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I Received A Lovely Surprise Gift In January

Miguel Francisco

Jan 27
1 min

I Received A Lovely Surprise Gift In January

One of our customers in Spain (Joaquin) had placed an order that got lost in the mail. I sent him a replacement as soon as he let us know about the problem and he received the Portable Painter Classic and Micro without much additional delay. Soon after the New Year, I received a package from Joaquin. In it, there was a hand-painted greeting card, demonstrating "how he was starting to enjoy his (paint) boxes”. There was also a personal note regarding a “small and curious gif

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Just Six Colors Can Be Plenty!

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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Hands-Free Urban Sketching with the Portable Painter MICRO

Steve Padden (Portable Painter Designer & Founder)

Nov 5, 2020
1 min

Hands-Free Urban Sketching with the Portable Painter MICRO

We probably should file this under “Great minds think alike!” Teoh Yi Chie of Parkablogs in Singapore did an excellent review of the MICRO recently. He also showed his well-used original CLASSIC palette. If you watch Teoh’s channel you’ll see many instance of the CLASSIC randomly showing up in his videos, since it’s a go-to part of his urban sketching travel kit. In his review he demonstrates the MICRO's surprisingly tiny size and amazing functionality. Besides painting with

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Go Hands-Free With The Portable Painter MICRO

Steve Padden (Portable Painter Designer & Founder)

Oct 12, 2020
1 min

Go Hands-Free With The Portable Painter MICRO

This is a brilliant way to attach the Portable Painter MICRO palette to a journal. Steve Mitchell at Mind of Watercolor recently did an excellent review of the MICRO on youtube. After experimenting with it for several days, he discovered a unique way of using the T-shaped finger grip to attach the MICRO to his watercolor journal, using a bulldog clip. You can see the result in these photos. Steve clearly explains the attachment method in his review. It leaves all the mixing

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We All Love Tiny Palettes!

Steve Padden (Portable Painter Designer & Founder)

Oct 5, 2020
1 min

We All Love Tiny Palettes!

They’re so cute!!! Also, did we say they’re TINY… They take up virtually no space and are extremely light, so they can go anywhere with you. Artists frequently convert Altoid Mint tins, compacts and pill or cosmetic cases; in fact almost any container with a lid will do. It’s amazing how washi stickers, washi tape and some watercolor half-pans can upcycle the mundane, into a little jewel of a palette. Typically though, DIY tiny palettes are short on one important feature: mix

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Finally, Travel Accessories That Can Recharge You!

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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Portable Painter Playing with Lego®

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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Instantly Add More Colors to Your Portable Painter CLASSIC Palette

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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Cold Weather Watercolor Solutions

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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