Since my last “art unveiling” post, I’ve had a couple people ask about my tiny sketchbook and travel palette. I was planning to eventually write about them…but hey, no time like the present, right?

The mini sketchbook was honestly a happy accident. The truth is, I’m just really into things that are abnormally sized. A giant paperclip gets just as much of my attention as a tiny to-go cup. Sure, it might only hold half an espresso shot, but have you seen how cute the darn thing is?

Because I have. And I want it. Full espresso shots be damned.

So my decision to buy a tiny sketchbook with no game plan on how or when I’d use it? Totally on-brand. It’s so small! Logic gets overridden by cuteness aggression.

The travel palette falls into the same category. It is absurdly cute. Small enough to fit in my hand, it comes with a mini watercolor brush that tucks into a center slot and its half-pans hold just enough paint to create a few mini works on the go.

But that’s not what sold me.

What really convinced me? This little palette doubles as a flask. A flask. Complete with a tiny painting cup. And because it only holds about 3oz of water, it’s TSA compliant. I mean, seriously? Take my money already and give me the paint flask!

I first spotted one in the same shop selling the tiny sketchbook, but it was a watercolor palette and the actual paint itself didn’t get great reviews. I almost bought it anyway—because, again, tiny things—but I have this other proclivity about waste. Believe it or not, it’s one of the few things that overrides my obsession with miniatures.

Instead, I went into full search mode.

I found a lot of almost’s, including one from Winsor & Newton. I love their gouache, but I knew I’d never use the included watercolor pans, so I passed. Then, I looked for secondhand options. I even seriously questioned if I needed the flask element at all… but the thing was, I already knew it existed. And it’s not in my nature to settle.

As I searched, I came across a treasure trove of information about these little palettes. And if I liked the idea before, learning their history turned those initial feelings of like into full-blown love.

There’s a very real (albeit quirky) organization in the U.S. called the Whiskey Painters of America, complete with bylaws, officers, and very exclusive membership rules. But before we get to the WPA, let’s explore a bit of their background and how they came to be.

The very concept of whiskey painting was inspired by a combination of European art traditions, the joy of painting in public places, and wartime ingenuity.

There’s a lot of myth surrounding the so-called Whiskey Painters, but here’s what I found:

In Europe—especially France and Italy—soldiers and travelers would gather in taverns or cafés, often sipping on whiskey or wine while painting mini masterpieces. They’d use whatever was around to hold water to paint with, including actual whiskey glasses.

During World War II, American servicemen stationed in Europe took up the habit of carrying small portable watercolor kits to help them document their surroundings. The kits were handmade, usually from a repurposed Altoids tin or hip flask, and then retrofitted with half-pans full of paint, a portable brush, a tiny water cup, and a mini sketchbook.

Finally, The Whiskey Painters of America were founded in the 1950s by Joe Ferriot, a businessman and watercolorist from Ohio. He wanted to paint while traveling for work, so he created a tiny, portable painting kit that fit inside of a cigar box. What followed started as a joke among friends, just consisting of other professionals and watercolor enthusiasts who loved the idea of painting in bars or clubs with a drink in hand.

And here’s where the fun comes in: bars in America weren’t exactly thrilled with the idea of people casually setting up a painting studio in the middle of their establishment, so the WPA got clever. They made their studios pocket-sized. And this is my favorite part: they loved the European spirit of mischief. Sneaking in a portable watercolor palette? Meh. But sneaking a palette that looked like a flask? Bloody brilliant. Bars and establishments didn’t want you to bring in your own drinks, obviously! So the very act of sneaking a palette full of paint disguised as a flask was both a low key act of rebellion and an inside joke for those in the know, not to mention a cheeky way of keeping the indomitable spirit of the rebellious artist alive on this side of the pond.

Over time, the WPA became a real organization with rules, bylaws, and juried exhibitions of miniature art. Today, there’s roughly 150-200 members worldwide (where are they?!), but membership is by invitation only, and must be extended by a member who is currently in good standing.

Fun right?

Official member or not, the Whiskey Painters embody everything I love about being an artist. The idea that there’s a whole sect of painters floating around the world whose ideas are inspired by European café  culture, playful camaraderie, spontaneous acts of creativity, and a deep rooted sense of rebellious charm profoundly resonates with my soul.

So was it surprising that my introduction to this somewhat secret paint society came on a trip to France looking for inspiration? I don’t think so. It’s not a coincidence that the only souvenir I brought home from that trip was a miniature sketchbook that I felt compelled to buy, or that I was introduced to an idea of a paint flask that I could not stop thinking about.

That fixation led to research. Which led to the WPA. Which led me to finding a travel palette that felt like it was always meant to be mine.

Because I did I find one. Just the box and lid, no pans. No mini brush.

It. Was. P e r f e c t.

I added my own mini brush and filled the half-pans with gouache I knew I’d use. The first painting in the tiny sketchbook? It led to an entire collection. And while I started off big, the truth is, I ended up going mini.

You haven’t seen them, yet. But the next batch of artworks meets the WPA criteria of works under 5x7 inches.

And I can’t wait to share them with you.

x

Manda

P.S. For those that are interested, the watercolor flask is called a Bijou Box Palette and the mini brushes are called Pocket Sized, Non Roll Portable Travel Brushes. A quick google search will give you options to buy both/either! I personally bought empty half pans and filled them with gouache to make my palette, but if you prefer watercolor I know Winsor & Newton and Schmincke make their own editions. Happy painting!