GB1579828A - Artists palette - Google Patents

Description

(54) AN ARTIST'S PALETTE (71) We, K. S. TINNING & SON LIMITED a British Company, of Sweethay Court, Trull, Taunton, Somerset, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to improvements in artists palettes, and is in particular concerned with artists palettes which serve as a colour mixing guide.

Conventional artists palettes comprise a board, adapted to be held by the artist, which is capable of bearing a number of commercially available paints. Where it is desired to use a colour which does not correspond to any of the commercially available paints on the palette the appropriate colour may be obtained by mixing the appropriate commercially available paints until the desired colour is obtained. It is often difficult, particularly for the beginner or amateur artist to produce the correct colour by appropriate mixing.

The present invention combines the features of a colour mixing chart with the traditional palette. Colour mixing charts are relatively difficult to use effectively, and the amateur artist is likely to find them confusing and difficult to handle, especially out of doors. Our invention enables the principle of the colour mixing chart to be used easily and effectively, even by an artist of little or no experience. In addition the palette of the present invention enables the artist to immediately determine the accuracy of his mixture and moreover provides as easy reference-back to any mixture required.

According to the present invention there is provided an artists' palette (as defined below) for mixing paints, said palette having zones containing or indicated as being suitable to contain paint to be mixed and a plurality of indicated mixing areas, said mixing areas and said zones, at least when the latter do not already contain paint, having hues printed thereon or closely adjacent thereto, the spatial disposition of said mixing areas and their associated hues on the palette being related in the manner of a colour mixing chart so as to indicate the hues obtainable by mixing paints of two or more colours.

In distinction from a conventional colour mixing chart, the term "palette" is used herein to- denote a relatively rigid structure suitable for support in the hand, e.g.

by means of a thumb hole, and having a surface substantially impervious to at least one type of artists' paint and resistant to the abrasion caused by mixing paint thereon.

Furthermore the term "palette" as used herein extends not only to conventional palettes, but also includes a palette comprising a base having attached thereto a single or a plurality of removable, e.g.

paper, covering(s), having a said surface as defined above and having hues printed thereon as described above. For use with oils, the paper must be rendered oil-resistant, by suitable impregnation or coating.

In the palette of the invention preferably said hues associated with said mixing areas indicate the hues obtainable by mixing paints of two or more colours in different proportions.

Thus zones containing or indicating as being suitable to contain paints of two colours A and B may have disposed adjacent thereto, e.g. between them, or in some other logical and readily comprehensible relation thereto, a plurality of mixing areas associated with the hues ob tainable by mixing A and B, the areas most closely adjacent to the zone of A indicating the hues obtained by a preponderance of A, the areas tending in hue towards colour B as they approach the zone of B.

The hues obtainable by mixing of these colours can be represented by colour triangle in known manner. For the purposes of this specification, white is considered to be a colour, since mixtures containing white are of major importance to the artist.

In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a conventional palette base in combination with a plurality of removable sheets e.g. paper sheets having a said surface, preferably shaped to the contour of the palette, and having printed thereon a plurality of hues as here inbefore described such that mixing of paints may take place on the surface of the removable sheet guided by the hues printed thereon and after completion of the picture or after use the sheet may if desired be removed and thrown away. The sheet material may be attached to the palette by any convenient means e.g. by clips at points on the periphery of the palette or by tearable bonding to the palette.

In another embodiment of the present invention the colour-mix palette comprises a white lined board e.g. a plastics laminated white lined board having a plurality of hues printed thereon. White lined boards are commonly available in the paper and board-making industry and usually consist of a medium quality chipboard which has been white lined with paper during manufacture. The plastics lamination will, of course, be resistant to spirit of turpentine, white spirit and similar solvent media employed by artists and be unaffected by water. In one embodiment of the present invention polyethylene terephthalate under the name of Melinex (Trade Mark) of Imperial Chemical Industries has been employed as the plastics laminate, but other plastics laminates having the above-mentioned properties may also be used.The palette of the present invention will generally also have printed thereon hues corresponding to commercially available paints, there conveniently being a zone adjacent the printed hue for deposit of the commercially available paint. This zone may, if desired be marked out, e.g. in the form of an outline circle, or may, if desired take the form of a depression in the surface of the palette of the invention. It is convenient to present these hues in the form of circles on the palette. By "commercially available paints we mean paints of the standard hues used by artists, such as lemon yellow, vermilion and french ultramarine.

