The Ugly Truth About Wooden Palette

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 stunning.

Many paintings of painters in action are still around. Some of them show a wooden palette similar to the ones Vermeer used.

To prepare a wooden palette, wipe the surface with dry oil, such as linseed. It is essential to keep the palette in good working order 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 also makes it sturdy and stable, which prevents it from breaking under pressure. Additionally, it can be stained and sanded to give it color. A wood palette is more sturdy and resistant to fungi and insects than other materials. Wooden palettes are also ideal for mixing alkyds and acrylics.

The most common type of wooden palette is constructed from maple or pine, both of which are able to resist cracking and warping. It is, however, essential to choose a wood that has been treated to prevent fungi and insects. This is crucial to the durability and quality of a wooden pallet. A high-quality wood palette's surface must be smooth and evenly finished. It should also have low moisture content, which reduces the chance of wrinkling or damage to paints.

Another great feature of a wooden palette is that it's easy to keep clean. The painter can wipe down the palette after each painting session with a drying lubricant to make it more sanitary. Linseed oil is an excellent option because it is cheap, readily available and quick-drying.

The natural brown color of the wooden palette is ideal for mixing colors because it is a similar color to the dominant color of the canvas. This helps avoid the perception of the colors as being darker or lighter than they actually are. Vermeer employed a standard wooden palette and in a 1676 probate inventory there is mention of "twee schilders eesels, drye paletten" (two easels for painters and three wooden palettes). Frans van Mieris painted the 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 wooden palette.

Sturdy

Artists have used wooden palettes for ages because they're strong and durable.  wooden palette​  are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets as well as more durable than paper palettes. This makes them easier to hold and use while painting. They are ideal for mixing oil paints and alkyds. It is essential to choose a wooden palette of high quality that has been heat treated. This process eliminates the insects and fungi that could cause damage to the palette.

A good quality wooden palette is made well and smooth, making it easy for brushes to glide across. It should be finished with an oil for drying that protects the wood from solvent and water damage, and helps keep its shape. There are pre-finished palettes that are ready to use, or you can build your own out of raw wood. If you choose to use a wooden palette, be sure to clean it every time you paint. Paint that's wet on a wood palette can cause it to warp or crack over time.

Wooden Palettes were among the first mixing surfaces that were used for oil paints, and they're still a popular choice for many artists. They are lightweight and sturdy, and they can hold large amounts of paint without breaking. They are ideal to mix thick paints, such as alkyds, acrylics and heavier-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 his remaining fingers to paint with brushes and also the mahlstick.

Heat-treated hardwoods such as spruce and other hardwoods are used in the creation of a high-quality palette. This is a way to eliminate any bugs or fungi. The heat treatment of wood makes it more difficult to scratch or sand its surface. A well-used and maintained wooden palette will get an even, glass-like appearance after many years of use. This is due to a buildup of thin layers of dried oil that help the surface to keep its shape.

Easy to clean

A wood palette will give you an easy-to-clean, smooth palette that will last many years. This type of pallet is popular among oil painters because it will not chip or shatter like glass palettes. You can buy a wooden pallet that has been sealed, or do it yourself. To do  pallet for sale​ 'll need boiled 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 drying oil will fill in the small gaps and create a smooth surface. This will improve with every painting.

After you have oiled your palette, you will need to clean the surface after each painting session. This is essential since it will keep paints flowing smoothly on the pallet and protect your hands from solvents. Start by lightly sanding the palette with 180-grit papers. This will help to open the grain of the wood which allows it to absorb oil more easily. Pour a pool linseed on the palette, and employ a rag or cloth to wipe it over the entire surface. Let the oil dry for a few days.

If there is any remaining paint on your palette, a small amount of OMS applied to a rag should remove it. You should not use any sharp object to scrape off the dried paint. This will scratch and damage your palette.

If you do need to scrape some dried paint off your palette, it's best to rub it with an easy brush instead of using knives. If you scrape too hard, you could cause damage to your palette.

Aesthetically pleasing

A wooden palette is an elegant and durable mixing surface. It 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 smoothly across the brush as you mix and take in paint. Wooden palettes are also lightweight and come in a variety of sizes to accommodate your hands. They are available in a variety of styles and finishes to match your preferences.

The wooden palette is one of the oldest mixing surfaces. It has been used since the beginning of art. They have a natural warm brown tone that doesn't change the colors of the paints on it. This is crucial because the predominant tone affects the perception of color. A wooden palette can also help you see the hues of your paints as it has a mid-value that shows the hues.

Vermeer's palettes are likely to be made of wood. The first palettes could be made from paper or tin, however they 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). In an allegorical painting of Pictura, Vermeer's peers Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer employed the same kind of palette. A traditional wooden palette for oil painting is typically shaped to hold the thumb hole, which is used to support the palette. the other fingers hold brushes and the maulstick to hold the hand over the canvas while painting.

After cleaning, wipe the surface with a drying oil, linseed, or another -- to keep the palette clean until the next time you need it. This will fill in the pores in the wood grain, creating an easier surface for your brushes. Over the years a well-oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina, which adds to its character.