Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes were used to paint oil. They are lightweight and easy to clean. They are also beautiful.
Many images of painters at work are still around. Some depict an unfinished wooden pallet, like the one that Vermeer used.
To prepare a wood palette clean it using drying oils like safflower or linseed. It is important to keep the palette in good working order by applying a thin layer of oil.
Lightweight
Unlike glass palettes or tear-off palettes wooden palette is lighter and can be easily held on the easel. The thickness of the wood makes it strong and solid. This stops it from breaking under pressure. It can also be sanded or stained to give it colour. A wooden palette is more durable and resistant to fungi and insects than other materials. The wooden palettes are ideal to mix alkyds and acrylics.
The most popular wooden palettes are made of either pine or maple. Both of these woods can resist cracking and warping. agronytrading is important to choose the wood that has been treated with heat to keep fungi or insects. This is vital to the longevity of the wooden palette. Furthermore the surface of a high-quality wooden palette must be smooth and evenly sanded. It should also have a low moisture content which will minimize the chance of wrinkling or damage to paints.
Another advantage of a wooden palette is that it is easy to keep clean. At the end of each painting session, artist can wipe the palette with drying oil to condition it for next time. Linseed oil is a great choice because it is inexpensive, readily available and quick-drying.
The natural brown tone of a palette made of wood is ideal for mixing colors as it isn't too different to the dominant color on the canvas. This helps to avoid the impression that the colors appear as being lighter or darker than they actually are. Vermeer utilized the traditional wooden palette. In a 1676 inventory the inventory mentions that "tweeschilders eesels" (two easels for painting) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were included. Frans van Mieris illustrated a painted version of a palette modeled after Vermeer in his allegorical figure in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones ranging from light to dark on a wooden palette.
Sturdy
Artists have been using wooden palettes for ages because they're strong and durable. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets and more durable than paper palettes. This makes them more comfortable to hold and use when painting. They are also a great option to mix oil paints and alkyds. It is important to choose a quality wooden palette that has been heated. This process kills bugs and fungi that can damage the palette.
A high-quality wooden palette is made well and smooth which makes it easy for brushes to glide across. It should be finished with a drying oil that protects the wood from water and solvent damage, and helps maintain its shape. You can buy pre-finished palettes that are ready for use, or you can create your own using raw wood. If you choose to use a wooden palette, be sure you clean it each time you paint. Leaving wet paint on a palette may cause it to cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes remain popular among artists. They were the first mixing surfaces to be used for oil paints. They are lightweight, sturdy and can hold a large amount of paint without breaking. They are also great for mixing alkyds, acrylics, and any other thick-bodied paints.
In Vermeer's time, the popular palette with a hole for the thumb had replaced the rectangular type that had an handle. The painter held the palette with his thumb in the hole, allowing him to free his remaining fingers for holding brushes and the mahlstick.
Woods treated with heat, such as spruce and other hardwoods are used to make an excellent palette. This is a way to eliminate any fungi or bugs. The treatment of wood with heat makes it more difficult to scratch or sand the surface of the palette. A well-used and maintained wooden palette will acquire an even, glass-like appearance after many years of use. This is due to the build-up of thin layers of dry oils that aid the surface to retain its shape.
Easy to clean
If you are looking for smooth, easy to clean palette that lasts for years then a wood palette is the best way to go. This type of palette is popular with oil painters because it won't break or crack like glass palettes. You can purchase a wood palette pre-oiled, or seal it yourself. You'll need boiled Linseed Oil, which you can purchase from the hardware store. Nitrile gloves, as well as high-quality paper towels or rags. The process of sealing a palette using drying oil fills in the tiny gaps in the wood and creates an even surface that gets better with each painting you do.
After you have lubricated your palette and sprayed it with oil, you'll need to recondition the surface after each painting session. This is essential since it will keep paints from mixing in a smooth manner on the pallet and protect your hand from solvents. Start by lightly sanding your palette using 180-grit paper. This will open up the grain of the wood, allowing it absorb oils more easily. Place a pool of linseed on the palette, then use a rag or cloth to wipe it over the entire surface. Then let the oil dry for a couple of days.
After your palette has dried you can use a paper towel to clean it off, and if you have any leftover paint some OMS on the rag will get rid of it. It is not recommended to scrape the dried paint off with anything sharp because this will scratch and damage your palette.
If you are required to scrape dried paint from your palette, it is recommended to employ a soft brush rather than using a knife. If you scrape it too hard you could break the wood and ruin your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a stylish and sturdy mixing surface. It makes you feel like an artist. It can be used with acrylics, oil paints, and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides easily across the brush as you mix and take in paint. Palettes made of wood are also light and come in various sizes to accommodate your hands. They come in various designs and finishes.
The wooden palette is among the oldest mixing surfaces. It has been used since the time of art. They have a natural warm brown tone that doesn't alter the color of the paints that are on it. This is crucial because the predominant tone affects the perception of the color. A wooden palette can also help you to see the color values of your paints because it has a mid-value which shows the hues against.
The palettes of Vermeer are likely to be made of wood. The earliest palettes may be made from paper or tin, but they were probably made of wood. In a 1676 probate inventories, two painters easels were listed, along with three palettes. In an allegorical picture of Pictura Vermeer's peers Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer used the same type of palette. A traditional wooden oil painting palette is shaped 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 cleaning session After a cleaning session, clean the wood's surface palette with dry oils - such as linseed or anotherto ensure it is conditioned for the next time you work with it. This will fill in the tiny pores of the the wood and create a smooth surface which is much easier for brushes to work on. Over time, a well oiled palette will develop an attractive patina which adds to its appeal.