Designing and Hand-building a [for me!] Perfect Bespoke Watercolor Brass Paintbox

[@ohbli_oh]

So lovely. Didn’t even know brass palettes could be made without your own forge or something and a watermill.

[@JaredCullum]

Haha

[@ArtOfDavidAmos]

That is really beautiful….. if i came across that in a shop i would have no hesitation in buying that…. I LOVE it ❤❤❤

[@JaredCullum]

Thanks so much

[@jennifernewmanart]

This just popped up in my feed ! I am so fascinated watching you make these palettes ! My husband and eldest daughter are both blacksmiths so I can appreciate the focus and craftsmanship involved ! It was wonderful to watch , thankyou

[@nancyrolfe3033]

I was mesmerized and in awe of the prior video of your building a brass palette and ….wow!!! You outdid that style by far, Jared…. I agree. You have designed and BUILT the “perfect “ palette. I’m just in awe of your many talents. Thank you so much for filming part of the process and sharing the final design. I’m never disappointed with your videos but, oh my, I will watch this a few times!!! Congrats, Jared! Funny, I was thinking how your children and possibly grandchildren will have such a special part of you for their lives too… I can just hear the stories and memories shared every time they are gathered together. You must be a very kind and thoughtful person… Again, thank you for taking the time to share with us. Happy painting!! Nancy Rolfe P.S. I remember how excited Brian was when he shared one of your previous handmade brass palettes…you definitely spread joy

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you for the comment and I really appreciate you watching my videos:)

[@efwhitedc]

Beauty and function, just lovely. I would love to learn this craft.

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

Excellent craftsmanship. I dearly wish I could afford a bespoke box like that. Gorgeous.

[@JaredCullum]

Thanks for watching, Christina - they occasionally pop up on eBay for not as much although sometimes it’s astronomical.

[@DianeRabinowitzArtist]

I wish I had the skills and tools to make one!

[@MadamGahan]

Quel bel ouvrage, bravo pour cette incroyable nouvelle palette. Envieuse, je voudrai être soit, vous, un de vos chanceux amis, ou un de vos enfants héritiers (le plus tard possible ceci dit) ! ☺ Merci pour le partage, ça emplit le coeur de si beaux objets. This is perfect AND so beautiful, Bravo !

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you! :)

[@goat8477]

I am drooling....

[@lindyashford7744]

Really beautiful box, the paint well lid has lovely reminders that it is hand made and unique, the hammered look just enhances it. I hope it will remain in your family for many years to come and will inspire your generations to want to paint too. A lovely functional design and so what if it is heavy, it will just sit well on your desk. Leaving the metal as it is is great too. I am definitely a palette nerd, some nice examples on eBay this week here in the U.K., a couple of brass ones too, but yours is definitely the best of all, and actually looks better finished and designed too, inside and out. The more you use this the better it is going to look.

[@rebeccawong1]

Wow says it all 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you :)

[@mindofwatercolor]

Always love seeing these Jared! Very cool!

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you! :)

[@Leanna_Weber_Art]

Wow that’s beautiful. Want.

[@JaredCullum]

Thanks for watching!

[@awatercolourist]

I love your DIY projects! My compliments for your handiwork!

[@briwidmerart]

That's a beautiful palette! I'm consistently in awe of your creations - paintings and now palettes too.

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you so much, bri :)

[@beckyisj]

This is so insanely cool. I am so glad this box works so well for you!

[@JaredCullum]

Thanks for watching :)

[@compassionandhumility]

Gorgeous work! I'm quite jealous!

[@JaredCullum]

Thanks for watching.

[@phisquared6187]

You made a really nice job of it. Very inspirational for us who like to tinker with tools and materials and make stuff.

[@JaredCullum]

I’m always thinking of ways to improve. I can’t stop thinking about tinkering with metal and leather tools haha. No desire to sell them- but I like to play in the sandbox :)

[@bookyeti]

Beautiful work!

[@JaredCullum]

Thanks so much :)

[@robertopina.fineart]

Beautiful palette. Really good work, congratulations!

