Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes have been used for oil painting. They are light and easy to clean. They also look gorgeous.
Many depictions of painters at work are still around. Some depict an unfinished wooden pallet, similar to the one Vermeer employed.
To prepare a wood palette clean it using drying oils such as safflower or linseed. It is important to keep the palette in good shape by applying an oil-based coating.
Lightweight
A wooden pallet is lighter than glass or tear-off pallets and can be easily positioned on the easel. Its thickness makes it sturdy and stable. This keeps it from breaking under pressure. In addition, it can be stained and sanded to give it the color. A wood palette is also more durable than other kinds of materials and doesn't be damaged by fungi or insects. Palettes made of wood are also great for mixing acrylics and alkyds.
The most popular wooden palettes are made of maple or pine. Both of these woods are resistant to warping and crazing. It is, however, essential to choose an item that has been treated to keep insects and fungi out. This is crucial to the long-term durability and quality of a pallet made from wood. A quality wood palette's surface must be smooth and well-finished. It should have a low level of moisture, which will decrease the risk of paints getting damaged or wrinkled.
Another great feature of a wooden palette is that it's easy to keep clean. The painter can clean the palette after each painting session using an oil that is drying to condition it. Linseed oil is a great option because it's cheap and easily available. It also has a quick drying time.
The natural brown tone of a palette made of wood is perfect for mixing colors as it is not too dissimilar to the dominant color on the canvas. This will help to avoid the perception that the colors are lighter or darker than what they actually are. Vermeer utilized a common wooden palette and in a 1676 probate inventory there is mention of "twee schilders drye paletten" (two easels for painters and three wooden palettes). 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
Wooden palettes have been used by artists for centuries because they're sturdy and durable. They're lightweight compared to glass or tear-off palettes, and they're more rigid than paper ones. This makes them easier for you to handle and use when painting. These palettes are great for mixing alkyds and oil paints. It is important to choose a good wooden palette that has been heated. This eliminates fungi and pests that can damage the palette.
A high-quality wooden palette is well-made and smooth, making it easy for your brushes to glide across. It should be finished with dry oil to shield the wood against water and solvent damage and help it maintain its shape. You can buy pre-finished palettes that are ready to use, or you can build your own out of raw wood. If you choose to use a wooden palette, make sure to clean it every time you paint. The paint that is left wet on a palette could cause it to cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces used for oil paints. They're still a popular choice for many artists. They're lightweight, strong and can hold a large amount of paint without breaking. They are also great to mix alkyds, acrylics and other thick-bodied paints.
In the time of Vermeer, the popular palette with a hole to accommodate the thumb had replaced the rectangular type with an handle. The artist held the palette using his thumb in the hole, allowing him to free the remaining fingers to hold brushes and the mahlstick.
The heat-treated hardwoods like spruce and other hardwoods are used to create a high-quality palette. This is a way to eliminate any bugs or fungi. The treatment of wood with heat also makes it harder to scratch or scratch the surface of the palette. A well-used, maintained wooden palette will develop a smooth, glass-like finish after many years of use. This is due to a buildup of thin layers of dried oils that aid the surface retain its shape.
Easy to clean
If you are looking for a smooth, easy to clean palette that lasts for years then a wood palette is the best way to go. This type of palette is popular with oil painters and will not scratch or break like a glass one. You can buy a wooden pallet that has been sealed, or make it yourself. To do this, you'll require boiling linseed oil purchased from the hardware store, nitrile gloves and high-quality paper towels or rags (if it has bits, don't use it). The process of sealing a palette with drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and smooth the surface. This will get better with every painting.
Once you have your palette cleaned, you'll have to clean it after each painting session. This is essential since it will keep your paints mixed smoothly 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 help to open the grain of the wood, allowing it to absorb oil more easily. Put a small amount of linseed onto the palette, and use a rag or a cloth to clean the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a couple of days.
If there is any remaining paint on your palette, a little OMS sprayed onto a rag will eliminate it. It is not recommended to scrape the dried paint off with anything sharp, as this will scratch and damage your palette.
If you have to scrape dried paint off your palette, it is best to employ a soft brush instead of cutting. If purchase wood pallets scrape too hard, you may harm your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a stylish and sturdy mixing surface. It makes you feel like an artist. It can be used to mix oil paints as well as alkyds and acrylics. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides effortlessly over the brush as you mix and mix paint. Wooden palettes can be found in a variety of sizes and are lightweight. They are available in various styles and finishes to meet your preferences.
The wooden palettes have been used as long as art itself and are among the oldest mixing surfaces. The wood has a warm brown hue that doesn't alter the hues of the paints. This is important because the dominant tone is what determines the perception of color. A wooden palette can also help you to see the hues of your paints as it has a mid-value which will show the hues against.
The earliest palettes were made of paper or tin foil however the ones Vermeer used were probably made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventory two easels for painters were included along with three palettes. In an allegorical picture of Pictura Vermeer's time, his contemporaries Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer employed the same kind of palette. A traditional wooden palette used for oil painting is generally designed to hold the thumb hole, which is used to support the palette while the remaining fingers hold brushes and the maulstick to steady the hand against the canvas while painting.
After cleaning the surface, clean it with a drying oil - either linseed or another to keep the palette in good condition until the next time you will need it. This will fill the tiny pores in the grain of the wood and create an even surface that is much easier for brushes to work on. Over time, a well-oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina, which adds to its appeal.