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 gorgeous.
Many paintings of artists at work have survived. Some of them show an unfinished wooden palette similar to the ones Vermeer used.
To prepare a wooden palette, wipe it with drying oils like safflower or linseed. This is important because a thin layer of oil keeps the palette conditioned.
Lightweight
A wooden palette is lighter than glass or tear-off pallets, and can be easily positioned on the easel. Its thickness makes it rigid and solid. This prevents it from bending when under pressure. It can also be sanded or stained to give it the color. A wood palette is more sturdy and resistant to insects and fungi than other materials. Palettes made of wood are also great for mixing alkyds and acrylics.
The most popular wooden palettes are made of pine or maple. Both of these woods are resistant to cracking and warping. It is crucial to select the wood that has been treated with heat to stop the growth of insects or fungi. This is essential to the durability of a wooden palette. In addition, the surface of a high-quality wooden palette must be smooth and evenly sanded. It should also have a low amount of moisture, which can reduce the chance of paints being damaged or wrinkling.
A wooden palette has another excellent benefit: it's easy to clean. After every painting session, the artist can wipe the palette with a drying oil to condition it for the next time. Linseed oil makes a great choice due to its low cost and readily available, as well as quick drying.
The natural brown tone of a wood palette is perfect for mixing colors as it isn't too different to the dominant color of the canvas. This helps avoid the impression that the colors appear as being darker or lighter than they actually are. Vermeer employed a standard wooden palette and in a 1676 probate inventory there is mention of "twee schilders eesels, drye paletten" (two easels for painters and three wooden palettes). Frans van Mieris illustrated an image of a Vermeer-style palette in his allegorical figure in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to lay out the flesh tones from light to dark on a wood palette.
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 are more durable than paper ones. This makes them easier to handle and use while painting. These palettes are great for mixing alkyds and oil paints. It is important to select an alkyd palette made of wood of good quality that has been treated. This process eliminates the bugs and fungi that can cause damage to the palette.
A good wooden palette will be well-made and smooth that allows your brushes to glide easily across it. It should be finished with an oil for drying that protects the wood from water and solvent damage, and helps maintain its shape. You can purchase ready-to-use, pre-finished palettes or create your own using raw wood. If you are using an wooden palette, make sure to clean it every time you paint. Wet paint left on a wooden palette could cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces that were used for oil paints. They're still a favorite choice for a lot of artists. They're lightweight, strong and can hold a lot of paint without breaking. They are also great to mix alkyds, acrylics and other thick-bodied paints.
Vermeer's palettes had replaced the rectangular ones that were previously used with handles. The painter supported the palette by putting his thumb in the hole, which allowed him to free his remaining fingers to hold brushes as well as the mahlstick.
Heat-treated hardwoods such as spruce and other hardwoods are used in the creation of a high-quality palette. This eliminates any fungi or bugs. The heat treatment of wood makes it more difficult to scratch or sand its surface. A well-used, maintained wooden palette will develop an even, glass-like appearance after many years of use. This is due to the build-up of thin layers of dry oils that help the surface maintain its shape.
Easy to clean
If you want smooth, easy to clean palette that lasts for a long time, then a wooden palette is the best way to go. This type of palette is popular among oil painters and will not break or shatter like a glass one. You can buy a wooden palette pre-oiled or seal it yourself. To do this you'll need boiled linseed oil from the hardware store, nitrile gloves and high quality paper towels or rags (if it leaves bits, don't use it). Sealing a palette with drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and create a smooth surface. This will get better with each painting.
After you have lubricated your palette, you will need to recondition the surface after each painting session. This is essential because it keeps paints from mixing in a smooth manner on the pallet and also protect your hands from solvents. To restore your palette, start by lightly sanding the surface with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open the grain of the wood and allow it to absorb oils more easily. Then, pour a small amount of linseed oil onto the palette and use a rag to spread it evenly across the entire surface. Then let the oil dry for a few days.
If any paint remains on your palette, a little OMS spray on a rag will take it off. Do not attempt to scrape the dried paint off with anything sharp because this could scratch and harm your palette.
If you do need to scrape some dried paint off your palette it's best to rub it with a soft brush instead of using knives. If you scrape too hard, you could harm your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
the original source is an elegant and durable mixing surface. It makes you feel like a true artist. It can be used for oil paints, as well as acrylics and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides easily across the brush as you pick up and mix paint. Palettes made of wood are also light and come in various sizes to suit your hands. They are available in different finishes and styles.
The wooden palette is among the oldest mixing surfaces. It's been in use since art was created. They have natural warm brown tones that doesn't change the colors of the paints on it. This is crucial because the dominant tone is what determines the perception of the color. A wooden palette can also help you see the color values of your paints because it has a mid-value which shows the hues against.
The first palettes were made of paper or tin foil, but the ones Vermeer used were probably wood. In a 1676 probate inventory two easels of painters were included along with three palettes. In an allegorical painting of Pictura, Vermeer's peers Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer used the same type of palette. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is made with a thumb hole that is used to support it. the remaining fingers are used to hold brushes as well as maulsticks for stabilizing the hand when painting.
After cleaning the surface, wipe it clean with a drying oil, linseed, or another - to keep the palette in good condition until the next time you need it. This will fill in the pores in the wood grain and provide an easier surface for your brushes. Over time an oil-based palette will develop a gorgeous patina that will add to its appeal.