Materials:
Sheet of wood, at least 44"x18"
Glass panel, 16x20"
6 poplar square dowels, 36"x3/4"
Wood glue.
Wood finish
Shellac.
2 12" piano hinges
8 decorative corners(optional)
2 brass toggle catches
Enough acrylic paint to cover a 16x20" panel. Colors: white+black/umber/etc (your choice)
Silicone caulk
Step 1: I planned out what I needed. I took a sheet of birch plywood that I bought from OSH, but whatever sheet of wood that you prefer should work. The one I used was slightly less the 24x48, with a 7/32" thickness. I also got 6 each of the 36" poplar square dowels with a 3/4" thickness.
Step 2: I carefully measured where I needed to cut the square poplar dowels down to the size I needed to make the parts of the box. I cut them down to these sizes:
- 2 each at 21-3/4" in length
- 4 each at 10-13/16" in length
- 6 each at 17-3/4" in length
Step 3: I cut the sheet of birch plywood into 3 separate pieces:
- 1 piece at 21-3/4" x 17-3/4"
- 2 pieces at 10-13/16" x 17-3/4"
Step 4: I then glued the square poplar dowels to the freshly cut birch panels. It helps to have C-clamps to make sure they adhere securely to the panels, if you have them handy.
*Sidenote: If you want to make these into cradle board canvas panels, simply stop here and glue canvas to the front side of the panel.
Step 5: I next applied several coats of wood finish to every exposed part of the wood with a bristle brush.
Step 7: I then screwed the piano hinges to the sides of the poplars so that the hinges fold inward. This will make sure the box closes shut. Be careful to line up the hinge with the edge so that the box closes straight.
Step 9: I screwed one brass toggle catch on each side of the box lid. This will make sure the lid doesn't open if you move it.
Step 11: I spread silicone caulk and applied it to the sides and corners of the box, and created an "X" in the center of the box.
Step 12: I set the glass painted-side-down into the box, let the caulk dry to seal the palette to the box, and then laid some paint down on it!
Optional mods: I drilled a screw into the side of the right-hand box lid. When I slide my palette cup around the screw, it makes sure it doesn't slide everywhere when you're using it. I also cut 4 foam squares to glue to the corners of the lid. This will cushion the lid when you close the box, as well as help it the box top lay flat while closed.
Let me know if you have any improvements to the set-up! I'm all ears.
Bonus! Link to the Youtube video: http://youtu.be/D1YjqYtqbxg
Sergio Lopez
Painter and Instructor, Sergio's passionate about painting the figure and blogging about his experiences as a plein air and studio painter.
You can also find him here: www.themainloop.com CONTINUE READING MORE