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 are also beautiful.
Many images of artists at work are still around. Some depict wooden pallets like the one Vermeer used.
To make a wooden palette, clean the surface with an oil that is drying, like linseed. This is essential because a thin coating of oil keeps the palette conditioned.
purchase used pallets is lighter than glass or tear-off pallets, and can be easily held at the easel. Its thickness also makes it sturdy and stable, preventing it from breaking under pressure. It can also be sanded and stained to give it the color. A wood palette is more durable and resistant to insects and fungi than other materials. The wooden palettes are perfect for mixing alkyds and acrylics.
The most commonly used wooden palettes are made of maple or pine. Both of these woods can resist the effects of warping and crazing. However, it is essential to select the kind of wood that has been treated with heat to keep insects and fungi out. This process is crucial to the durability of the wooden palette. Furthermore the surface of a quality wooden palette should be smooth and evenly sanded. It should be free of concentration of moisture, which can reduce the risk of paints getting damaged or wrinkled.
A wooden palette has another great feature: it's easy to clean. The painter can wipe down the palette after each painting session with a drying lubricant to condition it. 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 perfect to mix colors because it is not that different to the dominant color of the canvas. This will help to keep from the impression that the colors are lighter or darker than they actually are. Vermeer used the typical wooden palette. In his inventory of 1676, it is mentioned that "tweeschilders eesels" (two easels for painters) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were in the inventory. In Pictura, Frans van Meieris painted a Vermeer style palette. Roger de Piles suggested that the painters put flesh tones on a wooden palette ranging from light to dark.
Sturdy
Artists have used wooden palettes for centuries because they're sturdy and durable. They're lightweight compared to tear-off or glass palettes, and are more durable than paper ones. This makes them much easier to carry and use while painting. They also make an excellent choice to mix oil paints and alkyds. It is important to select a high-quality wooden palette that has been heat-treated. This process eliminates the insects and fungi that could damage the palette.
A high-quality wooden palette will be smooth and well-made that allows your brushes to glide easily across it. It should be finished with dry oil to shield the wood against water and solvent damage and help it maintain its shape. You can find ready-to-use, pre-finished palettes or create your own using raw wood. If you use an wooden palette, make sure to wash it every time you paint. The paint that is left wet on a palette could cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces used for oil paints. They're still a popular option for many artists. They're light, durable and can hold a large amount of paint without breaking. They are also great for mixing acrylics, alkyds, and any other thick-bodied paints.
Vermeer's palettes were replaced by older rectangular ones with handles. The painter held the palette with his thumb in the hole, allowing him free the remaining fingers to hold brushes as well as the mahlstick.
A good quality palette is made from wood like spruce or other that has been treated with heat to kill any insects or fungi. The heat treatment of wood makes it more difficult to scratch or smooth its surface. After years of use, a well-used and maintained wooden pallet will have a smooth, almost glass-like finish. This is due a buildup thin layers of dried oil that helps the surface maintain its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette will give you an easy-to-clean, smooth palette that will last many years. This kind of palette is popular among oil artists and won't chip or splinter like a glass one. You can buy wooden pallets that have been sealed or you can do it yourself. To seal it, you'll need boiling linseed oil purchased from the hardware store, nitrile gloves and high-quality paper towels or rags (if it leaves bits, don't use it). Sealing a palette using drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and smooth the surface. This will improve with every painting.
Once your palette is oiled you will need to condition it following each painting session. This is important because it keeps your paints mixed smoothly on the palette, and also protect your hands from solvents. To restore your palette, start by lightly sanding it with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open the grain of the wood and allow it to absorb oil more easily. Then, pour a small amount of linseed oil onto the palette and use a rag to apply it evenly to 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 clean and if any paint remains a little OMS on the rag will get rid of it. Do not use any sharp object to scrape off the dried paint. This could cause damage to your palette.
If you have to scrape dried paint from your palette, it is recommended to employ a soft brush rather than cutting. If you scrape too hard, you could damage your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a stylish and sturdy mixing surface that 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 effortlessly across the brush when you mix and take in paint. Wooden palettes can be found in a variety of sizes and are light. They are available in a variety of 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 change the colors of the paints that are on it. This is important since the dominant tone is what influences the perception of color. A wooden palette also helps you to see the color values of your paints because it has a mid-value which shows the hues against.
Vermeer's palettes are likely to be made from wood. The earliest palettes may be made of paper or tin, however they were probably made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventories two easels of painters were listed along with three palettes. Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris is seen using the same type 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, while the remaining fingers are used to hold brushes as well as a maulstick for steadying the hand while painting.
After cleaning, wipe the surface with a drying oil, linseed, or another - to keep the palette clean until the next time you need it. This will fill the tiny pores of the grain of the wood and create a smooth surface that makes it easier for your brushes to work on. Over the years an oil-based palette will develop a gorgeous patina, which adds to its character.