Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally wooden palettes have been used for oil painting. They are lightweight and easy to clean. They also look gorgeous.
Many depictions of artists at work have survived. Some of these depict an unfinished wooden pallet, like the one that Vermeer employed.
To prepare a palette made of wood clean it with drying oils like linseed or safflower. This is crucial because a thin layer oil helps keep the palette in good condition.
Lightweight
Unlike glass palettes or tear-off ones, a wooden palette is lighter and can be easily held at the easel. Its thickness also makes it sturdy and stable, which prevents it from bending under pressure. Additionally, it can be stained and sanded to add color. A wooden palette is more durable and resistant to fungi and insects than other materials. Palettes made of wood are ideal for mixing acrylics and alkyds.
The most popular type of wooden palette is made from pine or maple both of which can resist cracking and warping. It is, however, essential to choose an item that has been treated with heat to keep insects and fungi out. This is essential to the longevity of a wooden palette. A quality wooden palette's surface must be smooth and well-finished. It should be free of level of moisture, which will reduce the chance of paints being damaged or wrinkled.
Another great feature of a wooden palette is that it is easy to keep clean. After each painting session, artist can wipe the palette with drying oil to prepare it for the next time. Linseed oil is a good choice because it's inexpensive, readily-available and quick-drying.
The natural brown of a wooden palette is perfect for mixing colors because it is a similar color to the predominant color of the canvas. This can help keep from the impression that the colors are lighter or darker than what they really are. Vermeer utilized the traditional wooden palette. In his inventory of 1676 it is noted that "tweeschilders eesels" (two painters' easels) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were in the inventory. In Pictura, Frans van Meieris painted a Vermeer style palette and Roger de Piles suggested that painters lay out flesh tones on a wooden palette from light to dark.
Sturdy
Artists have been using wooden palettes for ages because they're sturdy and durable. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets as well as more durable than paper palettes. This makes them much easier to carry and use when painting. They also make an excellent choice for mixing oil paints and alkyds. It is important to choose a quality wooden palette that has been treated with heat. This process removes the fungi and insects that can cause damage to the wooden palette.
A high-quality wooden palette is made well 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 help it maintain its shape. There are pre-finished palettes that are ready to use or you can make your own using raw wood. If you choose to use a wooden palette, make sure to wash it every time you paint. Wet paint left on a wooden palette could cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces for oil paints. They're still a popular choice for many artists. They're light, durable and can hold a large amount of paint without breaking. They are great to mix thick paints, such as alkyds, acrylics and heavy-bodied ones.
In the days of Vermeer, a popular palette with a hole for the thumb had replaced the earlier rectangular model with handles. The thumb was used to support the palette which allowed the painter to use his remaining fingers to paint with brushes and also the mahlstick.
Heat-treated hardwoods such as spruce and other hardwoods are used in the creation of high-quality palettes. This eliminates any bugs or fungi. A treatment that heats wood makes it more difficult to scratch or scratch the surface of the palette. After a few years of use a well-used, conditioned wooden pallet will have a smooth, glass-like finish. This is due to the buildup of thin layers of dried oil that helps the surface retain its shape.
Easy to clean
If you are looking for an easy-to clean palette that lasts for years then a wood palette is the best way to go. This kind of palette is popular with oil painters because it doesn't break or shatter like a glass palette. You can either buy wooden pallets that have been sealed or do it yourself. You'll require boiled Linseed Oil purchased from a hardware store. Nitrile gloves, and 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 do.
After you have coated your palette with oil and sprayed it with oil, you'll need to clean the surface after every painting session. This is essential because it keeps your paints evenly mixed on the palette and protect your hands from solvents. To restore your palette, start by lightly sanding the surface with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open up the grain of the wood and allow it absorb oils more easily. Put a small amount of linseed onto the palette, then use a rag or a cloth to wipe it across the entire surface. Then let the oil dry for a day or two.
When your palette is dry you can use a paper towel to wipe it off and if there is any remaining paint just a tiny OMS on the rag will get rid of it. Do not use anything sharp to scrape away the dried paint. This will cause damage and scratching to your palette.
If you need to scrape a bit of dried paint off your palette it's recommended to do it with a soft brush instead of using a knife. If you scrape it too hard you can break the wood and ruin the palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a stylish and sturdy mixing surface. It makes you feel like an artist. It can be used for oil paints, as well as acrylics and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides smoothly over the brush when you mix and mix paint. Wooden palettes are also lightweight and come in many sizes to fit your hands. They come in different styles and finishes.
The wooden palettes have been used for as long as art itself and are among the oldest mixing surfaces. The wood has a warm brown hue which doesn't affect the hues of the paints. pallet for sale is important because the predominant tone affects the perception of color. A wooden palette can also aid in identifying the shades of your paints since it has a mid value which shows the hues.
The earliest palettes were made of tin foil or paper however the ones Vermeer used were probably made of wood. A probate inventory from 1676 recorded two "twee schilders eesels" and three paletten" (two easels for painters and a dry palette). Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris is seen using the same kind of palette in an allegorical painting depicting Pictura. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is designed 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 cleaning, wipe the surface with a drying oil - Linseed, or another- to keep the palette in good condition until the next time you will need it. This will fill in the pores in the wood grain and provide a smoother surface for your brushes. Over time, a well oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina, which will add to its character.