It's The Ugly Real Truth Of Wooden Palette
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 beautiful.
Many images of artists working have survived. Some of these depict a wooden pallet similar to the one that Vermeer employed.
To make a wooden palette wipe the surface with a drying oil such as linseed. This is crucial because a thin layer oil helps keep the palette in good condition.
Lightweight
Contrary to glass or tear-off ones, a wooden palette is lightweight and can be easily held at the easel. The thickness of the wood makes it strong and stable. This prevents it from bending when under pressure. It can also be sanded and stained to give it color. A wood palette is more durable than other types of materials and doesn't get damaged by fungi and insects. Palettes made of wood are ideal for mixing acrylics and alkyds.
The most popular wooden palettes are made from maple or pine. Both of these woods are resistant to the effects of warping and crazing. It is crucial to select the wood that has been treated with heat to stop the growth of fungi or insects. This is crucial to the longevity and quality of a pallet made from wood. In addition, the surface of a good wooden palette should 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 great feature of a wooden palette is that it is easy to keep clean. used pallets for sale can wipe down the palette after each painting session with a drying lubricant to maintain it. Linseed oil is an excellent choice because it is inexpensive, readily available and quick-drying.
The natural brown color of a wooden palette is perfect for mixing colors because it is similar to the predominant color of the canvas. This will help to keep from the impression that the colors are lighter or darker than they actually are. Vermeer used a typical wooden palette. In a 1676 probate inventory, there is mention of "twee schilders 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 representation in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones from light to dark on a wooden palette.
Sturdy
Artists have been using wooden palettes for centuries because they're durable and sturdy. They're lighter than glass or tear-off palettes, and they're more sturdy than paper ones. This makes them easier for you to use and handle while painting. They are ideal for mixing alkyds and oil paints. It is crucial to choose a wooden palette of high quality that has been heat treated. This process kills fungi and pests that can cause damage to the palette.
A good wooden palette will be well-made and smooth, allowing your brushes to glide effortlessly across it. It should be finished with dry oil to shield the wood against water and solvent damage and to help it keep its shape. There are pre-finished palettes that are ready to use or you can make your own from raw wood. If you're using a wood palette, make sure to clean it after every painting session. Paint that is wet on a wood palette can cause it to crack or warp 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're lightweight, strong and can hold a lot of paint without breaking. They are also great for mixing alkyds, acrylics, and any other thick-bodied paints.
In Vermeer's time, the familiar palette with a hole for the thumb was replaced by the older rectangular kind that had an handle. The painter supported the palette using his thumb inside 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 in the creation of high-quality palettes. This will eliminate any fungi or bugs. A heat treatment for wood can also make it harder to scratch or sand the surface of the palette. A well-used and maintained wooden palette will get a smooth, glass-like finish after years of usage. This is due to a buildup of thin layers of drying oils that aid the surface maintain its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette gives you a smooth, easy-to-clean palette that will last many years. This kind of palette is a favorite among oil artists and will not break or shatter like a glass one. You can purchase wooden pallets that have been sealed, or make it yourself. To do this 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). Sealing a palette with drying oil will fill in the tiny gaps and create a smooth surface. This will improve with each painting.
After you have oiled your palette, you will need to clean the surface after every painting session. This is crucial because it will keep your paints evenly mixed on the palette and protect your hands from solvents. To make your palette more reconditioned, begin by lightly sanding the surface with 180-grit sandpaper. This will open up the grain of the wood and allow it absorb oils more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil onto your palette and then use a rag to wipe it evenly over the entire surface. Then, let the oil dry for a few days.
After your palette has dried you can use a paper towel to wipe it clean and if you have any leftover paint some OMS on the rag will get rid of it. You should not try to scrape off the dried paint using anything sharp as this will scratch and damage your palette.
If you have to scrape a bit of dried paint off your palette, it's recommended to do it with a soft brush instead of using knives. If you scrape it too hard, you could break the wood and ruin your palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a classy and durable mixing surface that makes you feel like an artist. It can be used for oil paints, as well as acrylics and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy-to-clean and glides smoothly over the brush as you mix and mix paint. Palettes made of wood are available in a variety of sizes and are light. They are available in different finishes and styles to suit your preferences.
The wooden palette is among the oldest mixing surfaces. It's been in use since the time of art. The wood has a warm brown color which doesn't affect the colors of the paints. This is important since the dominant tone is what determines the perception of color. A wooden palette can help you see the shades of your paints since it has a mid value that shows the hues.
The first palettes were made of paper or tin foil However, the ones Vermeer used were probably made of wood. The probate inventory of 1676 recorded two "twee schilders eesels, " three paletten" (two easels for painting and a dry palette). In an allegorical image of Pictura Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Meieris and Jan Vermeer utilized the same type of palette. A traditional wooden palette used for oil painting is typically shaped to hold the thumb hole that is used to support the palette, while the other fingers hold brushes and the maulstick for securing the hand over the canvas while painting.
After cleaning the surface, clean it with a drying oil - linseed, or another - to keep the palette in good condition until the next time you need it. This will fill the pores in the wood grain, creating a smoother surface for your brushes. With time, a well oiled palette will develop a beautiful patina, which will add to its appearance.