Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
For oil painting wooden palettes are employed. They are lightweight, sturdy and easy to clean. They also look gorgeous.
Many depictions of artists at work have survived. Some of them show an unfinished wooden palette similar to those Vermeer used.
To make a wooden palette clean the surface with a drying oil like linseed. This is crucial because a thin layer oil helps keep the palette in good condition.
Lightweight
Contrary to glass or tear-off palettes, a wooden palette is lightweight and can be easily held at the easel. Its thickness makes it rigid and solid. This keeps it from bending when under pressure. Additionally, it can be stained and sanded to give it color. A wood palette is also more durable than other types of materials, and it doesn't become damaged by fungi or insects. next page are perfect for mixing acrylics with alkyds.
The most commonly used type of wooden palette is constructed from maple or pine, both of which are able to resist warping and cracking. However, it is important to choose the kind of wood that has been treated with heat to prevent fungi and insects. This is vital to the durability of a wooden palette. A quality wooden 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 has another wonderful benefit: it's simple to clean. At the end of each painting session, the painter can wipe the palette with drying oil to prepare it for the next time. 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 perfect for mixing colors as it is not too dissimilar to the dominant color of the canvas. This helps to avoid the perception of the colors as being lighter or darker than they actually are. Vermeer employed a standard wooden palette. In a 1676 probate inventory, there is mention of "twee schilders drye paletten" (two easels for painting and three wooden palettes). In Pictura, Frans van Meieris painted a Vermeer style palette and Roger de Piles suggested that the painters lay out flesh tones on a wooden palette ranging from light to dark.
Sturdy
Artists have used wooden palettes for centuries because they're strong and durable. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets as well as more rigid than paper palettes. This makes them easier to handle and use when painting. They are also ideal for mixing oil paints as well as alkyds. It is important to choose a good wooden palette that has been heat-treated. This process removes fungi and pests which can cause damage to the wooden palette.
A good wooden palette will be well-made and smooth, allowing your brushes to glide effortlessly across it. It should be finished with an oil for drying that protects the wood from solvent and water damage and helps it keep its shape. You can buy pre-finished palettes that are ready for use, or you can build your own using raw wood. If you choose to use a wooden palette, be sure to wash it every time you paint. Wet paint left on a palette made of wood can cause it to warp or crack over time.
Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces for oil paints, and they're still a popular choice for a lot of artists. They are lightweight, sturdy and can hold a large amount of paint without breaking. They are ideal for mixing thick paints such as alkyds, acrylics and heavy-bodied ones.
Vermeer's palettes replaced the older rectangular ones with handles. The thumb was used to support the palette which allowed the painter to use his remaining fingers to paint with brushes and also the mahlstick.
Woods treated with heat, such as spruce and other hardwoods are used in the creation of a high-quality palette. This is a way to eliminate any bugs or fungi. The treatment of wood with heat makes it more difficult to scratch or sand the surface of the palette. After years of use, a well-used and maintained wooden pallet will have a smooth, almost glass-like finish. This is due to a buildup of thin layers of dry oils that aid the surface to retain its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette gives you a smooth, easy-to-clean palette that will last many years. This kind of palette is popular with oil painters because it will not break or shatter like a glass palette. You can buy wooden pallets that have been sealed or do it yourself. To do this, you'll require boiling linseed oil purchased from the hardware store, nitrile gloves, and high-quality paper towels or rags (if it leaves bits, don't use it). The process of sealing a palette with a drying oil fills the tiny gaps in the wood and creates a smooth surface that improves with each painting you do.
After you have oiled your palette and sprayed it with oil, you'll need to refresh the surface after each painting session. This is crucial as it will keep paints flowing smoothly on the palette and shield your hand from solvents. To make your palette more reconditioned, begin by lightly sanding the surface with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open up the wood grain and help it to absorb oils more easily. Pour a pool linseed on the palette, and use a rag or cloth to clean the entire surface. Allow the oil to dry for a few days.
After your palette has dried you can use a paper towel to clean it off, and if you have any leftover paint some OMS on the rag will get rid of it. You should not use any sharp object to scrape off the dried paint. This will cause damage and scratching to your pallet.
If you have to scrape dried paint from your palette, it's best to use a soft brush instead of a knife. If you scrape it too vigorously, you can break the wood and ruin your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is an elegant and durable mixing surface. It makes you feel like a true artist. It can be used to mix 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 pick up paint. Palettes made of wood are available in various sizes and are light. They come in different designs and finishes.
The wooden palette is one of the oldest mixing surfaces. It's been in use since the beginning of art. The wood has a warm brown color that doesn't alter the hues of the paints. This is important because the dominant tone is what affects the perception of the color. A wooden palette may help you see the hues of your paints as it has a mid-value that displays the hues.
Vermeer's palettes are likely to be made from wood. The first palettes could be made of tin or paper, but they were most likely wooden. In a 1676 probate inventories two easels for painters were included along with three palettes. In an allegorical image of Pictura Vermeer's time, his peers Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer utilized the same type of palette. A traditional wooden palette for oil painting is generally designed to hold the thumb hole that serves to support the palette while the other fingers hold brushes and the maulstick for securing the hand over the canvas while painting.
After cleaning the surface, wipe it clean with a drying oil -- Linseed, or another to keep the palette conditioned until the next time you require it. This will fill the pores in the wood grain, creating an easier surface for your brushes. Over time a well-oiled palette will develop a gorgeous patina, which adds to its appearance.