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 also look beautiful.
internet of artists working have survived. Some depict a wooden palette similar to those Vermeer employed.
To prepare a wooden palette, wipe the surface with dry oil, like linseed. This is essential because a thin layer 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. Its thickness also makes it sturdy and stable, which prevents it from breaking under pressure. Additionally, it can be stained and sanded to add color. A wood palette is also more durable than other kinds of materials, and it doesn't become damaged by fungi or insects. The wooden palettes are great for mixing acrylics with alkyds.
The most popular wooden palettes are made of either pine or maple. Both of these woods can resist the effects of warping and crazing. It is crucial to select one that has been treated in order to prevent fungi or insects. This is crucial to the durability and quality of a wooden pallet. In addition, the surface of a high-quality wooden palette should be smooth and evenly sanded. It should have a low concentration of moisture, which can reduce the risk of paints getting damaged or wrinkled.
A wooden palette has another excellent benefit: it's easy to clean. At the end of each painting session, the painter can wipe the palette with a drying oil to condition it for the next. Linseed oil is a good choice due to its low cost easily available and quick drying.
The natural brown tone of a palette made of wood is ideal for mixing colors as it isn't too different to the dominant color of the canvas. This helps to keep from the impression that the colors are more light or darker than they actually are. Vermeer utilized the traditional wooden palette. In an inventory from 1676, it is mentioned that "tweeschilders eesels" (two painters' easels) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were present. Frans van Mieris illustrated a painted version of a palette modeled after Vermeer in his allegorical representation in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones ranging from light to dark on a wood palette.
Sturdy
Artists have used wooden palettes for ages because they're durable and sturdy. They're light compared to tear-off or glass palettes, and are more durable than paper ones. This makes them easier for you to use and handle while painting. They also make a great option for mixing oil paints and alkyds. It is crucial to choose a wooden palette of high quality that has been treated. This process eliminates the bugs and fungi that can cause damage to the palette.
A good wooden palette will be smooth and well-made which allows your brushes to glide effortlessly across it. It should be finished with drying oil that shields the wood from solvent and water damage and helps it maintain its shape. There are 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, be sure to clean it every time you paint. Leaving wet paint on a palette could cause it to warp or crack it over time.
Wooden Palettes are still a favorite with artists. They were the first mixing surfaces to be used to mix oil paints. They're lightweight, strong and can hold a large amount of paint without breaking. They are also ideal to mix alkyds, acrylics and other thick-bodied paints.
In Vermeer's time, the popular palette with a hole to accommodate the thumb was replaced by the earlier rectangular model that had an handle. The painter supported the palette using his thumb inside the hole, allowing him to free his remaining fingers to hold brushes and the mahlstick.
Woods treated with heat, such as spruce and other hardwoods are used in the creation of high-quality palettes. This eliminates any fungi or bugs. Heat treatment of wood makes it harder to scratch or smooth its surface. A well-used and maintained wooden palette will develop a smooth, glass-like surface after years of use. This is due to the buildup of thin layers of drying oil that helps the surface to keep its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette will give you an easy-to-clean, smooth palette that lasts for many years. This kind of palette is popular among oil artists and will not chip or splinter like glass ones. You can purchase an unfinished wooden pallet that has been sealed or do it yourself. You'll need boiled Linseed Oil, which you can purchase from the hardware store. Nitrile gloves, and high-quality paper towels or rags. The process of sealing a palette with a drying oil fills the tiny gaps in the wood and creates a smooth surface that gets better with each painting you make.
After you have oiled your palette, you will need to clean the surface after each painting session. This is crucial as it will keep paints from mixing in a smooth manner on the palette and shield your hand from solvents. To recondition your palette start by lightly sanding it with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open the grain of the wood and allow it absorb oils more easily. Next pour a pool 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.
Once your palette is dry, you can use a paper towel to wipe it off and if any paint remains just a tiny OMS on the rag will get rid of it. It is not recommended to use any sharp object to scrape off the dried paint. This could cause damage and scratching to your palette.
If you need to scrape dried paint off your palette, it's recommended to employ a soft brush rather than a knife. If you scrape it too hard you can break the wood and ruin the palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a beautiful and sturdy mixing surface that can make 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 when you mix and take in paint. Wooden palettes are also light and come in many sizes to accommodate your hands. They are available in a variety of finishes and styles to suit your preferences.
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 that doesn't affect the hues of the paints. This is useful as the perception of colors is affected by the dominant tone on which they are mixed. A wooden palette can help you see the colors of your paints because it has a mid-value that displays the hues.
Vermeer's palettes could be made from wood. The earliest palettes might be made of paper or tin, however they are most likely made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventory two easels for painters were listed along with three palettes. In an allegorical image of Pictura Vermeer's contemporaries Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer employed the same kind of palette. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is designed with a thumb hole that is used to support it, while the other fingers are used to hold brushes and a maulstick for steadying the hand when painting.
After a cleaning session, wipe the surface of your wooden palette with dry oils - such as linseed or anotherto keep it in good condition for the next time you use it. This will help to fill in the pores in the wood grain and provide an even surface for your brushes. Over time a well-oiled palette will develop a gorgeous patina, which adds to its appeal.