Why Use a Wooden Palette For Oil Painting?
Traditionally, wooden palettes have been used to paint oil. They are lightweight, sturdy and easy to clean. They also look gorgeous.
Many depictions of artists working have survived. Some of them show an unfinished wooden palette similar to those Vermeer used.
To make a wooden palette wipe the surface with a drying oil like linseed. It is important to keep the palette in good shape by applying an oily layer.
Lightweight
Contrary to glass or tear-off palettes wooden palette is lightweight and can be easily held on the easel. Its thickness also makes it rigid and stable, which prevents it from bending under pressure. It can also be sanded down and stained to give it colour. A wood palette is more sturdy and resistant to fungi and insects than other materials. Palettes made of wood are also great for mixing alkyds and acrylics.
The most commonly used wooden palettes are made from either pine or maple. Both of these woods are resistant to warping and crazing. However, it is essential to look for the kind of wood that has been treated with heat to keep insects and fungi out. This process is essential to the long-term durability and quality of a pallet made from wood. A good wooden palette's surface must be smooth and well-finished. It should have a low amount of moisture, which will reduce the risk of paints getting damaged or wrinkling.
Another benefit of a wooden palette is that it's easy to keep clean. The painter can wipe down the palette after each painting session using an oil that is drying to maintain it. Linseed oil is a good option because it's cheap and readily available, as well as quick drying.
The natural brown of a wooden palette is perfect to mix colors since it is similar to the predominant color of the canvas. This helps to avoid the perception that the colors are lighter or darker than what they really are. Vermeer utilized a common wooden palette. In a 1676 probate inventory, there is mention of "twee schilders eesels, drye paletten" (two easels for painting and three wooden palettes). Frans van Mieris painted the painted version of a Vermeer-styled palette in his allegorical character in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones from light to dark on a wood palette.
Sturdy
Wooden palettes have been used by artists for centuries since they're sturdy and durable. They are lighter than glass or tear-off pallets as well as more rigid than paper palettes. This makes them much easier to carry and use when painting. They are also a great option for mixing oil paints and alkyds. It is important to select an untreated wooden palette of top quality that has been treated. This process removes bugs and fungi that could cause damage to the wooden palette.
A top-quality wooden palette will be well-made and smooth which allows your brushes to glide effortlessly across it. It should be finished with drying oil that shields the wood from water and solvent damage and helps it keep its shape. There are pre-finished palettes that are ready to use or you can make your own using raw wood. If you're using a wood palette, make sure to clean it after every painting session. Paint that's wet on a wooden palette could cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces for oil paints. They're still a popular option for many artists. They're lightweight and durable, and they can hold large quantities of paint without breaking. They are ideal to mix thick paints, such as alkyds, acrylics and heavier-bodied ones.
In Vermeer's time, the familiar palette with a hole for the thumb was replaced by the older rectangular kind with handles. The artist held the palette using his thumb in the hole, allowing him 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 will eliminate any bugs or fungi. The treatment process of heating wood makes it more difficult to scratch or smooth its surface. After a long period of use, a well-used and maintained wooden pallet will have a smooth, almost glass-like finish. This is due to the build-up of thin layers of dry oils that allow the surface retain its shape.
Easy to clean
If you want an easy-to clean palette that will last for years then a wood palette is the way to go. This kind of palette is popular among oil artists and will not chip or splinter like a glass one. You can buy an unfinished wooden pallet that has been sealed or do it yourself. To do this, you'll require boiling linseed oil from the hardware store, nitrile gloves, and high quality paper towels or rags (if it has bits, don't use it). Sealing a palette with drying oil will fill in the small gaps and create a smooth surface. This will get better with each painting.
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 flowing smoothly on the palette and shield your hands from solvents. To restore your palette, start by lightly sanding the surface with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open the wood grain and help it absorb oils more easily. Put a small amount of linseed onto the palette, and then employ a rag or cloth to wipe it across the entire surface. Then, let the oil dry for a couple of days.
Once your palette is dry, you can use a paper towel to wipe it off and if you have any leftover paint just a tiny OMS on a rag will remove it. It is not recommended to use any sharp object to scrape off the dried paint. This will scratch and damage your pallet.
If purchase used pallets have to scrape a bit of dried paint off your palette, it's best to rub it with a soft brush instead of using knives. If you scrape it too hard you will splinter 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 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. Wooden palettes are also light and come in various sizes to accommodate your hands. They come in different designs and finishes.
Palettes made of wood have been in use since the beginning of art and are one of the oldest mixing surfaces. The wood has a warm brown hue that doesn't affect the colors of the paints. This is useful as the perception of colors is influenced by the dominant tone which they are mixed. A wooden palette can also help you to see the hues of your paints since it has a mid-value that shows the hues against.
The palettes of Vermeer are likely to be made from wood. The first palettes could have been made from paper or tin, but they were most likely wooden. In a 1676 probate inventories, two painters easels were listed along with three palettes. Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris is seen using the same kind of palette in an allegorical painting depicting Pictura. A traditional wooden palette for oil painting is typically shaped to hold the thumb hole that is used to support the palette. the remaining fingers hold the brushes and the maulstick for securing the hand on the canvas while painting.
After a clean-up, wipe the surface of a wooden palette with dry oils - linseed or other -- to keep it conditioned for the next time you will use it. This will fill in the pores in the wood grain, creating an even surface for your brushes. Over time, a well oiled palette will develop an attractive patina that adds to its character.