Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
For oil painting wooden palettes are utilized. They are lightweight, sturdy and easy to clean. They also look beautiful.
Many paintings of painters in action are still around. Some of them show an unfinished wooden palette similar to those Vermeer employed.
To prepare a wooden palette, wipe the surface clean with a drying oil like linseed. This is essential because a thin layer oil helps to keep the palette clean.
Lightweight
Contrary to glass or tear-off palettes, a wooden palette is lighter and can be carried easily at ease. Its thickness also makes it strong and stable, preventing it from breaking under pressure. Additionally, it can be stained and sanded to add the color. A wood palette is more durable and resistant to fungi and insects than other materials. The wooden palettes are great for mixing acrylics with alkyds.
The most popular kind of wooden palette is made from maple or pine, both of which can resist warping and cracking. It is essential to select the wood that has been treated with heat to keep insects or fungi. This process is essential to the long-term durability and quality of a pallet made from wood. In used pallets for sale of a quality wooden palette should be smooth and evenly sanded. It should also have a low moisture content, which will reduce the risk of wrinkling or damage to paints.
A wooden palette also has a wonderful benefit: it's simple to clean. At the end of each painting session, artist can wipe the palette with drying oil to condition it for next time. Linseed oil makes a great choice due to its low cost, readily-available and quick-drying.
The natural brown tone of a palette made of wood is ideal for mixing colors since it is not too dissimilar to the dominant color of the canvas. This can help to prevent the perception of the colors as being darker or lighter than they actually are. Vermeer used a typical wooden palette and in a 1676 probate inventory, there's mention of "twee schilders eesels, drye paletten" (two painters easels and three wooden palettes). Frans van Mieris depicted a painted version of a palette modeled after Vermeer in his allegorical representation in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones from light to dark on a wood palette.
Sturdy
Palettes made of wood have been used by artists for centuries because they're durable and sturdy. They're light compared to tear-off or glass palettes, and they're more sturdy than paper ones. This makes them more comfortable to hold and use when painting. These palettes are great for mixing oil paints and alkyds. It is crucial to choose an untreated wooden palette of top quality that has been treated. This process kills bugs and fungi that can cause damage to the palette.
A top-quality wooden palette is smooth and well-made that allows your brushes to glide easily across it. It should be finished with an oil that is drying to protect the wood from water and solvent damage, and to help it keep its shape. You can purchase ready-to-use palettes that have been finished or pre-finished. You can also create your own using raw wood. If you choose to use a wooden palette, be sure to wash it every time you paint. Paint that is wet on a wooden palette could cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces that were used for oil paints, and they're still a favorite option for many artists. They are lightweight and sturdy and can hold large amounts of paint without breaking. They are also ideal to mix alkyds, acrylics and other thick-bodied paints.
In the days of Vermeer, a common palette with a hole to accommodate the thumb was replaced by the older rectangular kind with an handle. The thumb was used to support the palette, which allowed the painter to use his remaining fingers to use brushes and the mahlstick.
A good quality palette is made of wood like spruce or other which has been treated to kill any fungi or insects. A treatment that heats wood also makes it harder to scratch or scratch the surface of the palette. A well-used, conditioned wooden palette will get a smooth, glass-like surface after many years of use. This is due to the buildup of 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 lasts for many years. This kind of palette is popular with oil painters and will not break or shatter as a glass one. You can purchase a wooden pallet that has been sealed, or do it yourself. To do this, you'll require boiled 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 with drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and smooth the surface. This will improve with each painting.
After you have lubricated your palette, you will need to recondition the surface after each painting session. This is essential because it will keep your paints in a smooth and even mix on the palette and shield your hands from solvents. To make your palette more reconditioned, begin by lightly sanding the surface with 180-grit sandpaper. This will help to open the wood grain, allowing it to absorb oil more easily. Pour a pool linseed on the palette, and use a rag or cloth to clean the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a couple of days.
If any paint remains on your palette, a small amount of OMS sprayed onto a rag will eliminate it. You should not use anything sharp to scrape away the dried paint. This will scratch and damage your palette.
If you have to scrape dried paint off your palette, it is best to employ the soft brush instead of a knife. If you scrape it too vigorously, you could break the wood and ruin the palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is an elegant and sturdy mixing surface. It makes you feel like a true artist. It can be used to mix oil paints, as well as acrylics and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides effortlessly across the brush when you mix and pick up paint. Wooden palettes are also light and come in a variety of sizes to fit your hands. They are available in various finishes and styles to suit your preferences.
Wooden palettes have been around since the beginning of art and are one of the oldest mixing surfaces. They have natural warm brown tones that doesn't alter the color of the paints it houses. This is crucial because the predominant tone influences the perception of color. A wooden palette may aid in identifying the hues of your paints as it has a mid value that shows the hues.
The palettes of Vermeer are likely to be made from wood. The first palettes could be made of paper or tin, however they are most likely made of wood. A 1676 probate inventory listed two "twee schilders eesels" and three paletten" (two painters easels and a dry palette). In an allegorical picture of Pictura Vermeer's time, his peers Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer utilized the same type of palette. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is made with a thumb hole which is used to support it, while the remaining fingers are used to hold brushes as well as maulsticks for stabilizing the hand while painting.
After a clean-up, wipe the wood's surface palette with dry oils - linseed or other -to ensure it is conditioned for the next time you will use it. This will fill the pores in the wood grain, creating an even surface for your brushes. Over the years, a well-oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina that adds to its appeal.