Wooden Palette: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?

Traditionally wooden palettes have been used to paint oil. They are sturdy, lightweight and easy to clean. They also look beautiful.

Many paintings of artists working have survived. Some of these show the same wooden palette as the ones Vermeer used.

To prepare a wood palette, wipe it with drying oils such as safflower or linseed. This is essential because a thin coating of oil helps keep the palette in good condition.

Lightweight

In contrast to glass or tear-off ones, a wooden palette is lighter and can be held easily at the easel. Its thickness makes it rigid and solid. This keeps it from bending when under pressure. It can also be sanded and stained to add the color. A wooden palette is more durable and resistant to fungi and insects than other materials. The wooden palettes are ideal for mixing acrylics with alkyds.

The most commonly used wooden palettes are made of maple or pine. Both of these woods can resist warping and crazing. It is essential to select a wood that's been heat-treated in order to prevent insects or fungi. This is essential to the long-term durability of the wooden palette. A good wood palette's surface should also be smooth and evenly finished. It should be free of concentration of moisture, which will reduce the possibility of paints becoming damaged or wrinkled.

A wooden palette also has a excellent benefit: it's easy to clean. The painter can clean the palette after each painting session using an oil that is drying to maintain it. Linseed oil is a good choice because it's inexpensive, readily-available and quick-drying.

The natural brown tone of a wood palette is perfect to mix colors because it is not too dissimilar to the dominant color of the canvas. This helps to keep from the impression that the colors are lighter or darker than they really are. Vermeer employed a standard wooden palette, and in his 1676 probate inventory, there's mention of "twee schilders eesels, drye paletten" (two painters easels and three wooden palettes). In Pictura, Frans van Meieris painted a Vermeer style palette. Roger de Piles suggested that the painters put flesh tones on a wooden palette that ranged from light to dark.

Sturdy

Artists have been using wooden palettes for centuries because they're strong and durable. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets as well as more sturdy than paper palettes. This makes them more comfortable to hold and use when painting. They also make an excellent choice for mixing oil paints and alkyds. But, it's essential to select a high-quality wooden palette that has been treated with heat. This process gets rid of fungi and pests which can cause damage to the wooden palette.

A high-quality wooden palette is well-constructed and smooth, making it easy for your brushes to glide across. It should be sprayed with an oil that is drying to protect the wood from water and solvent damage and to help it keep its shape. There are ready-to-use, pre-finished palettes or make your own from raw wood. If you are using a wooden palette, be sure you clean it each time you paint. Paint that is wet on a wood palette can cause it to warp or crack over time.

Wooden Palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces used for oil paints. They're still a favorite choice for a lot of artists. They are lightweight, sturdy and can hold a significant amount of paint without breaking. They are ideal to mix thick paints, such as alkyds, acrylics and heavier-bodied ones.

In Vermeer's time, the familiar palette with a hole to accommodate the thumb had replaced the rectangular type with handles. The thumb was used to support the palette which allowed the painter to use the rest of his fingers for brushes and the mahlstick.

A good quality palette is made from spruce or another hardwood that has been treated with heat to kill any fungi or insects. The treatment of wood with heat makes it more difficult to scratch or sand the surface of the palette. A well-used, maintained wooden palette will acquire a smooth, glass-like surface after many years of use. This is due to a buildup of thin layers of dried oil that help the surface retain its shape.

Easy to clean

If you want smooth, easy to clean palette that will last for a long time, then a wooden palette is the best way to go. This kind of palette is a favorite among oil artists because it doesn't break or shatter like glass palettes. You can either buy wooden pallets that have been sealed or you can do it yourself. To seal it, you'll need boiling linseed oil from the hardware store, nitrile gloves and high-quality paper towels or rags (if it has bits, don't use it). Sealing a palette using drying oil will fill in the small gaps and create a smooth surface. This will get better with each painting.

Once your palette is oiled you will need to condition it following each painting session. This is important because it keeps your paints mixed smoothly on the palette and protect your hands from solvents. Start by lightly sanding the palette using 180-grit paper. This will open up the wood grain and help it to absorb oils more easily. Pour a pool linseed on the palette, and use a rag or a cloth to wipe it across the entire surface. Then let the oil dry for a couple of days.

If any paint remains on your palette, a tiny OMS applied to a rag should remove it. It is not recommended to use anything sharp to scrape off the dried paint. This can scratch and damage your palette.

If you have to scrape dried paint off your palette, it's recommended to employ a soft brush rather than using a knife. If you scrape too hard, you could harm your palette.

Aesthetically pleasing

A wooden palette is an elegant and sturdy mixing surface.  Continue Reading  makes you feel like an artist. It is suitable for oil paints as well as alkyds and acrylics. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides smoothly across the brush when you mix and take in paint. Palettes made of wood are also light and come in various sizes to accommodate your hands. They are available in different designs and finishes.

The wooden palette is among the oldest mixing surfaces. It has been around since art was created. They have natural warm brown tones that doesn't alter the colors of the paints that are on it. This is important because the predominant tone affects the perception of the color. A wooden palette can also help you to determine the color values of your paints since it has a mid-value which will show the hues against.

The palettes of Vermeer are likely to have been made of wood. The earliest palettes might be made from tin or paper, but they were most likely wooden. A 1676 probate inventory included two "twee schilders eesels" and three paletten" (two easels for painting and a dry palette). In an allegorical painting of Pictura, Vermeer's peers Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer utilized the same type of palette. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is made with a thumb hole that is used to support it. the other fingers are used to hold brushes as well as maulsticks to steady the hand when painting.

After a cleansing session, wipe the wood's surface palette with dry oils - such as linseed or anotherto ensure it is conditioned for the next time you use it. This will fill the tiny pores in the grain of the wood and create an even surface that is easier for your brushes to work on. Over time a well-oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina that will add to its appeal.