Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes have been used to paint oil. They are light and easy to clean. They also look beautiful.
Many paintings of artists at work are still around. Some depict an unfinished wooden pallet, like the one that Vermeer employed.
To make a wooden palette, wipe the surface with a drying oil like linseed. It is important to keep the palette in good shape by applying an oil-based coating.
Lightweight
Unlike glass palettes or tear-off palettes, a wooden palette is lighter and can be easily held at the easel. Its thickness makes it strong and stable, which prevents it from breaking under pressure. It can also be stained and sanded to give it the color. A wood palette is also more durable than other types of materials and does not become damaged by fungi or insects. Wooden palettes are also ideal for mixing acrylics and alkyds.
The most common kind of wooden palette is constructed from pine or maple both of which are able to resist cracking and warping. However, it is important to choose the kind of wood that has been treated with heat to prevent fungi and insects. This process is essential to the long-term durability and quality of a pallet made from wood. In addition the surface of a quality wooden palette should be smooth and evenly sanded. It should also have low moisture content, which will minimize the chance of damage or wrinkling to paints.
Another great feature of a wooden palette is that it is easy to keep clean. At the end of every painting session, the artist can wipe the palette with drying oil to prepare it for the next. Linseed oil is a great choice due to its low cost and easily available. It also has a quick drying time.
The natural brown hue of the wooden palette is ideal to mix colors since it is a similar color to the dominant color of the canvas. This will help to avoid the perception that the colors are lighter or darker than what they really are. Vermeer employed a standard wooden palette and in a 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 artists put flesh tones on a wooden palette ranging from light to dark.
Sturdy
Palettes made of wood have been used by artists for centuries because they're sturdy and durable. They're light compared to tear-off or glass palettes and they're more rigid than paper ones. This makes them easier to use and handle while painting. They are ideal for mixing alkyds and oil paints. But, it's essential to choose a good wooden palette that has been heated. This process removes the fungi and insects that can damage the wooden palette.
A top-quality wooden palette will be well-made and smooth, allowing your brushes to glide smoothly across it. It must be finished with an oil for drying that protects the wood from water and solvent damage, and helps maintain its shape. You can buy pre-finished palettes that are ready to use or you can make your own from raw wood. If you use a wooden palette, be sure you clean it each time you paint. Paint that's wet on a palette made of wood can cause it to warp or crack over time.
Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces for oil paints, and they're still a favorite choice for a lot of artists. They're light, durable and can hold a large amount of paint without breaking. They are ideal for mixing thick paints such as alkyds, acrylics, and other heavy-bodied ones.
Vermeer's palettes had replaced the older rectangular ones with handles. The thumb was used to support the palette, which allowed the artist to use his remaining fingers to use brushes and the mahlstick.
The heat-treated hardwoods like spruce and other hardwoods are used to create high-quality palettes. This eliminates any fungi or bugs. The heat treatment of wood makes it more difficult to scratch or smooth its surface. After a long period of use, a well-used, conditioned wooden pallet will have a smooth, almost glass-like finish. This is due to the build-up of thin layers of drying oils that allow the surface retain its shape.
Easy to clean
If you are looking for smooth, easy to clean palette that will last for a long time, a wood palette is the way to go. This type of palette is popular among oil painters because it won't break or shatter like a glass palette. You can buy a wooden pallet that has been sealed or you can do it yourself. You'll need boiled Linseed Oil, which you can purchase from the hardware store. Nitrile gloves, as well as high-quality paper towels or rags. The process of sealing a palette with drying oil fills in the tiny gaps in the wood and creates an even surface that gets better with each painting you make.
Once you have your palette cleaned, you'll have to clean it after every painting session. This is crucial as it will keep paints mixing smoothly on the pallet and also protect your hands from solvents. To recondition your palette start by lightly sanding it with 180-grit sandpaper. This will help open the wood grain and allow it to absorb oil more easily. Place a pool of linseed on the palette, then use a rag or a cloth to wipe it across the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a couple of days.
Once your palette is dry, you can use a paper towel to wipe it off and if you have any leftover paint a little OMS on a rag will take it off. Do not use anything sharp to scrape off the dried paint. pallet buying could cause damage to your pallet.
If you are required to scrape dried paint from your palette, it's best to use a soft brush instead of cutting. If you scrape it too vigorously, you will splinter the wood and ruin your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a stylish and durable mixing surface. It makes you feel like an artist. It can be used with acrylics, oil paints and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides easily across the brush as you mix and pick up paint. Wooden palettes are available in different sizes and are lightweight. They are available in different styles and finishes to match your preferences.
The wooden palette is one of the oldest mixing surfaces. It's been in use since art was created. They have a natural warm brown tone that doesn't alter the color of the paints it houses. This is useful as the perception of colors is influenced by the dominant tone on which they are mixed. A wooden palette can also aid in identifying the hues of your paints as it has a mid value which shows the hues.
Vermeer's palettes are likely to be made from wood. The first palettes could be made from tin or paper, but they were probably made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventory, two painters easels were included along with three palettes. In an allegorical painting of Pictura Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer employed the same kind of palette. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is shaped with a thumb hole which is used to support it while the other fingers are used to hold brushes as well as maulsticks for stabilizing the hand while painting.
After a cleaning session Clean the surface of a wooden palette with drying oils - linseed or other -to ensure it is conditioned for the next time you use it. This will help to fill in the pores in the wood grain and provide an easier surface for your brushes. As time passes, an oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina that adds to its appeal.