It will be appreciated that the hues printed on the palette of the present invention may vary according to the specific use of the palette, for example, a landscape palette or a still-life pallette.

As stated above it is convenient to mark the hues of the relevant commercially available paints on the palette together with the names of these paints.

It is also convenient to provide an out line around the mixing area e.g. a circle or depression adjacent each area of printed hue corresponding to hues obtained by mixing in order to indicate the area in which colour mixing can take place. There is thus provided a ready comparison between the hue printed on the palette of the invention and the hue obtained by mixing of the paints.

In one embodiment of the present invention zones containing or intended to contain particular paints to be mixed (i.e.

zones for commercially available paints) are disposed around the periphery of the palette and a zone containing or indicated as being suitable to contain white paint is disposed centrally, mixing areas being disposed between said zone and said zones around the periphery in the manner of spokes of a wheel. Preferably hues colours corresponding to the commercially available paints are printed adjacent the respective zones.

In use quantities of the commercially available paint are deposited in zones adjacent to the printed hues on the periphery of the palette. The mixing areas and their associated hues are positioned relative to the hues representing the commercially available paints in such a manner as to indicated the proportions of commercially available paint constituting the mixture.

Thus, for example, where mixtures of brown paint (e.g. burnt umber) < on the periphery of the palette are to be mixed with white paint at the centre of the palette a series of separate mixing areas and printed hues extend in radial fashion from the peripheral brown colour to the central white zone, the tone associated with each area between the peripheral brown zone and the central white zone becoming progressively lighter the closer these areas are to the central white zone.

Similarly where it is desired to mix a red paint (vermilion) the colour zone of which is on the periphery of the palette, with a yellow paint (e.g. lemon yellow) the colour zone of which is also on the periphery of the palette and adjacent to the red colour zone, with white paint the colour zone of which is substantially at the centre of the palette a series of mixing areas and associated printed areas are provided intermediate said red and yellow zones extending inwardly towards the central white zone, the orange tones formed by such mixing becoming progressively lighter as the mixing areas are positioned closer to the central white zone.

Thus the artist may see at a glance the approximate proportions in which commercially available paints must be mixed to give a particular printed hue by the position of the printed hue in relation to the printed hues of the commercially available paints on the palette of the above embodiment.

In another embodiment of the invention, especially suitable for use by children, the palette comprises red, yellow, blue, black and white paints and mixing areas for secondary and tertiary hues. Preferably the hues associated with said mixing areas indicate the shades obtainable by admixture of black and the tones obtainable by admixture of white. It is convenient to duplicate the yellow paint in two zones, because yellow is a component of most of the hues which a child will wish to use. By limiting the palette to five paints the child quickly learns the essentials of colour mixing and is not confused by an excess of choice.

Conveniently the palette is of generally rectangular form wherein the black and white paints are disposed in diagonally opposite corners and the primary colours are disposed along the other diagonal, shade hues being indicated in the diagonal half of the palette containing the black paint and tone hues in the diagonal half of the palette containing the white paint. The paints are preferably water-dispensible, e.g.

tempera, and the palette may comprise a centrally disposed reservoir for water.

The invention will best be understood from the following description of two exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 shows in plan view a palette of the present invention for use by adults; and Fig. 2 shows in plan view a palette for use by children.

Referring now to Figure 1, the palette is provided with a thumb-hold 1 enabling the artist to securely hold the palette in one hand. The palette is constructed of a white-lined board laminated to transparent polyester plastics film. Coloured circles 2-9 are positioned around the periphery of the palette (printed on the white lining) each number representing, for example, the following colours: 2 burnt umber 3 crimson (alizarin) 4 french ultramarine 5 venetian red 6 yellow ochre 7 viridian 8 lemon yellow 9 vermilion A white colour circle 10 is provided in substantially the centre of the palette.

