Before I no longer had a permanent address, I snuck in a few final purchases. One of those purchases was this antique artist’s paint box. Sniffing out beautiful old boxes online has become a favorite hobby of late and I’m building a nice little collection. I do try to be choosy, though, and select antique art supplies that I will actually use in one way or another, and that isn’t like another piece I already own.
I clicked the buy button on this particular antique artist’s paint box without hesitation. The thing that made me smitten with it immediately was the palette…
Isn’t that just a lovely collection of color blobs? I will likely hang it on the wall in our new studio because it is certainly art in and of itself. I also imagined using it as color inspiration for original works.
I also love the crusty linseed oil and spirits jars with brass lids that clip onto the palette.
Yummy…just yummy. I just want to lick it.
My favorite part of purchasing an antique artist’s paint box like this one is digging through all of the goodies and extras, looking for clues of who might have used this box. What style did the artist paint? What colors and brushes were well used? Were they overly tidy, cleaning everything after each, or did they embrace the mess that comes with working with paint?
I haven’t had a chance to clean up these paint tubes, yet, but I am looking forward to diving in. I painted a series of antique art supplies – tubes of paint, palettes, and bottles of linseed oil, and I’m looking forward to painting more. I love the metal lids and the patina of old paint on the tools. I’ll take this any day over a box of jewels.
I had to be very careful about what I took with me to be a part of my temporary studio, but I treated myself and took along this antique artist’s paint box. I wanted to have a little project to work on and I thought this was just too irresistible to swaddle in bubble wrap and put in a box.
You can find more of my collection of antique art supplies HERE. And I did a little browsing for antique art supplies and picked out a few goodies…
9 Responses
I love that palette too. It has a happy vibe.
an inspiration piece for sure.
You crack me up Marian – ‘ I just want to lick it’!! While I find that funny, think all of us who collect things, no matter what those things are, have had that same feeling! The palette does look like art; if you put a frame around it & hung it on the wall it would like an intentional work of an impressionist field of flowers in a fall garden!
I agree with every word. Happy painting with new inspiration.
The paint on your “newest” vintage art box looks like rosemaling. Beautiful!!!
Connie nailed it! It looks like an Impressionists boquet. I think framing it would be ?. Just wondering…now that things have calmed somewhat, have you had any regrets regarding the things you let go? I didn’t when we first moved but about 6 months in I do which I had shipped some of my craft things. It’s nice to have your blogs back
Sure hope you take at least a sketch pad with you on your sojourn this summer especially if you visit the coast of Maine and sketch that beautiful coast maybe even a light house or two. Nubble Light, Portland Head Light etc. And if you do I will be first in line to buy them ! Love your posts. How is your foot coming along ?
Welllll…..wonder no more….they were not overly tidy!!!! I bet they were very creative and painted a lot. No time for clean ups. Enjoy!!!!
Oh!!! And if you find that box of jewels I would be happy to relieve you of them!!! 😉
Cannot blame you one bit. It’s charm speaks volumes.
I agree with every word. Happy painting with new inspiration. thanks for sharing this article.