Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?

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

Many images of painters in action are still around. Some depict an unfinished wooden palette similar to the ones Vermeer employed.

To make a wooden palette, wipe the surface with an oil that is drying, like linseed. This is essential because a thin layer of oil helps to keep the palette clean.

Lightweight

In contrast to glass or tear-off ones, a wooden palette is lighter and can be held easily on the easel. Its thickness also makes it sturdy and stable, preventing it from breaking under pressure. It can also be sanded or stained to give it the color. A wood palette is more durable and resistant to fungi and insects than other materials. The wooden palettes are ideal to mix alkyds and acrylics.

The most popular type of wooden palette is constructed from maple or pine both of which are able to resist cracking and warping. It is essential to select one that has been treated to stop the growth of fungi or insects. This is vital to the long-term durability of a wooden palette. Furthermore, the surface of a good wooden palette must be smooth and evenly sanded. It should also have a low moisture content, which reduces the chance of wrinkling or damage to paints.

A wooden palette also has a great feature: it's easy to clean. The painter can wipe down the palette after each painting session with an oil that is drying to make it more sanitary. Linseed oil is a good choice due to its low cost, readily available and 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 to avoid the perception that the colors are more light or darker than they actually are. Vermeer utilized a common wooden palette. In a 1676 probate inventory there is mention of "twee schilders drye paletten" (two easels for painting and three wooden palettes). In Pictura, Frans van Meieris painted a Vermeer style palette and Roger de Piles suggested that artists lay out flesh tones on a wooden palette from light to dark.

Sturdy

Wooden palettes have been used by artists for centuries because they're durable and sturdy. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets and more rigid than paper palettes. This makes them easier to handle and use while painting. They also make ideal to mix oil paints and alkyds. It is crucial to choose a wooden palette of high quality that has been heat treated. This process eliminates the insects and fungi that could damage the palette.

A high-quality wooden palette is well-made and smooth, making it easy for Pallet Prices brushes to glide across. It must be finished with drying oil that shields the wood from solvent and water damage and helps it maintain its shape. You can purchase wood pallets pre-finished palettes that are ready to use, or you can build your own from raw wood. If you are using a wooden palette, make sure to clean it every time you paint. The paint that is left wet on a palette can warp or crack it over time.

Wooden Palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces for oil paints, and they're still a popular choice for a lot of artists. They're lightweight, strong and can hold a significant amount of paint without breaking. They are great for mixing thick paints like acrylics, alkyds and other heavier-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 the rest of his fingers to use brushes and Pallet Prices the mahlstick.

The heat-treated hardwoods like spruce and other hardwoods are used in the creation of a high-quality palette. This is a way to eliminate any fungi or bugs. Heat treatment of wood makes it more difficult to scratch or sand its surface. A well-used, conditioned wooden palette will get a smooth, glass-like surface after years of use. This is due to a buildup of thin layers of dried oils that aid the surface maintain its shape.

Easy to clean

A New Wood Pallet For Sale palette will give you an easy-to-clean, smooth palette that will last for years. This type of palette is popular among oil artists and will not scratch or break like glass ones. You can purchase wooden pallets that have been sealed or do it yourself. You'll require boiled Linseed Oil 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 a smooth surface that gets better with each painting that you do.

After you have lubricated your palette and sprayed it with oil, you'll need to recondition the surface after every painting session. This is crucial because it keeps paints mixing smoothly on the palette and shield your hand from solvents. Start by lightly sanding the palette using 180-grit paper. This will open the grain of the wood and allow it absorb oils more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil onto the palette and wooden palette​ then use a rag to apply it evenly to the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a few days.

When your palette is dry you can use a paper towel to wipe it clean and if there is any remaining paint some OMS on a rag will take it off. It is not recommended to use anything sharp to scrape off the dried paint. This could cause damage to your pallet.

If you do need to scrape some dried paint off your palette it's best to use a soft brush instead of using the knife. If you scrape it too hard, you will splinter the wood and ruin the palette.

Aesthetically pleasing

A wooden palette is a classy and durable mixing surface that makes you feel like an artist. It is suitable for oil paints, as well as acrylics and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides smoothly over the brush when mixing and apply paint. Palettes made of wood are also light and come in many sizes to accommodate your hands. They are available in different styles and finishes.

Wooden palettes have been around since the beginning of art and are one of the oldest mixing surfaces. They have natural warm brown tones that doesn't change the colors of the paints it houses. This is important because the predominant tone determines the perception of color. A wooden palette can help you see the hues of your paints as it has a mid value that displays the hues.

The earliest palettes were made of paper or tin foil, but the ones Vermeer used were probably wood. In a 1676 probate inventory, two painters easels were listed, along with three palettes. Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris is seen using the same kind of palette in an allegorical painting of Pictura. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is shaped with a thumb hole that is used to support it. the remaining fingers are used to hold brushes and maulsticks for stabilizing the hand while painting.

After cleaning, wipe the surface with a drying oil -- either linseed or another- to keep the palette conditioned until the next time you need it. This will fill the tiny pores in the the wood and create a smooth surface that makes it easier for your brushes to work on. With time, a well oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina, which will add to its character.