The Cloverleaf Paint Box
The Cloverleaf Paint Box by watercolour artist and tutor Barry Herniman is now available at Jackson’s Art.
A very cleverly designed watercolour box for painting in the field, the Cloverleaf easily unfolds from a small size (of just 12.5 x 12.5 x 4.5cm), to give 4 good-sized mixing areas. The mixing palettes are stable and solidly attached, not at all fiddly. The plastic is lightweight yet robust. Filled with paint it weighs less than 300 grams. The box is supplied empty, to fill with your choice of paints. Please note that the box does not come with any paint.
The paint wells are deep, great for squeezing tube watercolour into. The depth of the wells means you won’t be slopping over when you swirl a wet brush in them. They will fit some makes of full and half pans, but some are a wee bit too large and sit a bit proud, although the box will still close. The paint well area is removable for cleaning.
Note: paint is not included.
Note: paint is not included.
It is very easy to hold. A paint box designed for painting outdoors needs a way to be held in your non-brush hand while working and the Cloverleaf has a simple yet effective feature for this, a flat plate area for your thumb that works if you hold your box in your left or your right hand and if you hold your thumb straight or you crook it.
Note: paint is not included.
Barry Herniman’s Watercolour Book
Watercolour Tips and Techniques: Painting Mood and Atmosphere
A 96-page paperback book by Barry Herniman.
The glowing transparency and spontaneity of watercolour makes it an ideal medium for exploring the effects of sunlight, shadows, mist, stormy skies and more. Easy techniques for creating realistic effects are demonstrated in a series of stunning demonstrations. In his enthusiastic and practical manner, Barry Herniman guides you through all the different stages, revealing paintings rich in atmosphere, from tranquil river scenes and misty woodlands to dramatic landscapes and inspiring seascapes. This book is packed with useful tips and easy-to-follow techniques, each accompanied by beautiful paintings to inspire and help improve skills. Artists can learn how to apply these techniques to their own work to create original and unique watercolour paintings that almost spring to life.
Barry Herniman
Barry Herniman is a full time artist who lives in Ross on Wye, England. His first exhibition of watercolours was in 1991 and was predominantly of local Wye Valley scenes. Since then he has travelled quite extensively both home and abroad, gathering reference material and inspiration for his paintings. He runs painting holidays that you can book on his website.
Click on the underlined link to go to the current offers on products by Barry Herniman on the Jackson’s Art Supplies website.
Postage on orders shipped standard to mainland UK addresses is free for orders of £39.
13 thoughts on “Cloverleaf Paint Box by Barry Herniman”
I have just ordered a Cloverleaf palette! What type of half pans do you recommend that can fit into this palette’s spaces? (You mention above that some fit and some do not.) I would like to customize my palette with a few half pans to extend my color range. Thanks!
Hi Andie
Great to hear, let us know how you get on with it!
The Winsor & Newton pans fit best of the pans I tried. The others, including our empty half pans, fit but sit a bit proud, though they don’t interfere with closing.
Hope that helps.
The paint holder is removable, if you
wish to use pans I’d recommend using
the paint holder as a template to cut a
sturdy card base. Waterproofing it with
some tape, then use adhesive dots (
Amazon) to hold your pans in place. This
also works with Jackson’s own brand
watercolour tins. The pan holders of
these are mounted on a removable metal
tray. The pan holders can be removed
with a sideways push. Again, your choice
of pans can be secured to the removable
metal tray with adhesive dots. I use 12
whole pans in the smaller Jackson’s tin
using this technique.
Of course, disclaimer-take care with
sharpe edges etc when modifying your
kit
Most helpful, thanks! I will give those a try… and let you know how it goes. Can’t wait to try my new palette out!
Does the lid close airtight to make this a “stay wet” pallet
preventing paint drying out?
Thank you
Hi Kerri
No, it isn’t airtight.
Pop it into a zip lock bag?
Plus I generally give my palette a mist
spray of water before starting to paint.
I have had bad luck with the Frank
Herring palatte with staining that
cannot be readily removed from the
mixing surfaces. How does the
Cloverleaf compare with respect to
the watercolors staining the plastic
mixing surfaces?
Thanks——
hi Ted
I got in touch with Barry Herniman who makes the Cloverleaf palette to ask him his thoughts on your question. This is what he said…
‘I have found that most ordinary watercolour will be removed quite easily with soap and water.
However the really staining colours like Pthalo blue and Alizarin Crimson need a little more persuading. I use Bar Keepers Friend cream to clean those more stubborn colours and usually after a couple of applications it will get rid of most of the residue. I’m afraid plastics do stain somewhat but my Paintbox is better than most.
I have been told by many of my students that they put the body of the Paintbox, minus the removable paint tray, into their dishwasher and the results have been great…but I don’t have a dishwasher so cannot comment and also would say it was up to the individual whether they wanted to go along with that as I can’t recommend it.
Also I tend to keep my one mixing well for Pthalo blue as that seems to be the worst one for staining and use the other 7 for all the other colours.
I hope this is helpful.’
I also hope this is helpful!
Many thanks
Lisa
Hi Julie….I was about to order the Cloverleaf watercolour palette,
but noticed the unit pictured on your “purchase web site” was
missing the top lid diagonal divider that appears on your main web
site unit. Can you confirm, if ordered the unit does come with the
diagonal divider ? Many thanks
Hi Geoff
The image on the website is newer than the one in my blog post. So it must be the way it is currently being made.
I will get some new images and update the blog post.
I’m sorry it got your hopes up!
I squeeze the paint directly into the wells
in the dividers. The box would benefit by a
squishy rubber divider over the wells so it
can be carried in any position without
leaking.
Thank you, John. It does sound like a good idea. I will see if I can give Barry Herniman your feedback.
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