, effortless hack. It allows you to instantly add five or six additional colors: Just squeeze some pigments into the small mixing wells on the folding palette plate as shown and you’ll instantly have up to eighteen colors. The palette size remains the same and you'll still have plenty of mixing
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Steve Padden (Portable Painter Designer & Founder)
- Aug 10, 2020
- 1 min
Cold Weather Watercolor Solutions
Many areas of the world experience several months of rainy or extremely cold weather each year. This makes plein air painting, or urban sketching, a real challenge. One reliable refuge from the cold, with good visibility, is the cosy, heated interior of a car. The downside is that it’s rather cramped quarters. But that’s where Portable Painter CLASSIC shines! It straddles a leg as it securely holds your water containers; conveniently leaving your hands free to position your
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