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you :)

[@cmumford1477]

beautiful! I really wish I could buy one... what an heirloom!

[@JaredCullum]

There are professionals who make them! Little brass box makes one similar and you could share this video and tell him you want it custom similar probably. John is incredibly nice and helpful. Craig young also makes a similar design and in fact was the original one to make the design for James Fletcher Watson. They’re a bit expensive from pros but having built them I respect that it is very time consuming and if you buy all the tools it costs about as much anyway unless you make a bunch of them.

[@gonzalovargas2209]

Amazing work, congratulations!

[@davidhuth5659]

So cool! Wish I had the know-how.

[@JaredCullum]

It’s honestly not terribly hard. It is terribly time consuming and can be tough to get nice and tight fits. I’ve built up quite a bit of experience now but once you buy the hand seamer and bending break it’s pretty much like working with cardstock. The downside is that expense to get the tools. You may as well buy one made unless you’re like me and just enjoy tinkering with stuff.

[@SereneStudio]

How gorgeous! Def a work of art. I'm happy that after so much time it turned out to be perfect for you!

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you for watching!

[@Zoibu]

It was so nice to see this palette and the finished piece. I'm so happy you made the box of your dreams and for your wishes,, it was fun to see the palette and I can't wait to see you working with it in a future video :D

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you!

[@EdoHannema-Watercolour-Art]

Happy New Year Jared. And congratulations with that wonderful palette! Looks really stunning!

[@JaredCullum]

You too, Edo! Thank you!

[@Fabian_drop02]

Amazing. You do amazing work! Thanks for sharing.🙏🏼

[@JaredCullum]

I appreciate you watching

[@ladoubleu5534]

Great work. I really like the palette.

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you so much!

[@creativecolours2022]

It looks great. Bravo!

[@JaredCullum]

Thanks!

[@creativecolours2022]

@@JaredCullum Here is a trick. Apply a tiny bit of Vaseline, a very very thin film of Vaseline on the brass parts of the lid in order to keep them polished and shiny for longer. The reason why brass tools don't oxidize as long as we use them is that we lubricate them with the oil of our hands. The moment we put them aside they start getting dark. But the lid of this box is too large in order to constantly touch it with your hands so a good way to delay the darkening of the brass is with a bit of Vaseline. Only on the outside. I would also add a piece of thin leather at the bottom of the brush well in order to prevent the brushes from coming in contact with the brass and make it look ultra luxurious!

[@JaredCullum]

@@creativecolours2022 Great idea about the leather. That's fascinating. I actually like the odd patina color it gets over time.

[@creativecolours2022]

@@JaredCullum The patina looks pretty but it can also stain your hands. The last thing you would want is to spoil with this dark staining thing your papers. So you'd either have to polish constantly the top of the box or delay the oxidization of the brass by applying something greasy. Oil, vaseline etc. Another option is to cover the brass parts with varnish after polishing it of course, but I prefer less permanent options. I don't have a brass box btw. I wish I had by I don't. ahhhh...I have though some antique brass desk lights that I inherited from my mom and that is the way I retain them in good condition and they don't look like I 've just collect them from a junk yard! lol

[@jeffoldbean]

Hi Jared Jeffrey 75yrs old from England. Is it possible that you might have more video footage of the making of this JFW watercolour paint box. I am sure that there are many more subscribers to your channel. Out there who like me who would like to watch a more in depth construction. Now that you have passed your apprenticeship in brass metal work. Happy New year.

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you for watching Jeffrey. I have another video where I go over each of the steps- I link it in this video and I’m the description. Happy to answer any questions. You’re in good company! So many of history’s finest come from there- I’m jealous. I’d love to see JFWs studio some day.

[@jeffoldbean]

@@JaredCullum Thanks for such a quick reply Jared. there are clips on youtube, of JFWs painting demo films available from APV films. One shows him at his home in his studio.

[@JaredCullum]

@@jeffoldbean Oh yes- I have collected all of his books and APV films :) I rewatch them from time to time. There is even a documentary on APV called "Pure Watercolor" about his life. I love his work.

