Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes have been used to paint oil. They are lightweight, sturdy and easy to clean. They also look gorgeous.
Many depictions of painters in action have survived. Some of them show an unfinished wooden palette similar to the ones Vermeer employed.
To make a wooden palette wipe the surface clean with dry oil, like linseed. This is important because a thin layer of oil keeps the palette conditioned.
Lightweight
Contrary to glass or tear-off palettes, a wooden palette is light and can be easily held at ease. The thickness of the wood makes it rigid and stable, which prevents it from bending under pressure. In addition, it can be sanded down and stained to give it the color. A wooden palette is more durable and resistant to insects and fungi than other materials. Wooden palettes are also ideal for mixing alkyds and acrylics.
The most common wooden palettes are made of pine or maple. Both of these woods can resist warping and crazing. It is essential to select a wood that's been heat-treated to keep fungi or insects. This is crucial to the long-term durability and quality of a pallet made from wood. A quality wood palette's surface should also be smooth and well-finished. It should also have a low moisture content, which reduces the chance of damage or wrinkling to paints.
A wooden palette has another great feature: it's easy to clean. At the end of each painting session, painter can wipe the palette with drying oil to condition it for the next time. Linseed oil is an excellent choice due to its low cost easily available and quick drying.
The natural brown tone of a palette made of wood is ideal to mix colors because it is not that different to the dominant color of the canvas. This will help to avoid the perception that the colors are lighter or darker than they really are. Vermeer employed the standard wooden palette. In his inventory of 1676 it is noted that "tweeschilders eesels" (two easels for painters) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were included. Frans van Mieris painted a painted version of a Vermeer-styled palette in his allegorical representation in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones ranging from light to dark on a wooden palette.
Sturdy
Palettes made of wood have been utilized by artists for centuries due to the fact that they are sturdy and durable. They're light compared to tear-off or glass palettes, and they're more rigid than paper ones. This makes them easier for you to handle and use when painting. They also make ideal to mix oil paints and alkyds. But, it's essential to choose a quality wooden palette that has been heat-treated. This process removes the fungi and insects that can harm the wooden palette.
A high-quality wooden palette is well-made and smooth and easy for brushes to glide across. It should be sprayed with an oil for drying that protects the wood from solvent and water damage, and helps maintain its shape. You can buy pre-finished palettes that are ready to use, or you can build your own from raw wood. If you're using a wooden palette, make sure to clean it after every painting session. Paint that is wet on a wooden palette could cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes are still popular with artists. They were the first mixing surfaces to be used to mix oil paints. They're light, durable and can hold a large amount of paint without breaking. They are also ideal for mixing alkyds, acrylics, and any other thick-bodied paints.
Vermeer's palettes were replaced by older rectangular ones with handles. The painter held the palette by putting his thumb in the hole, allowing him free his other fingers to hold brushes and the mahlstick.
Woods treated with heat, such as spruce and other hardwoods are used to create an excellent palette. This is a way to eliminate any bugs or fungi. The treatment process of heating wood makes it harder to scratch or sand its surface. A well-used, maintained wooden palette will develop an even, glass-like appearance after years of use. This is due a buildup thin layers of drying oil that helps the surface retain its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette will give you an easy-to-clean, smooth palette that will last for years. This type of palette is popular among oil artists and will not chip or splinter like glass ones. You can purchase a wood palette that has been pre-oiled or seal it yourself. You'll need boiled Linseed Oil purchased from a 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 small gaps and create a smooth surface. This will improve with each painting.
After you have lubricated your palette and sprayed it with oil, you'll need to recondition the surface after every painting session. This is important because it keeps your paints mixed smoothly on the palette and protect your hands from solvents. To make your palette more reconditioned, begin by lightly sanding it using 180-grit sandpaper. This will open up the grain of the wood, allowing it to absorb oils more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil onto the palette and use a rag to wipe it evenly over the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a few days.
After your palette has dried you can use a paper towel to wipe it off and if you have any leftover paint some OMS on the rag will get rid of it. You should not try to scrape the dried paint off using anything sharp as this will scratch and damage your palette.
If you are required to scrape dried paint from your palette, it's recommended to employ a soft brush rather than cutting. If you scrape too hard, you may damage your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a beautiful and durable mixing surface that 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 smoothly across the brush as you mix and pick up paint. Wooden palettes are also light and come in a variety of sizes to suit your hands. They are available in various styles and finishes to meet your preferences.
The wooden palette is one of the oldest mixing surfaces. It has been around since the beginning of art. The wood has a warm brown color which doesn't affect the hues of the paints. This is important since the perception of colors is affected by the dominant tone which they are mixed. A wooden palette may help you see the hues of your paints as it has a mid-value that displays the hues.
The earliest palettes were made of tin foil or paper however the ones Vermeer used were likely made of wood. large pallets from 1676 included two "twee schilders eesels, " three paletten" (two easels for painters and a dry palette). Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris is seen using the same kind of palette in an allegorical painting of Pictura. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is made with a thumb hole which is used to support it, while the other fingers are used to hold brushes and maulsticks for stabilizing the hand 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 the tiny pores of the grain of the wood and create a smooth surface which is easier for your brushes to work on. Over the years, a well-oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina, which adds to its appearance.