Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes were used to paint oil. They are sturdy, lightweight and easy to clean. They also look beautiful.
Many depictions of artists working have survived. Some of these show the same wooden palette as the ones Vermeer used.
To prepare a palette made of wood, wipe it with drying oils like safflower or linseed. It is essential to keep the palette in good working order by applying an oily layer.
Lightweight
Contrary to glass or tear-off ones, a wooden palette is lighter and can be held easily at ease. Its thickness makes it rigid and stable, preventing it from bending under pressure. It can also be sanded or stained to give it the color. A wood palette is more durable than other kinds of materials, and it doesn't be damaged by fungi or insects. Palettes made of wood are also great for mixing alkyds and acrylics.
The most popular kind of wooden palette is made of pine or maple, both of which are able to resist warping and cracking. It is important to choose one that has been treated to stop the growth of fungi or insects. This is crucial to the durability and quality of a wooden pallet. A good wooden palette's surface must be smooth and well-finished. Agrony Trading should also have a low moisture content, which will reduce the risk of wrinkling or damage to paints.
Another benefit 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 good choice because it is inexpensive, readily available and fast drying.
The natural brown of the wooden palette is ideal for mixing colors because it is similar to the dominant color of the canvas. This helps to avoid the perception that the colors are more light or darker than what they really are. Vermeer employed a standard wooden palette. In a 1676 probate inventory, there is mention of "twee schilders eesels, 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 paint flesh tones on a wooden palette from light to dark.
Sturdy
Wooden palettes have been used by artists for centuries because they're sturdy and durable. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets and more sturdy than paper palettes. This makes them much easier to carry and use when painting. They are ideal for mixing alkyds and oil paints. It is important to select a high-quality wooden palette that has been heat-treated. This process eliminates the bugs and fungi that can damage the palette.
A high-quality wooden palette is smooth and well-made that allows your brushes to glide effortlessly across it. It should be sprayed with a drying oil to protect the wood against water and solvent damage and help it maintain its shape. You can buy pre-finished palettes that are ready for use, or you can build your own using raw wood. If you're using a wooden palette, ensure that you clean it after every painting session. Paint that's wet on a wood palette can cause it to warp or crack over time.
Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces used for oil paints, and they're still a favorite choice for many artists. They're light, durable and can hold a significant amount of paint without breaking. They are great for mixing thick paints such as alkyds, acrylics, and other heavier-bodied ones.
In the time of Vermeer, the popular palette with a hole for the thumb was replaced by the rectangular type that had an handle. The thumb was used to support the palette which allowed the painter to use the rest of his fingers to use brushes and the mahlstick.
A high-quality palette is made of spruce or other hardwood which has been treated to eliminate any fungi or insects. A heat treatment for wood makes it more difficult to scratch or scratch the surface of the palette. A well-used, maintained wooden palette will develop a smooth, glass-like finish after years of use. This is due to a buildup of thin layers of dried oils that allow the surface maintain its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette will give you a smooth, easy-to-clean palette that will last for years. This kind of palette is a favorite among oil artists and won't chip or splinter like glass ones. You can buy a wooden pallet that has been sealed or do it yourself. To do this you'll need boiling linseed oil from the hardware store, nitrile gloves and high-quality paper towels or rags (if it has bits, don't use it). Sealing a palette using drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and smooth the surface. This will get better with each painting.
After you have coated your palette with oil after you have oiled it, you must clean the surface after each painting session. This is essential because it keeps your paints evenly mixed on the palette, and also protect your hands 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 to absorb oils more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil on the palette and use a rag to spread it evenly across the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a couple of days.
Once your palette is dry, you can use a paper towel to wipe it off and if any paint remains a little OMS on a rag will remove it. You should not try to scrape off the dried paint with anything sharp, as this could scratch and harm your palette.
If you need to scrape dried paint from your palette, it's best to employ the soft brush instead of a knife. If you scrape too hard, you could damage your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a stylish and durable 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 pick up paint. Palettes made of wood are also light and come in many sizes to suit your hands. They are available in different styles and finishes to meet your preferences.
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 important since the perception of colors is affected by the dominant tone which they are mixed. A wooden palette can also aid in identifying the hues of your paints as it has a mid value that shows the hues.
The first palettes were made of tin foil or paper however the ones Vermeer used were likely made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventory 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 of Pictura. A traditional wooden palette used for oil painting is typically shaped to hold the thumb hole that is used to support the palette, while the remaining fingers hold the brushes and the maulstick to steady the hand on the canvas while painting.
After cleaning, wipe the surface with a drying oil -- linseed, or another - to keep the palette in good condition until the next time you will need it. This will fill in the pores in the wood grain and provide an even surface for your brushes. With time, a well oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina which adds to its appearance.