Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?
pallet buying is lightweight and rigid, and has a smooth surface. It is a warm-colored palette that aids artists in interpreting the colors with precision.
Make use of boiled linseed, an unlinty rag or paper towel to seal the wooden palette. Rub the oil onto the surface of the wood palette. Repeat daily, both front and back.
Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters
Painting on a wooden palette brings all of your oil paints at your fingertips. This makes it much easier to mix colors and then move them on your canvas or board. This is an excellent way to keep your brushes at hand. This palette has helped me save time by reducing the amount of time that I have to turn around my body in order to reach my brushes and reload them. I've also noticed that it improves my precision and consistency.
You can buy wood palettes that are already stained and sealed to resist the effects of water and standard solvents for artists or purchase them unfinished and stain them yourself. When working with raw wood you will want to seal it before you start painting. This makes it less able to absorb of the oils you use in your oil paints. To do this simply put a small amount of oil from linseed onto your palette and then rub it into the palette with an lint-free cloth until it's saturated. Then wipe off any excess oil and your palette is now ready to use.
I prefer to tone my palette prior to use by adding some drops of a brown medium (such as burnt sienna or yellow ochre) to the linseed oil. This helps me see the shadows I'll be creating in my paintings. It also allows me to observe how the colors look against the wood. The tone will help me differentiate between the dark and light values of my painting.
A well-used wooden palette will develop an exquisite patina over time. It will get more opaque and smooth, due to the oil in your paints staining it a bit and the pigments merging together to form a varnish-like coating. It's an amazing thing to see.
Some painters prefer to use an acrylic sealer that is clear on their palettes made of wood - this will protect the wood and give it a beautiful shine. However, I've found that the old method of applying thin coats of linseed oil work just fine for me. It takes a bit more time 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 wide, stable area that resists absorption of pigment and encourages color mixing. It also makes cleaning easy and simple by simply wiping a paper towel or cloth after every use. Palettes made of wood are also affordable and can be found in most arts and crafts stores.
For a modern acrylic painter there are numerous palette options. Plastic palettes are a lightweight option that resist solvent damage and have a non-stick coating. They can be cleaned using warm soapy tap water and can be used with acrylics, among other materials. They are available in a variety of sizes and have deep wells for mixing colors.
Another popular option for acrylic painting is a styrofoam or paper plate. These are affordable and disposable, so they can be used for only one painting session, making them an ideal option for plein air painting. They can take in some paint, and can be difficult to clean.
A piece of sanded lumber, 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 with the thumb in the hole, leaving the other fingers free to hold brushes and the mahlstick. The thumb hole can also help prevent the fingers from getting too dirty while using the palette.
Some artists create their own wooden palettes using household items. A dish covered in aluminum foil or plastic might be a great place to begin. Old ceramic or glass dishes are also good choices. These can be found at yard sales and thrift shops and are often quite pretty. You could also try using a piece of tin foil, which will resist the absorption of paint and will be easy to clean.
An extremely popular alternative to a homemade palette is a stay-wet palette. These are essentially boxes made of plastic that have an airtight lid. You soak a sponge in water and place it in the bottom of the box. Then, you place the special paper top to keep the paint damp. The box can be closed and will keep the sponge and paper wet for a few days. You can always add water to the palette if the paper starts to dry.
Wooden Palettes for watercolor artists
When you're painting oil paints or watercolors, using the wooden palette is an excellent choice. They are lighter than other options such as glass or paper and are strong enough to handle easily. They also have interior cut-outs for the thumb and other fingers, which makes them comfortable to hold for long periods of time as you work. They have a satin finish that lets paint be able to sit on top of the surface without being absorbed, and they are easy to clean over time.
Wooden palettes were among the first mixing surfaces used by artists, and they remain a vital element in many studios of artists today. They offer an elegant, professional appearance and are ideal to mix acrylics, oils and alkyds. They are also typically sourced using sustainable forestry practices. In this way, using a wooden palette can be an environmentally responsible choice for the modern artist.
Regular cleaning and re-oiling are the essential to the durability of a wooden pallet. Applying linseed or a wood conditioner can prevent excessive absorption, and increase the longevity of your palette. Based on the type of wood the palette is made of, re-oiling it can be as simple as pouring a pool of oil into the middle of the palette and wiping it with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Some artists opt to personalize wooden palettes with initials or other elements. This is a fantastic option to make your palette feel like a part of your work, and to give a sense of history to your tool. Some of these palettes can be personalized with lids that lock into place. This is a fantastic feature to use when traveling.
Platforms like Instagram have also contributed to the popularity of wooden palettes, with artists posting photos of their beautifully arranged arrangements to inspire others. These visual cues serve as a good reminder that painting using a wooden palette can be a satisfying and artistically satisfying experience. As you continue to work with your wooden palette, it will become a beloved piece of equipment and an excellent reminder of your creative journey.
Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters
When we think of a palette for painting the first thing that comes to mind is one made of wood used by the masters of the past. While still used by a few painters, these palettes are not suitable for acrylics or watercolors because the surface is porous and absorbs the paint too much. However, a different type of palette for painting has been developed to solve this problem. The new palettes are made from tempered glass which is extremely strong and won't crack if dropped. The palettes come in different sizes and shapes which means you can pick one that is comfortable in your palm and is easy to use.
These new palettes, called "stay-wet" palettes, keep your paints hydrated and usable for a long time after you've finished painting. To make a stay wet palette, add your preferred oil painting medium to the back side of the palette and rub it into the wood until it appears somewhat tacky (like soft butter). Use a paper towel to get rid of any oil that has accumulated, and ensure that you get into all grooves of the wood grain. This process, also known as seasoning, permits the palette to hold the oil and pigment while allowing the hairs of the brush to pass easily.
Drying oils, such as linseed or walnut, can be used to prepare a wooden palette. Apply it using a rag to the surface. This will help to seal the wood and make it resistant to solvents and water. This will also stop the paint from sticking on the surface of your palette when it is wet.
Some artists prefer using disposable palettes like paper plates or styrofoam cups. This is a good choice because it doesn't absorb paint too much and it's easy to clean. I prefer a wooden palette, because it is more durable and feels more comfortable in my hands. I love the idea of continuing the legacy of the previous masters.