[@naturesketches126]

Beautiful work!!! Do you spray paint the white mixing areas? What's the best paint to do the job? I've spray painted mine before but i had one small paint piece come off. Thank you!

[@JaredCullum]

Thank you for watching. :) So I have used Klass Kote 2 part epoxy in the past with luck. This box was really special so I paid a professional to do it. It ended up costing about as much as it costs to buy the 2 part epoxy and 2 part primer and sanding and spray equipment.

[@JaredCullum]

If you decide to use 2 part epoxy, please be safe and careful. Buy the right mask and equipment- 👍

[@naturesketches126]

@@JaredCullum Thank you so much for your reply. It helps a lot.

[@awatercolourist]

If I may ask, what did you use to polish the box? That worked like a charm.

[@JaredCullum]

I sanded it from 600-800-1200-2000 incrementing up as high as I could go with wet paper and Wd40. It was a metal mirror finish kit I got at a local wood working store. Then I used MAAS polish.

[@awatercolourist]

@@JaredCullum Thanks so much for the detailed reply 😃

[@Surai00]

It's been years since your first video, and it looks like, to this date, you're still the only person on here to really explain anything about making these boxes. There's hardly 3 places that sell these, and the waiting lists are crazy. I've got plans to make one this year. I recently acquired access to a glass blowing facility, and I'm going to see about glass enameling the brass. I assume that is what the Little Brass Box guy does. If you ever get to reading this comment, Jared; do you have current thoughts on enamels you've tried? Do you still use the two-part epoxy enamel? How has the staining been with that material, with watercolor specifically. I think the glass might be a few steps more difficult, but I don't tend to shy away from a challenge if the reward is top-tier. Of course, it could also be a huge waste of time.

[@JaredCullum]

Hello! You’re welcome to email me and I can give you a more thorough breakdown of links and stuff. One thing… if staining bothers you- I wouldn’t recommend metal palettes. I have a couple made by professionals both low and high end. Even the high end one stains. It doesn’t bother me. A magic sponge will knock it mostly away or just general use eventually changes it and cleans it. But if staining causes you a headache I would recommend you spend your money on porcelain. They never stain and are probably the best to mix on. I just happen to love metal boxes. The 2 part epoxy from Klass kote has held up. The newest box I made I had a professional paint for me because it was my last I wanted to make. Honestly.. with the cost of the 2 part, and mask and everything it’s probably more beneficial to just pay a professional auto painter to get a nice acrylic-enamel done for you. Unless you plan to make a bunch of boxes they can end up costing the same as having one done by little brass or Craig young. Feel free to email me with more questions :) I’m here to help as much as I can.

[@Surai00]

@JaredCullum Hello Jared, and thank you very much for replying! Merry Christmas to you and your family. I don't really get bothered by staining. Honestly, I'm used to the gray glass pallette, and I regularly use metal pans for my larger watercolors. I'm interested in the whole concept of the brass pallette boxes. There is a method with a kiln and vitreous enamel that would work. I haven't seen anyone make a video or even a webpage for that technique outside of jewelry crafting. I think, to keep things easier, I will email you and discuss it that way. Again, thanks for replying!

[@JaredCullum]

@@Surai00 oh! Look into low heat powder coating I’ve heard that’s what little brass does and the new guy in England- “bug box” uses that method. You have to have an oven dedicated to it, the key is low heat. Regular powder coating will melt a box as the silver solder melts at a point way lower than powder coating but I have heard of lower heat methods and at home mini ovens for car parts.

[@JaredCullum]

Message the bug box guy about how he does it. Maybe he’ll just do it for you for a fee.

[@Surai00]

@JaredCullum I got one better! I have a friend who blows glass professionally and he's interested in helping with the project. I'll have access to kilns, torches, wetsaw, and various types of benders and shapers. I'm looking into the vitreous enamel method, which is probably the low heat method you're referring to. I'll email you later today after I get to my store so we can discuss more! Thank you again.