Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes were used for oil painting. They are lightweight and easy to clean. They are also beautiful.
Many paintings of painters in action are still around. Some of these show the same wooden palette as those Vermeer employed.
To prepare a wooden palette clean it with drying oils like linseed or safflower. It is essential to keep the palette in good shape by applying an oily layer.
Lightweight
A wooden palette is lighter than glass or tear-off pallets, and can be easily held at the easel. Its thickness makes it rigid and solid. This stops it from bending under pressure. It can also be sanded or stained to give it color. A wood palette is also more durable than other kinds of materials and doesn't become damaged by fungi or insects. The wooden palettes are great for mixing acrylics with alkyds.
The most common kind of wooden palette is constructed of pine or maple 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. pallets near me is crucial to the durability and quality of a pallet made from wood. A good wood palette's surface must be smooth and well-finished. It should have a low amount of moisture, which can reduce the chance of paints being damaged or wrinkling.
Another benefit of a wooden palette is that it's easy to keep clean. After each painting session, painter can wipe the palette with a drying oil to prepare it for the next time. Linseed oil is an excellent option because it is cheap, readily available and fast drying.
The natural brown of wooden palettes is ideal to mix colors since it is similar 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 utilized the traditional wooden palette. In his inventory of 1676 the inventory mentions that "tweeschilders eesels" (two easels for painters) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were included. Frans van Mieris illustrated the painted version of a Vermeer-style palette in his allegorical representation in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones from light to dark on a wooden palette.
Sturdy
Palettes made of wood have been used by artists for centuries because they are sturdy and durable. They're lightweight compared to 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 ideal for mixing oil paints and alkyds. It is crucial to choose an alkyd palette made of wood of good quality that has been heat treated. This process kills fungi and pests that can harm the palette.
A top-quality wooden palette is smooth and well-made, allowing your brushes to glide easily across it. It should be sprayed with an oil that is drying to protect the wood from solvent and water damage and help it maintain its shape. You can purchase pre-finished palettes that are ready for use or you can make your own using raw wood. If you use an wooden palette, make sure to wash it every time you paint. Paint that is wet on a wooden palette could cause it to warp or crack over time.
Wooden Palettes are still a favorite with artists. They were the first mixing surfaces that could be used for oil paints. They are lightweight and sturdy, and they can hold large quantities of paint without breaking. They are ideal 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 painter to use the rest of his fingers for brushes and the mahlstick.
A good quality palette is made from spruce or other hardwood that has been treated with heat to get rid of any fungi or insects. A treatment that heats wood also makes it harder to scratch or sand the surface of the palette. After years of use, a well-used, conditioned wooden pallet will have a smooth, glass-like surface. This is due to the accumulation of thin layers of dry oils that allow the surface to retain its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette will give you a smooth, easy-to-clean palette that lasts for many years. This kind of palette is popular among oil painters because it doesn't chip or shatter like a glass palette. You can buy an unfinished wooden pallet that has been sealed or you can make it yourself. To do this you'll need boiled linseed oil from the hardware store, nitrile gloves and high quality paper towels or rags (if it leaves bits don't use it). Sealing a palette using drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and create a smooth surface. This will improve with every painting.
Once you have your palette oily, you'll need to recondition it after each painting session. This is important as it will keep paints mixing smoothly on the pallet and also protect your hands from solvents. To restore your palette, start by lightly sanding the surface with 180-grit sandpaper. This will help open the grain of the wood, allowing it to absorb oil more easily. Pour a pool linseed on the palette, and then employ a rag or cloth to wipe it over the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a few days.
Once your palette is dry, you can use a paper towel to clean it off, and if there is any remaining paint just a tiny OMS on the rag will get rid of it. You should not use anything sharp to scrape away the dried paint. This will scratch and damage your pallet.
If you have to scrape dried paint off your palette, it is recommended to employ a soft brush instead of using a knife. If you scrape too hard, you can damage your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is an elegant and durable mixing surface. It makes you feel like an artist. It is suitable for oil paints, as well as alkyds and acrylics. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides effortlessly across the brush when you pick up and mix paint. Palettes made of wood are also light and come in various sizes to fit your hands. They are available in a variety of styles and finishes to match your preferences.
Wooden palettes have been around since the beginning of art and are one of the oldest mixing surfaces. The wood has a warm brown hue which doesn't affect the colors of the paints. This is beneficial since the perception of colors is affected by the dominant tone on which they are mixed. A wooden palette also helps you to see the colors of your paints as it has a mid-value which will show the hues against.
Vermeer's palettes could be made of wood. The earliest palettes may be made from tin or paper, but they were probably made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventory, two painters easels were included along with three palettes. In an allegorical painting of Pictura Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer employed the same kind of palette. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is designed with a thumb hole that is used to support it, while the remaining fingers are used to hold brushes and a maulstick for steadying the hand while painting.
After cleaning the surface, wipe it clean 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 pores in the wood grain, creating an even surface for your brushes. With time, a well oiled palette will develop an attractive patina, which will add to its appearance.