Paint deposit zones 2a, 3a etc., are provided adjacent each colour circle and adjacent the white colour circle 1Q. Between the deposit zone 2a for burnt umber and the deposit zone 10a for white paint are disposed a series of mixing areas lla, 12a, 13a, 14a and 15a, each mixing area being adjacent a printed hue 11, 12 etc., showing the tones obtained by mixing burnt umber with increasing proportions of white.

Thus hue 11 is only slightly paler than burnt umber, while hue 15 is a pale biscuit colour. The hues 16-20 are tones of purple obtainable by mixing crimson 3 with french ultramarine 4 and white. The hues 21-25 are red-brown tones obtainable by admixture of venetian red and yellow ochre with increasing amounts of white. Likewise the hues 26-30 are warm brown and 31-35 are clear orange tones.

Thus, in use, a person wishing to produce the colour indicated by the printed colour circle 18 would take equal quan -tities of crimson and french ultramarine paints from the paint deposit circles 3a and 4a and place them in the paint mixing zone 18a, a greater quantity of white paint being taken from the paint deposit zone 10a and added to the mixture. The paints would then be mixed and additional quantities of paints from deposit zones 3a, 4a or 10a would be added to the mixture in mixing zone 18a until the colour of the mixture of paints corresponds to the printed colour circle 18.

The palette thus provides a logical layout of main paints and mixtures and this lay-out encourages a tidier appearance of mixtures.

The hues 2-9 are merely illustrative of those which can be used. For particular purposes, e.g. portrait painting, another set of paints might be preferred. There is also space in the palette for the artist to make up small quantities of his own mixturves, if desired.

Referring now to Figure 2, the palette for use by children comprises six tempera discs coloured yellow, red, blue, black and white. These are indicated as Y, R, Be, Bk and W respectively. There are two yellow discs. In the middle of the palette is a reservoir 36 for water. Mixing areas 37, 38, etc., are in the form of moulded plastics cups inset into the surface of the palette. The cups have a central division to enable two separate mixtures to be made in each mixing area. The lines between the mixing areas and the tempera discs indicate the colours to be mixed.

Each mixing area has printed adjacent to it two hues, the secondary or tertiary hue made by mixing the primaries or secondaries, and either a tone made by admixture of white, or a shade made by admixture of black. Thus mixing areas 37 and 41 are for the secondary orange obtainable by mixing the primaries yellow and red, and are associated with the orange hues 39. Mixing area 37 is also associated with the shade 40 (brown) formed by admixture of black and mixing area 41 is associated with the tone 42 (pale orange), formed by admixture of white. By way of guidance, the shades and tones are printed in wedge shapes, the apex of the wedge pointing towards the black or white disc respectively.

By using this palette, the child soon acquires knowledge of the primary, secondary and tertiary colours, and the shades and tones obtainable therefrom.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An artists' palette (as defined herein) for mixing paints, said palette having zones containing or indicated as being suitable to contain paint to be mixed and a plurality of indicated mixing areas, said mixing areas and said zones, at least when the latter do not already contain paint, having hues printed thereon or closely adjacent thereto, the spatial disposition of said mixing areas and their associated hues on the palette being related in the manner of a colour mixing chart so as to indicate the hues obtainable by mixing paints of two or more colours.

2. A palette according to claim 1 wherein said hues associated with said mixing areas indicate the hues obtainable by mixing paints of two or more colours in different proportions.

3. A palette according to claim 2 wherein zones containing or indicated as being suitable to contain paints of two colours A and B have disposed adjacent thereto a plurality of mixing areas associated with the hues obtainable by mixing A and B, the hues of the areas most closely adjacent to the zone of A indicating the hues obtained by a preponderance of A, the hues tending towards colour B as the mixing areas approach the zone of B.

4. A palette according to claim 3 wherein the zones containing or indicated as being suitable to contain paint to be mixed are disposed around the periphery of the palette and a zone containing or indicated as being suitable to contain white paint is disposed centrally, mixing areas being disposed between said zone and said zones around the periphery in the manner of spokes of a wheel.

5. A palette according to any of the preceding claims wherein the paint-carrying surface is a removable covering having said hues printed thereon.

