One of the things I enjoy most about designing products is starting with a real problem.
The Trick Palette began with a simple question:
What if I could create a complete watercolor setup around the size of an Artist Trading Card?
I’ve always enjoyed working small. Artist Trading Cards have a unique charm to them, and I also had a sketchbook that was nearly the same size. I loved the idea of being able to sketch or paint almost anywhere, but I couldn’t find a system that brought everything together the way I wanted.
There were other small palettes on the market, but none of them checked all the boxes.
I wanted removable paint pans so artists could customize their colors.
I wanted the palette insert itself to be removable.
I wanted a built-in water container.
And most importantly, I wanted everything to work together as one portable creative system.
That became the goal.
As I built the first prototypes, I originally designed the Artist Trading Card to magnetically attach inside the palette while painting. On paper it sounded like the perfect solution.
In reality, it wasn’t.
The magnets simply weren’t strong enough to hold the card the way I wanted.
Instead of forcing an idea that wasn’t working, I stepped back and looked for a better solution.
That eventually led to designing the removable easel attachment.
Now the card can be displayed in either portrait or landscape orientation, making it much more practical whether you’re sketching at a coffee shop, painting in a park, or simply finding ten quiet minutes during the day.
As I continued using the palette myself, more ideas naturally followed.
I added a splash cover to the water container because I didn’t want to worry about water spilling while traveling or attending events.
I added a tripod mount to the bottom so the palette could be used with a magic arm or compact tripod.
I designed the interior so accessories like brush holders and additional paint options could be added over time.
From the beginning, I didn’t want the Trick Palette to be just another palette.
I wanted it to become a creative system that could grow alongside the artist using it.
Some people will keep it simple.
Others will expand it with additional accessories and customize it to fit the way they like to work.
Neither approach is wrong.
That’s exactly what I hoped it would become.
Today, it’s one of the tools I reach for most often.
If I have ten minutes to paint, this is usually what I grab.
I add a little water, pull out an Artist Trading Card, and start painting.
For me, that’s the greatest compliment a product can earn.
Not that it looks good on a shelf.
But that it quietly becomes part of my everyday creative routine.
That’s always been the goal.
Design tools that remove just enough friction to make creating a little easier.
One thoughtful improvement at a time.
— Zak