Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?
A wooden palette is lightweight and strong, with a smooth surface. It also has warm tones that allow painters to perceive colors accurately when painting.
Use boiled linseed and an lint-free rag or towel to protect the wooden palette. Rub the oil onto the surface of the wood palette. Repeat every day, front and back.
Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters
Oil paints are available when you use an wooden palette. This makes it a lot easier to mix your colors and move them around the surface of your board or canvas. This is a great way to have your brushes close at fingertips. This palette has helped me to reduce the amount of time that I am able to spend turning my body to reach my brushes and then reload them. I've also noticed that it aids with my precision and consistency.
You can purchase wooden palettes that have been stained and sealed (to resist water and standard artist solvents) or you can purchase wood pallets unfinished ones and stain them yourself. When working with wood that is raw, you should seal it prior to painting - this will make it less adsorbent of the oils you use in your oil paints. To do this simply pour a small pool of linseed oil on the palette, and then rub it into the palette with a lint free cloth until it's fully saturated. After that, clean off any excess oil and your palette is now ready to use.
I like to tone my palette before using it by adding some drops of a brown medium (such as burnt sienna or yellow orange) to the Linseed oil. This allows me to visualize the way my shadows appear on the wood. Tone also helps me to differentiate between dark and light values in my paintings.
As time passes, a well-used wooden pallet buying will develop a gorgeous patina. The oils from your paints will stain it and the pigments will blend together to create a varnish-like finish. It's an amazing thing to behold.
Some painters prefer to use an acrylic sealer that is clear on their palettes made of wood - this can protect the wood and give it an attractive shine. I prefer the old method of applying multiple thin layers of Linseed oils. It takes a bit longer than using polyurethane, but it's worth it because you can apply a coat each time you clean your palette, and it will only improve with time.
Wooden Palettes for Acrylic Painters
The wooden palette is an ideal option for oil and acrylic painting. It has a large and stable area that is resistant to the absorption of color and facilitates color mixing. It also makes cleaning easy and quick with a quick wipe of paper towels or a cloth after every use. Wooden palettes are also inexpensive and can be found at most arts and crafts stores.
If you are a modern acrylic artist there are numerous palette options. Plastic palettes are coated with a nonstick substance and are light. They also resist the effects of solvents. They are easy to clean with warm soapy water and are used with a variety of materials, including acrylics. They are available in various sizes and come with deep wells to mix colors.
Another option for acrylic painting is a styrofoam plate. These are affordable and disposable, which means they can be used for only one painting session, which makes them a great solution for plein air painting. However, they may absorb paint, which could make them difficult to clean.
A piece of sanded timber such as pine or spruce with a thumbhole, is one of the best options to make an acrylic paint pallet that can be used for a long time. This allows the artist to hold the palette by inserting the thumb placed inside the hole, leaving the other fingers for holding brushes and the mahlstick. The thumb hole also helps keep fingers from getting too dirty when using the palette.
Some artists make their own wooden palette from common items. A dish that is covered in aluminum foil or plastic can be a great place to start. You can also pick up old ceramic or glass dishes. You can find them at auctions and thrift shops. They are typically beautiful. You can also make use of the foil piece that will resist paint absorption and is easy to clean.
A popular alternative to a homemade palette is a plastic stay-wet palette. These are basically containers made of plastic with an airtight lid. The sponge is placed at the bottom that you wet with water, then place a piece of special paper on top to keep the paint wet. The box can be closed and the sponge and paper will stay wet for a few days. You can always add water to the palette when the paper becomes dry.
Wooden Palettes for Watercolor Painters
If you're painting watercolors or oil paints, using an wooden palette is an excellent option. They are light compared to other alternatives, particularly paper and glass and are sturdy enough for easy handling. They also have cut-outs in the interior for the thumb and other fingers, making them comfortable to hold for long periods of time while you work. They feature a satin-finished finish that allows paint to be able to sit on top of the surface without being absorbed. Furthermore, they are easily cleaned over time.
The wooden palette was among the earliest mixing surfaces utilized by artists. They remain an integral component of many studios. They have a classic and professional look, and are ideal for mixing alkyds, oils and acrylics. In addition they are typically sourced from sustainable forestry practices. This makes using a wooden pallet a green option for modern artists.
A key to the longevity of the wooden palette is regular cleaning and the re-oiling. Applying linseed or a wood conditioner can help prevent excessive absorption, and prolong the longevity of your palette. Based on the type of wood, re-oiling a palette can be as simple as pouring a pool of oil in the center of the palette and wiping it with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Some artists opt to personalize their wooden palettes by carving initials or decorative elements into the surface. This is a great option to make your palette feel like an extension of your art and add a sense of history to your tool. Some of these palettes are customizable with lids that lock into the correct position. This is a great feature to take with you when traveling.
Instagram has also played a role in the popularity of wooden palettes. Artists share photos of their stunningly-arranged palettes on Instagram to inspire others. These visual cues serve as a good reminder that painting using a wooden palette could be a satisfying and artistically satisfying experience. As you continue to use your wooden palette, it will eventually become a favorite piece of equipment and an enduring reminder of your artistic journey.
Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters
When we think about an art pallet, the first thing we imagine is a wooden one, which was used by old masters. They are still used by some artists are not suitable for watercolours or acrylics because of their porous surfaces. However, a different type of palette for paint has been developed to solve this issue. The new palettes are made from tempered glass which is extremely sturdy and won't break in the event of a drop. They're also available in a variety of sizes and shapes which means you can pick one that is comfortable to hold and fit into your hand while working.
These new palettes are known as “stay wet” palettes due to the fact that they keep your paints wet and functional for a lengthy time after you've completed painting. To prepare a stay wet palette, add your preferred oil painting medium on the back side of the palette and rub it in until it appears somewhat tacky (like soft butter). Use a towel to wash away any excess oil and ensure that it gets into all grooves of the wood grain. This process, referred where to Get Pallets as seasoning, permits the palette to retain the color and oil, while allowing the hairs of the brush to pass easily.
A drying oil, such as linseed or walnut is a great option to prepare a wooden palette palette. Apply it using an abrasive on the surface. This will help protect the wood and make it more resistant to solvents and water. This will also prevent the paint from sticking to the surface of your palette when wet.
(Image: https://agronytradingllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/WhatsApp-Image-2023-09-21-at-4.00.07-AM2.jpeg)Some artists prefer using disposable palettes such as paper plates or styrofoam cups. This is a good option because it doesn't absorb paint too much and it's easy to clean. However, I would prefer to use an old-fashioned wooden palette since it's more durable and feels better in my hand. I also love the thought that I'm preserving the tradition of the previous masters!(Image: https://agronytradingllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/WhatsApp-Image-2024-06-17-at-5.15.44-AM1.jpeg)
