Abstract: Palettes are made from a sheet of translucent tempered glass and, except for table-top palettes (although optionally there also), provided with a textured surface or a sheet of white vinyl laminated on the backside of the sheet. A thumb hole is provided on hand-held palettes of quasi-elliptical shape for securing the palette on an arm of the artist, and a hand-hold opening is optionally provided on table-top palettes of rectangular shape. All of the palettes disclosed may have a color mixing guide or chart printed on one surface or the other at the interface of the sheet of tempered glass and the white vinyl, or optionally on the surface of the backside of the tempered glass when made without a textured surface for a table-top palette. The table top provides the diffused light illumination of paint on the palette from the backside. A palette of classic shape is shown to illustrate the invention which may be practiced with other unique shapes illustrated.