Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes were used to paint oil. They are light and easy to clean. They also look gorgeous.
Many paintings of artists at work have survived. Some depict the same wooden palette as those Vermeer used.
To prepare a wooden palette, wipe the surface with a drying oil such as linseed. This is crucial because a thin coating of oil helps keep the palette in good condition.
Lightweight
A wooden palette is lighter than glass or tear-off pallets and is able to be held easily at the easel. The thickness of the wood makes it sturdy and stable, preventing it from bending under pressure. Additionally, it can be sanded down and stained to give it the color. A wood palette is more durable than other kinds of materials and does not be damaged by fungi or insects. Palettes made of wood are ideal for mixing acrylics and alkyds.
The most commonly used kind of wooden palette is made of pine or maple both of which are able to resist cracking and warping. However, it is important to select a wood that has been heat-treated to prevent fungi and insects. This is essential to the long-term durability of the wooden palette. A quality wood palette's surface must be smooth and well-finished. It should also have a low concentration of moisture, which will reduce the risk of paints getting damaged or wrinkled.
A wooden palette has another wonderful benefit: it's simple to clean. At the end of every painting session, the artist can wipe the palette with a drying oil to prepare it for the next. Linseed oil is a good option because it's cheap and easily available. It also has a quick drying time.
The natural brown tone of a wood palette is ideal to mix colors because it isn't too different to the dominant color on the canvas. This helps to keep from the impression that the colors are more light or darker than they really are. Vermeer utilized the traditional wooden palette. In an inventory from 1676, it is mentioned that "tweeschilders eesels" (two easels for painters) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were present. In Pictura, Frans van Meieris painted a Vermeer style palette and Roger de Piles suggested that the painters put flesh tones on a wooden palette that ranged from light to dark.
Sturdy
Palettes made of wood have been utilized by artists for centuries because they're durable and sturdy. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets as well as more durable than paper palettes. This makes them easier for you to hold and use while painting. They are ideal for mixing oil paints and alkyds. However, it's important to select a high-quality wooden palette that has been heated. This process eliminates the insects and fungi that could damage the palette.
A top-quality wooden palette will be smooth and well-made which allows your brushes to glide easily across it. It should be sprayed with a drying oil to protect the wood from water and solvent damage, and keep its shape. You can purchase ready-to-use, pre-finished palettes or make your own from raw wood. If you use a wooden palette, make sure you clean it each time you paint. The paint that is left wet on a palette could cause it to warp or crack it over time.
Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces that were used for oil paints, and they're still a popular option for many artists. They're lightweight, strong and can hold a lot of paint without breaking. They are ideal for mixing thick paints such as alkyds, acrylics, and other heavy-bodied ones.
In Vermeer's time, the common palette with a hole to accommodate the thumb was replaced by the rectangular type with a handle. The thumb was used to support the palette, which allowed the painter to use his remaining fingers for brushes and the mahlstick.
A good quality palette is made from spruce or other hardwood that has been treated with heat to kill any insects or fungi. A heat treatment for wood makes it more difficult to scratch or sand the surface of the palette. After a long period of use, a well-used and maintained wooden pallet will have a smooth, almost glass-like surface. This is due to the build-up of thin layers of drying oils that help the surface maintain its shape.
Easy to clean
If you are looking for a 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 a favorite among oil artists because it won't break or shatter like glass palettes. You can purchase a wooden palette pre-oiled or seal it yourself. To do this, you'll require 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 small gaps and smooth the surface. This will improve with each painting.
After you have your palette oiled you will have to clean it after every painting session. This is crucial since it will keep your paints evenly mixed on the palette and shield your hands from solvents. To restore your palette, start by lightly sanding it with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open up the grain of the wood, allowing it absorb oils more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil onto your palette and then use a rag apply it evenly to the entire surface. Then let the oil dry for a few days.
If there is any remaining paint on your palette, a tiny OMS applied to a rag will eliminate it. You should not use anything sharp to scrape away the dried paint. This can scratch and damage your palette.
If you need to scrape some dried paint off your palette, it's best to rub it with a soft brush rather than using a knife. If you scrape it too hard 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 is suitable 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. Wooden palettes can be found in various sizes and are lightweight. wooden palette are available in different styles and finishes to match your preferences.
The wooden palette is among the oldest mixing surfaces. It has been around since the time of art. The wood has a warm brown color that doesn't affect the colors of the paints. This is beneficial since the perception of colors is influenced by the dominant tone on which they are mixed. A wooden palette helps you to see the colors of your paints as it has a mid-value that shows the hues against.
The earliest palettes were constructed of tin foil or paper however the ones Vermeer used were likely made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventories, two painters easels were included 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 palette for oil painting is typically shaped to hold the thumb hole, which is used to support the palette while the other fingers hold brushes and the maulstick to steady the hand on the canvas while painting.
After cleaning the surface, clean it with a drying oil -- Linseed, or another to keep the palette clean until the next time you will need it. This will fill the pores in the wood grain, creating a smoother surface for your brushes. Over time, a well oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina which adds to its appeal.