How To Make a Glass Palette

If you want to know how to make a glass palette of your own, this is a simple and cost-effective method to do just that. Though you can make a variety of glass palettes, I like to keep mine as simple as possible. There are many different types of palettes that can get you started.

I used to use a lot of paper palettes, sometimes I still use them as well when I need quick convenience and my glass palette is loaded. However, I like to try to eliminate that waste by utilizing a reusable palette. Now if I could only find a good replacement for paper towels to keep waste down even more. Suggestions?

Various Glass Palettes

Many people have noticed my glass palette when I paint and they wonder where I bought it, usually inquiring about an art store. I’ve found it’s usually fairly difficult to find glass palettes at art stores and when you do, they are often times overpriced.

There are many different ways to make these, some are difficult methods, some are simple. I am going to walk you through my process on how to make a glass palette which is incredibly simple but before we get into that I would like to offer a very quick and more simple method than even this one.

The Simple Glass Frame Palette

A few artists I know, when they are in a quick need of a simple glass palette, simply have a dollar store frame that they have bought, remove the ad from the insert, and start painting. There really isn’t much of a faster method, but this isn’t my preferred method as I don’t like the paint that accumulates on the frame. You can also use this method for the glass that is included, though it is often much thinner than the glass I use here.

How to Make a Glass Palette

Now let’s dive into my simple glass palette method. The first stage, of course, is acquiring the glass and to do that I take a quick trip down to the local hardware store. These usually have an aisle with a glass cutter and next to that are usually precut pieces. If there aren’t any the size you want, find a rep and they will cut one down for you. The glass I buy is 1/8th in or thicker so it’s usually a bit more durable than most glass from frames.

Once you’ve got the glass, move to the painting aisle and grab some masking tape. I like the low tack tape since I replace the tape fairly often. Then you simply start to tape the edge on each side. I cut a small triangle out of each corner so the tap folds around easier without binding.

Another option you can add to these is a piece of paper similar to the canvas color you are working on so you can match your hues early on. I often like to use neutrals for the base color.

Do you use a glass palette? Have you ever made one of your own? Let me know your process!