Abstract: A collapsible artist's water color palette comprising a plurality of rectangular trays non-fixedly attached to one another such that simple manipulation into a stacked, compact configuration for transport, or alternatively, a side-by-side, planer, configuration for mixing may be accomplished. In the stacked configuration, an upper tray serves as a lid for the tray below and, thus, prevents spillage of wet, runny paints and contamination of individual paint receptacles. A lid is provided to cover the uppermost tray when in the stacked configuration, and doubles as an additional working surface when in the planer configuration. Moreover, the subject invention provides a unitary structure so arranged with its integral components that paint receptacles and mixing surfaces may remain in an upright position during use and manipulation from one configuration to another, thus further reducing the possibility of paint spillage and contamination.