6. A palette according to claim 5 which comprises a base having attached thereto a pack of paper coverings each having a said surface and having said hues printed thereon.

7. A palette according to any of claims 1 to 4 comprising a white-lined board having said hues printed thereon.

8. A palette according to claim 7 wherein said white-lined board is laminated with a plastics material.

9. A palette according to claim 1 comprising red, yellow, blue, black and white paints and mixing areas for secondary and tertiary colours.

10. A palette according to claim 9 wherein the hues associated with said mixing areas indicate the shades obtainable by admixture of black and the tones obtainable by admixture of white.

11. A palette according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the yellow paint is duplicated in two zones.

12. A palette according to claim 11 of generally rectangular form wherein the black and white paints are disposed in diagonally opposite corners and the primary colours are disposed along the other diagonal, shade hues being indicated in the diagonal half of the palette containing the black paint and tone hues in the diagonal half of the palette containing the white paint.

13. A palette according to any of claims 9 to 12 wherein said paints are water-dispersible, said palette comprising a centrally disposed reservoir for water.

14. An artists' palette, substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

15. An artists' palette, substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (15)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. admixture of white, or a shade made by admixture of black. Thus mixing areas 37 and 41 are for the secondary orange obtainable by mixing the primaries yellow and red, and are associated with the orange hues 39. Mixing area 37 is also associated with the shade 40 (brown) formed by admixture of black and mixing area 41 is associated with the tone 42 (pale orange), formed by admixture of white. By way of guidance, the shades and tones are printed in wedge shapes, the apex of the wedge pointing towards the black or white disc respectively. By using this palette, the child soon acquires knowledge of the primary, secondary and tertiary colours, and the shades and tones obtainable therefrom. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An artists' palette (as defined herein) for mixing paints, said palette having zones containing or indicated as being suitable to contain paint to be mixed and a plurality of indicated mixing areas, said mixing areas and said zones, at least when the latter do not already contain paint, having hues printed thereon or closely adjacent thereto, the spatial disposition of said mixing areas and their associated hues on the palette being related in the manner of a colour mixing chart so as to indicate the hues obtainable by mixing paints of two or more colours.

2. A palette according to claim 1 wherein said hues associated with said mixing areas indicate the hues obtainable by mixing paints of two or more colours in different proportions.

3. A palette according to claim 2 wherein zones containing or indicated as being suitable to contain paints of two colours A and B have disposed adjacent thereto a plurality of mixing areas associated with the hues obtainable by mixing A and B, the hues of the areas most closely adjacent to the zone of A indicating the hues obtained by a preponderance of A, the hues tending towards colour B as the mixing areas approach the zone of B.

4. A palette according to claim 3 wherein the zones containing or indicated as being suitable to contain paint to be mixed are disposed around the periphery of the palette and a zone containing or indicated as being suitable to contain white paint is disposed centrally, mixing areas being disposed between said zone and said zones around the periphery in the manner of spokes of a wheel.

5. A palette according to any of the preceding claims wherein the paint-carrying surface is a removable covering having said hues printed thereon.

6. A palette according to claim 5 which comprises a base having attached thereto a pack of paper coverings each having a said surface and having said hues printed thereon.

7. A palette according to any of claims 1 to 4 comprising a white-lined board having said hues printed thereon.

8. A palette according to claim 7 wherein said white-lined board is laminated with a plastics material.

9. A palette according to claim 1 comprising red, yellow, blue, black and white paints and mixing areas for secondary and tertiary colours.

10. A palette according to claim 9 wherein the hues associated with said mixing areas indicate the shades obtainable by admixture of black and the tones obtainable by admixture of white.

11. A palette according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the yellow paint is duplicated in two zones.

12. A palette according to claim 11 of generally rectangular form wherein the black and white paints are disposed in diagonally opposite corners and the primary colours are disposed along the other diagonal, shade hues being indicated in the diagonal half of the palette containing the black paint and tone hues in the diagonal half of the palette containing the white paint.

13. A palette according to any of claims 9 to 12 wherein said paints are water-dispersible, said palette comprising a centrally disposed reservoir for water.

14. An artists' palette, substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

15. An artists' palette, substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.