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 beautiful.

Many images of painters in action are still around. Some depict the same wooden palette as the ones Vermeer used.

To prepare a wooden palette, wipe it with drying oils like linseed or safflower. This is essential because a thin coating of oil helps to keep the palette clean.

Lightweight

Unlike glass palettes or tear-off ones, a wooden palette is lighter and can be easily held on the easel. Its thickness also makes it rigid and stable, which prevents it from breaking under pressure. It can also be sanded and stained to give it color. A wood palette is also more durable than other kinds of materials, and it doesn't get damaged by fungi and insects. The wooden palettes are perfect to mix alkyds and acrylics.

The most popular wooden palettes are made of maple or pine. Both of these woods can resist cracking and warping. It is, however, essential to choose a wood that has been heat-treated to prevent fungi and insects. This process is essential to the durability and quality of a pallet made from wood. A quality wood palette's surface must be smooth and evenly finished. It should also have a low amount of moisture, which can reduce the risk of paints getting damaged or wrinkling.

A wooden palette comes with a wonderful benefit: it's simple to clean. The painter can wipe down the palette after each painting session with a drying lubricant to make it more sanitary. Linseed oil is a good choice due to its low cost, readily available and quick-drying.

The natural brown tone of a palette made of wood is ideal for mixing colors as it is not that different to the dominant color on the canvas. This will help to keep from the impression that the colors are lighter or darker than they really are. Vermeer used a typical 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 painters lay out flesh tones on a wooden palette that ranged from light to dark.

Sturdy

Palettes made of wood have been utilized by artists for centuries because they're sturdy and durable. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets of wood for sale​ as well as more durable than paper palettes. This makes them easier for you to hold and use while painting. They are ideal for mixing alkyds and oil paints. But, it's essential to select a high-quality wooden palette that has been heated. This eliminates insects and fungi that could damage the palette.

A top-quality wooden palette will be smooth and well-made that allows your brushes to glide easily across it. It should be sprayed with drying oil that shields the wood from solvent and water damage and helps it maintain its shape. There are ready-to-use palettes that have been finished or pre-finished. You can also make your own from raw wood. If you're using a wood palette, ensure tha> from the 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 will improve with each painting that you do.

After you have your palette oily, you'll have to clean it after every painting session. This is crucial because it will keep your paints evenly mixed on the palette and shield your hands from solvents. Start by lightly sanding the palette with 180-grit papers. This will help open the grain of the wood which allows it to absorb oil more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil onto your palette and then use a rag wipe it evenly over the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a day or two.

After your palette has dried 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. You should not use any sharp object to scrape off the dried paint. This could cause damage to your pallet.

If you need to scrape dried paint from your palette, it is best to use a soft brush instead of using a knife. If you scrape too hard, you can cause damage to your palette.

Aesthetically pleasing

A wooden palette is a beautiful and durable mixing surface that makes you feel like an artist. It is suitable for oil paints as well as acrylics and Buy Pallets Uk​ alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy-to-clean and glides effortlessly over the brush as you mix and apply paint. Wooden palettes are also light and come in many sizes to accommodate your hands. They come in various styles and finishes.

Wooden palettes have been around as long as art itself and are one of the oldest mixing surfaces. The wood has a warm brown hue that doesn't affect the colors of the paints. This is beneficial since the perception of colors is influenced by the dominant tone 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 have been made of wood. The earliest palettes might be made from tin or paper, but they were probably made of wood. In the 1676 probate inventories two easels of painters were listed, along with three palettes. Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris is depicted using the same type of palette in an allegorical painting depicting Pictura. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is shaped with a thumb hole which 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 a cleansing session After a cleaning session, clean the surface of your wooden palette with dry oils - - linseed or other -to ensure it is conditioned for the next time you will use it. This will fill the tiny pores in the the wood and create an even surface that makes it easier for your brushes to work on. Over time a well-oiled palette will develop a gorgeous patina that will add to its appeal.