Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
For oil painting wooden palettes are utilized. They are light and easy to clean. They also look beautiful.
Many images of artists working have survived. Some depict an unfinished wooden pallet, similar to the one Vermeer used.
To prepare a wooden palette clean it with drying oils like linseed or safflower. This is important because a thin coating of oil helps keep the palette in good condition.
Lightweight
A wooden palette is lighter than glass or tear-off pallets and can be easily held at the easel. Its thickness also makes it rigid and stable, which prevents it from breaking under pressure. It can also be stained and sanded to add the color. A wood palette is also more durable than other types of materials, and it doesn't be damaged by fungi or insects. Palettes made of wood are also great for mixing alkyds and acrylics.
The most commonly used type of wooden palette is made from pine or maple both of which can resist cracking and warping. It is crucial to select a wood that's been heat-treated in order to prevent insects or fungi. This is crucial to the durability and quality of a wooden pallet. A high-quality wood palette's surface must be smooth and well-finished. It should have a low concentration of moisture, which will decrease the risk of paints getting damaged or wrinkling.
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 prepare it for 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 since it is not too dissimilar to the dominant color on the canvas. This helps avoid the perception of the colors as being darker or lighter than they actually are. Vermeer employed the standard wooden palette. In a 1676 inventory it is noted that "tweeschilders eesels" (two easels for painters) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were included. Frans van Mieris painted an image of a palette modeled after Vermeer in his allegorical figure in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to lay out the flesh tones ranging from light to dark on a wooden palette.
Sturdy
Palettes made of wood have been used by artists for centuries due to the fact that they're durable and sturdy. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets, and more rigid than paper palettes. This makes them more comfortable to hold and use when painting. These palettes are great for mixing alkyds and oil paints. It is crucial to choose a wooden palette of high quality that has been heat treated. This process eliminates the fungi and insects that can damage the wooden palette.
A top-quality wooden palette will be smooth and well-made that allows your brushes to glide effortlessly across it. It should be finished with an oil for drying that protects the wood from water and solvent damage, and helps it maintain its shape. You can purchase pre-finished palettes that are ready to use or you can make your own using raw wood. If you are using an wooden palette, make sure to clean it every time you paint. If you leave wet paint on a palette could cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces for oil paints. They're still a favorite choice for a lot of artists. They're lightweight and durable and can hold large amounts of paint without breaking. They are great to mix thick paints, such as alkyds, acrylics and thick-bodied ones.
Vermeer's palettes had replaced the older rectangular ones with handles. The thumb was used to support the palette which allowed the artist to use the rest of his fingers for brushes and the mahlstick.
A good quality palette is made from wood like spruce or other that has been heat-treated to eliminate any insects or fungi. A treatment that heats wood makes it more difficult to scratch or sand the surface of the palette. A well-used, maintained wooden palette will develop an even, glass-like appearance after years of use. 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 an easy-to-clean, smooth palette that lasts for many years. This type of palette is popular among oil artists and won't chip or splinter like glass ones. You can purchase a wood palette pre-oiled, or seal it yourself. To do this you'll need 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). Sealing a palette using drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and create a smooth surface. This will improve with every painting.
After you have lubricated your palette and sprayed it with oil, you'll need to refresh the surface after each painting session. This is important because it will keep your paints in a smooth and even mix on the palette and protect your hands from solvents. To restore your palette, start by lightly sanding it with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open the wood grain and help it absorb oils more easily. Place click this of linseed on the palette, and then employ a rag or cloth to clean 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 any paint remains some OMS on the rag will get rid of it. You should not use anything sharp to scrape off the dried paint. This could cause damage and scratching to your palette.
If you are required to scrape dried paint from your palette, it's recommended to use a soft brush instead of a knife. If you scrape it too vigorously, you can break the wood and ruin the palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a classy and sturdy mixing surface that makes you feel like an artist. It can be used with oil paints, acrylics and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides effortlessly over the brush as you mix and apply paint. Wooden palettes are also lightweight and come in many sizes to accommodate 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 among the oldest mixing surfaces. They have natural warm brown tones that doesn't change the colors of the paints it houses. This is important since the perception of colors is affected by the dominant tone which they are mixed. A wooden palette can help you see the colors of your paints because it has a mid value that shows the hues.
The earliest palettes were constructed of paper or tin foil however the ones Vermeer used were likely made of wood. A probate inventory from 1676 recorded two "twee schilders eesels, three paletten" (two easels for painters and a dry palette). In an allegorical painting of Pictura Vermeer's peers Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer used the same type of palette. A traditional wooden palette used for oil painting is usually designed to hold the thumb hole, which is used to support the palette. the remaining fingers hold the brushes and the maulstick to steady the hand over the canvas while painting.
After a clean-up, wipe the wood's surface palette with drying oils such as linseed or anotherto keep it in good condition for the next time you will use it. This will help to fill in the pores in the wood grain, creating a smoother surface for your brushes. As time passes, an oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina that adds to its appeal.