7 Small Changes That Will Make A Big Difference In Your Wooden Palette

Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?

Traditionally, wooden palettes were used to paint oil. They are light, durable and easy to clean. They are also beautiful.

Many images of artists working have survived. Some of these depict wooden pallets like the one Vermeer employed.

To prepare a wooden palette, clean the surface with an oil that is drying, like linseed. This is important because a thin coating of oil keeps the palette conditioned.

Lightweight

In contrast to glass or tear-off palettes wooden palette is lighter and can be held easily on the easel. Its thickness also makes it sturdy and stable, preventing it from bending under pressure. It can also be sanded or stained to add colour. A wood palette is also more durable than other kinds of materials, and it doesn't become damaged by fungi or insects. Wooden palettes are also ideal for mixing alkyds and acrylics.

The most popular wooden palettes are made of maple or pine. Both of these woods can resist warping and crazing. It is important to choose a wood that's been heat-treated to keep insects or fungi. This is essential to the long-term durability of a wooden palette. Additionally the surface of a good wooden palette must be smooth and evenly sanded. It should also have low moisture content, which reduces the chance of cracks or wrinkling paints.

Another benefit of a wooden palette is that it is easy to keep clean. At the end of each painting session, the artist can wipe the palette with a drying oil to condition it for the next time. Linseed oil is a great option because it is cheap, readily available and fast drying.

The natural brown of a wooden palette is perfect for mixing colors because it is similar to the predominant color of the canvas. This can help to prevent the perception of the colors as being darker or lighter than they actually are. Vermeer utilized a common 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. Roger de Piles suggested that the painters put flesh tones on a wooden palette from light to dark.

Sturdy

Artists have been using wooden palettes for centuries due to the fact that they're sturdy and durable. They're lighter than tear-off or glass palettes and are more durable than paper ones. This makes them more comfortable to hold and use while painting. They are also an excellent choice to mix oil paints and alkyds. However, it's important to select a high-quality wooden palette that has been heated. This eliminates insects and fungi that could harm the palette.

A high-quality wooden palette is well-constructed and smooth and easy for your brushes to glide across. It should be finished with a drying oil to protect the wood against water and solvent damage, and keep its shape. There are pre-finished palettes that are ready to use, or you can build your own using raw wood. If you are using an wooden palette, make sure you clean it each time you paint. If you leave wet paint on a palette could cause it to warp or crack it over time.

pallet buying​  are still a favorite with artists. They were the first mixing surfaces to be used for oil paints. They're light and sturdy and can hold large quantities of paint without breaking. They are great to mix thick paints, such as acrylics, alkyds and other thick-bodied ones.

Vermeer's palettes had replaced the rectangular ones that were previously used with handles. The thumb was used to support the palette, which allowed the artist to use the rest of his fingers to use brushes and the mahlstick.

Woods treated with heat, such as spruce and other hardwoods are used to create a high-quality palette. This is a way to eliminate any fungi or bugs. Heat treatment of wood makes it more difficult to scratch or scratch its surface. A well-used, maintained wooden palette will get an even, glass-like appearance after years of use. This is due to a buildup of thin layers of dried oils that aid the surface maintain its shape.

Easy to clean

If you want a smooth, easy to clean palette that will last for a long time, then a wooden palette is the way to go. This type of palette is a favorite among oil artists because it doesn't chip or shatter like a glass palette. You can purchase a wood palette pre-oiled or seal it yourself. You'll require boiled Linseed Oil, which you can purchase from the hardware store. Nitrile gloves, as well as high-quality paper towels or rags. Sealing a palette using drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and smooth the surface. This will get better with each painting.

Once you have your palette cleaned, you'll have to clean it after each painting session. This is important because it will keep your paints in a smooth and even mix on the palette and shield your hands from solvents. Begin by lightly sanding your palette with 180-grit paper. This will open up the wood grain, allowing it to absorb oil more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil onto your palette and then use a rag apply it evenly to the entire surface. Then, let the oil dry for a day or two.

After your palette has dried you can use a paper towel to wipe it clean and if you have any leftover paint a little OMS on the rag will get rid of it. You should not use anything sharp to scrape away the dried paint. This can scratch and damage your pallet.

If you are required 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 sturdy mixing surface. It makes you feel like a true 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. Palettes made of wood are available in a variety of sizes and are lightweight. They come in different styles and finishes.

The wooden palettes have been used as long as art itself and are one of the oldest mixing surfaces. The wood has a warm brown color which doesn't affect the hues of the paints. This is crucial because the predominant tone affects the perception of color. A wooden palette may help you see the colors of your paints because it has a mid value which shows the hues.

The earliest palettes were made of paper or tin foil However, the ones Vermeer used were probably made of wood. A 1676 probate inventory recorded two "twee schilders eesels" and three paletten" (two painters easels and a dry palette). Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris is depicted using the same type of palette in an allegorical painting of Pictura. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is shaped with a thumb hole that is used to support it while the other fingers are used to hold brushes as well as maulsticks for stabilizing the hand when painting.

After cleaning the surface, clean it with a drying oil, linseed, or another -- to keep the palette clean until the next time you require it. This will fill the tiny pores in the grain of the wood and create an even surface that is easier for your brushes to work on. With time, a well oiled palette will develop an attractive patina which adds to its appearance.