Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
For oil painting, wooden palettes are used. They are light and easy to clean. They are also beautiful.
Many paintings of artists at work are still around. Some of these show a wooden palette similar to those Vermeer employed.
To prepare a wood palette, wipe it with drying oils like safflower or linseed. It is important to keep the palette in good shape by applying an oily layer.
Lightweight
Unlike glass palettes or tear-off palettes wooden palette is lightweight and can be carried easily on the easel. The thickness of the wood makes it strong and stable. This keeps it from breaking under pressure. It can also be sanded or stained to add colour. A wood palette is more durable and resistant to insects and fungi than other materials. Palettes made of wood are ideal for mixing acrylics and alkyds.
The most common type of wooden palette is made from maple or pine, both of which can resist warping and cracking. However, it is essential to look for a wood that has been treated to prevent fungi and insects. This process is essential to the durability and quality of a wooden pallet. Additionally the surface of a high-quality wooden palette should be smooth and evenly sanded. It should also have a low concentration of moisture, which will decrease the risk of paints getting damaged or wrinkled.
Another great feature of a wooden palette is that it's easy to keep clean. The painter can wipe down the palette after each painting session using an oil that is drying to make it more sanitary. Linseed oil is a good choice due to its low cost and readily available, as well as quick drying.
The natural brown tone of a palette made of wood is perfect for mixing colors as it isn't too different to the dominant color of the canvas. This helps to avoid the perception of the colors as being darker or lighter than they actually are. Vermeer employed a standard wooden palette and in a 1676 probate inventory there is mention of "twee schilders drye paletten" (two easels for painters and three wooden palettes). Frans van Mieris painted the painted version of a Vermeer-styled palette in his allegorical figure in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones ranging from light to dark on a wood palette.
Sturdy
Palettes made of wood have been used by artists for centuries since they're durable and sturdy. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets as well as more sturdy than paper palettes. This makes them easier to handle and use while painting. They also make an excellent choice for mixing oil paints as well as alkyds. It is essential to choose a wooden palette of high quality that has been heat treated. This eliminates fungi and pests that can damage the palette.
A high-quality wooden palette is well-made and smooth which makes it easy for your brushes to glide across. It must be finished with drying oil that shields the wood from water and solvent damage and helps it keep its shape. You can buy pre-finished palettes that are ready to use or you can make your own from raw wood. If you're using a wooden palette, make sure to clean it after every painting session. Leaving wet paint on a palette can crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes remain popular with artists. They were the first mixing surfaces that could be used for oil paints. They are lightweight, sturdy and can hold a lot of paint without breaking. They are great to mix thick paints, such as alkyds, acrylics, and other thick-bodied ones.
Vermeer's palettes had replaced the older rectangular ones with handles. The painter supported the palette using his thumb inside the hole, allowing him to free his other fingers to hold brushes as well as the mahlstick.
Woods treated with heat, such as spruce and other hardwoods are used in the creation of an excellent palette. This is a way to eliminate any fungi or bugs. The heat treatment of wood makes it more difficult to scratch or sand its surface. After years of use, a well-used and conditioned wooden pallet will have a smooth, glass-like surface. This is due a buildup thin layers of drying oil that helps the surface to keep its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette gives you a smooth, easy-to-clean palette that will last for years. This type of pallet is popular among oil painters because it doesn't break or shatter like a glass palette. You can purchase a wood palette pre-oiled or seal it yourself. You'll require boiled Linseed Oil from the hardware store. Nitrile gloves, as well as 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 improves with each painting you make.
After you have coated your palette with oil, you will need to recondition the surface after every painting session. This is essential because it keeps your paints mixed smoothly on the palette and shield your hands from solvents. To recondition your palette start by lightly sanding it using 180-grit sandpaper. This will open up the wood grain and help it to absorb oils more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil onto the palette and then use a rag apply it evenly to the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a couple of days.
If any paint remains on your palette, a little OMS sprayed onto a rag will remove it. Do not use this article to scrape off the dried paint. This can cause damage and scratching to your palette.
If you have to scrape dried paint off your palette, it's recommended to use a soft brush rather than cutting. If you scrape it too vigorously, you will splinter the wood and ruin the palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a beautiful and durable mixing surface. It makes you feel like an artist. It can be used for oil paints, as well as acrylics and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy-to-clean and glides smoothly over the brush as you mix and pick up paint. Wooden palettes are also light and come in many sizes to accommodate your hands. They are available in different styles and finishes to match your preferences.
The wooden palette is among the oldest mixing surfaces. It has been around since the time of art. They have a natural warm brown tone that doesn't alter the color of the paints it houses. This is important since the predominant tone influences the perception of color. A wooden palette can also help you to see the color values of your paints because it has a mid-value that will show the hues against.
Vermeer's palettes could be made of wood. The first palettes could be made from paper or tin, however they are most likely made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventory two easels for painters were listed along with three palettes. Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris is seen using the same kind of palette in an allegorical painting of Pictura. A traditional wooden palette for oil painting is usually designed to hold the thumb hole that is used to support the palette while the other fingers hold the brushes and the maulstick for securing the hand against the canvas while 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 help to fill in the pores in the wood grain and provide an easier surface for your brushes. Over time, a well oiled palette will develop an attractive patina that adds to its appeal.