Traditionally wooden palettes have been used for oil painting. They are light, durable and easy to clean. They are also beautiful.
Many images of artists in their work have survived. Some of these depict wooden pallets like the one Vermeer used.
To prepare a wood palette clean it using drying oils like linseed or safflower. It is important to keep the palette in good condition by applying a thin layer of oil.
Lightweight
A wooden palette is lighter than glass or tear-off pallets and can be easily held at the easel. Its thickness makes it strong and stable, preventing it from bending under pressure. It can also be sanded down and Agrony stained to add the color. A wooden palette is more durable and resistant to insects and fungi than other materials. The wooden palettes are perfect for mixing acrylics with alkyds.
The most commonly used wooden palettes are made from maple or pine. Both of these woods can resist the effects of warping and crazing. However, it is important to select the kind of wood that has been treated to prevent fungi and insects. This process is essential to the durability and quality of a wooden pallet. A high-quality wooden palette's surface must be smooth and evenly finished. It should also have a low amount of moisture, which will decrease the chance of paints being damaged or wrinkled.
Another advantage of a wooden palette is that it's easy to keep clean. After each painting session, painter can wipe the palette with a drying oil to condition it for the next. Linseed oil is a great choice because it's inexpensive and readily available, as well as quick drying.
The natural brown tone of a palette made of wood is perfect for mixing colors since it is not too dissimilar to the dominant color of the canvas. This will help to avoid the perception that the colors are lighter or darker than what they actually are. Vermeer employed the standard wooden palette. In his inventory of 1676 it is noted that "tweeschilders eesels" (two painters' easels) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were present. In Pictura, Frans van Meieris painted a Vermeer style palette and Roger de Piles suggested that painters paint 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, and more durable than paper palettes. This makes them much easier to carry and use while painting. They are also a great option to mix oil paints and alkyds. It is essential to choose an alkyd palette made of wood of good quality that has been heat treated. This eliminates insects and fungi that could harm the palette.A high-quality wooden palette will be smooth and well-made which allows your brushes to glide smoothly across it. It must be finished with an oil for drying that protects the wood from solvent and water damage, and helps keep its shape. There are pre-finished, ready-to-use palettes or build your own using raw wood. If you're using a wood palette, make sure to clean it after each painting session. The paint that is left wet on a palette could cause it to cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces that were used for oil paints, and they're still a popular option for many artists. They're light, durable and can hold a significant amount of paint without breaking. They are also great to mix alkyds, acrylics and other heavy-bodied paints.
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 his other fingers to paint with brushes and also the mahlstick.
Heat-treated hardwoods such as spruce and other hardwoods are used to make an excellent palette. This will eliminate any fungi or bugs. The heat treatment of wood makes it more difficult to scratch or smooth its surface. A well-used and maintained wooden palette will acquire a smooth, glass-like finish after many years of use. This is due to the build-up of thin layers of dry oils that help the surface to retain its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette gives you an easy-to-clean, smooth palette that will last many years. This type of palette is a favorite among oil artists because it will not chip or shatter like a glass palette. You can purchase a wood palette pre-oiled or seal it yourself. You'll need boiled Linseed Oil, which you can purchase from the hardware store. Nitrile gloves, as well as high-quality paper towels or rags. The process of sealing a palette with drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and smooth the surface. This will get better with each painting.
Once your palette is cleaned, you'll need to recondition it after every painting session. This is essential because it will keep your paints in a smooth and even mix on the palette and shield your hands from solvents. Start by lightly sanding the palette with 180-grit papers. This will open the grain of the wood and allow it absorb oils more easily. Place a pool of linseed on the palette, and use a rag or a cloth to wipe it across the entire surface. Then let the oil dry for a few days.
If any paint remains on your palette, a tiny OMS sprayed onto a rag should eliminate it. Do not attempt to scrape off the dried paint using anything sharp as this will scratch and damage your palette.
If you are required to scrape dried paint off your palette, it is best to use the soft brush instead of using a knife. If you scrape it too hard you could break the wood and ruin the palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a beautiful and durable mixing surface that lets you feel like an artist. It is suitable for oil paints, as well as alkyds and acrylics. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides easily across the brush as you mix and pick up paint. Wooden palettes are also lightweight and come in many sizes to fit your hands. They come in various designs and finishes.Wooden palettes have been around since the beginning of art and are among the oldest mixing surfaces. They have a natural warm brown tone that doesn't alter the color of the paints it houses. This is important since the perception of colors is affected by the dominant tone on which they are mixed. A wooden palette also helps you to see the color values of your paints since it has a mid-value that 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 painting of Pictura Vermeer's peers Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer used the same type of palette. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is designed with a thumb hole that is used to support it while the remaining fingers are used to hold brushes as well as maulsticks to steady the hand while painting.
After a clean-up, wipe the surface of a wooden palette with drying oils such as linseed or anotherto keep it in good condition for the next time you will use it. This will fill the tiny pores in the grain of the wood and create a smooth surface that is much easier for brushes to work on. As time passes, an oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina that adds to its character.
