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Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes were used to paint oil. They are light and easy to clean. They also look beautiful.
Many images of artists at work are still around. Some of them show an unfinished wooden palette similar to the ones Vermeer employed.
To prepare a wooden palette, wipe it with drying oils like safflower or linseed. This is essential because a thin coating of oil helps to keep the palette clean.
Lightweight
A wooden pallet is lighter than glass or tear-off pallets, and can be easily positioned on the easel. Its thickness makes it rigid and sturdy. This stops it from bending under pressure. It can also be sanded or stained to give it the color. A wood palette is more durable than other kinds of materials and does not become damaged by fungi or insects. Wooden palettes are also ideal for mixing acrylics and alkyds.
The most popular kind of wooden palette is constructed from maple or pine both of which are able to resist cracking and warping. It is important to choose one that has been treated to stop the growth of fungi or insects. This is essential to the longevity of a wooden palette. A quality wood palette's surface must be smooth and evenly finished. It should also have a low moisture content, which will reduce the risk of damage or wrinkling to paints.
A wooden palette also has a great feature: it's easy to clean. After each painting session, artist can wipe the palette with drying oil to condition it for the next time. Linseed oil is a great choice because it's inexpensive and readily available, as well as quick drying.
The natural brown tone of a wood palette is perfect for mixing colors as it is not that different to the dominant color of the canvas. This helps avoid the impression that the colors appear as being lighter or darker than they actually are. Vermeer employed the standard wooden palette. In his inventory of 1676 the inventory mentions that "tweeschilders eesels" (two easels for painting) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were present. Frans van Mieris illustrated a painted version of a Vermeer-style palette in his allegorical figure in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones from light to dark on a wood palette.
Sturdy
Artists have been using wooden palettes for centuries because they're durable and sturdy. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets and more sturdy than paper palettes. This makes them much easier to carry and use while painting. They are also a great option for mixing oil paints and alkyds. However, it's important to choose a quality wooden palette that has been heat-treated. This process eliminates the insects and fungi that could harm the palette.
A top-quality wooden palette will be well-made and smooth that allows your brushes to glide effortlessly across it. It should be finished with a drying oil to protect the wood from water and solvent damage, and keep its shape. You can find 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, make sure to clean it every time you paint. Leaving wet paint on a palette may cause it to warp or crack it over time.
Wooden Palettes remain popular with artists. They were the first mixing surfaces to be used for oil paints. They're light and sturdy and can hold large amounts of paint without breaking. They are also ideal for mixing alkyds, acrylics, and any other thick-bodied paints.
In the time of Vermeer, the familiar palette with a hole to accommodate the thumb was replaced by the rectangular type that had handles. The thumb was used to support the palette which allowed the artist to use his remaining fingers to use brushes and the mahlstick.
New Wood Pallet For Sale -quality palette is made of wood like spruce or other that has been treated with heat to get rid of any fungi or insects. The heat treatment of wood makes it harder to scratch or sand its surface. A well-used and maintained wooden palette will acquire an even, glass-like appearance after years of use. This is due to the build-up of thin layers of dried oils that allow the surface retain its shape.
Easy to clean
If you want a smooth, easy to clean palette that lasts for a long time, then a wooden palette is the best way to go. This type of palette is a favorite among oil artists and won't scratch or break like a glass one. You can purchase a wooden pallet that has been sealed or do it yourself. To seal it, you'll need boiling linseed oil from the hardware store, nitrile gloves and high quality paper towels or rags (if it has 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 make.
Once your palette is cleaned, you'll need to recondition it after every painting session. This is crucial as it will keep paints flowing smoothly on the pallet and also protect your hands from solvents. To make your palette more reconditioned, begin by lightly sanding it with 180-grit sandpaper. This will help open the wood grain which allows it to absorb oil more easily. Next pour a pool of linseed oil onto the palette and then use a rag to apply it evenly to the entire surface. Allow the oil to dry for one or two days.
Once your palette is dry, you can use a paper towel to clean it off, and if there is any remaining paint a little OMS on the rag will get rid of it. Do not use anything sharp to scrape off the dried paint. This will scratch and damage your palette.
If you are required to scrape dried paint from your palette, it's best to use the soft brush instead of cutting. If you scrape it too hard you could 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 with acrylics, oil paints and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy-to-clean and glides smoothly over the brush when you mix and apply paint. Palettes made of wood are also light and come in many sizes to accommodate your hands. They are available in a variety of finishes and styles.
The wooden palette is among the oldest mixing surfaces. It has been around since art was created. The wood has a warm brown hue that doesn't alter the hues of the paints. This is important because the predominant tone influences the perception of color. A wooden palette can also help you to determine the hues of your paints since it has a mid-value which shows the hues against.
The earliest palettes were constructed of tin foil or paper However, the ones Vermeer used were probably made of wood. The probate inventory of 1676 included two "twee schilders eesels, three paletten" (two easels for painters and a dry palette). 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 typically shaped to hold the thumb hole that serves to support the palette. the remaining fingers hold brushes and the maulstick for securing the hand on the canvas while painting.
After a cleansing session Clean the surface of your wooden palette with drying oils - linseed or other -to keep it in good condition for the next time you use it. This will fill the tiny pores in the the wood and create an even surface that is easier for your brushes to work on. Over time a well-oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina that will add to its character.