How To Get More Results From Your Wooden Palette
Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?
A wooden palette is light and strong, with smooth surfaces. It has a warm color that aids artists in interpreting colors accurately.
Use boiled linseed and a lint-free rag or paper towel to protect a wooden palette. Rub the oil on the surface of the wood palette. Repeat daily, front and back.
Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters
Painting on a wooden palette allows all of your oil paints right at your fingertips. This makes it much easier to mix colors and move them around your canvas or board. This is a great way to have your brushes close at hand. This palette has helped me to save time by reducing the amount of time I have to turn around my body to reach my brushes to reload them. I've also noticed that it aids with my accuracy and consistency.
You can either buy wooden palettes that have been stained and sealed to resist water and standard solvents for artists or purchase them unfinished and stain them yourself. Sealing the wood prior to painting will allow it to absorb less oil from your oil paints. Put a small amount of linseed onto your palette, then rub it into it with a clean cotton rag. Then, wipe off any excess oil and your palette is ready to use.
I like to tone the linseed before using it by adding a few drops of it to a brown medium, such as burnt sienna (or yellow ochre). This allows me to imagine how my shadows will appear on the wood. Tone can also help me distinguish between shades of light and dark in my paintings.
A wooden palette that has been well-used will develop a gorgeous patina over time. It will get more opaque and smooth with the oil from your paints staining it bit and the pigments merging together to form their own varnish-like coating. It's stunning to look at.
Some artists use an acrylic varnish that is clear to protect their wooden palettes. This protects the wood and will give it a stunning shine. However, I have found that the old method of applying multiple thin coats of linseed oil work just fine for me. It takes a little 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 palette Palettes for Acrylic Painters
A wooden palette is the classic option for acrylic and oil painting. It has a large solid surface that is resistant to pigment absorption and encourages optimal mixing of colors. It also makes clean up easy and simple by a quick wipe with paper towels or a cloth after each use. Palettes made of wood are also affordable and are available at most arts and crafts stores.
If you are a modern acrylic artist there are a variety of palette options. Plastic palettes have a nonstick coating and are lightweight. They also resist the effects of solvents. They can be cleaned with warm soapy tap water and are suitable for acrylics and other materials. They are available in various sizes and have deep wells to mix colors.
Another popular choice for acrylic painting is a styrofoam or paper plate. They are inexpensive and disposable, which means they can be used for only one painting session, which makes them an ideal solution for plein air painting. They may absorb some of the paint, and is difficult to remove.
One of the best alternatives for a permanent acrylic paint palette is a piece of sanded hardwood, like pine or spruce that has a thumb hole. The thumb can be placed into the hole to allow the artist to hold it with their other fingers. The thumb hole helps keep fingers from getting too dirty while using the palette.
Some painters prefer to make their own homemade wooden palette from common items. A dish covered in aluminum foil or plastic can be a great place to begin. You can also choose old ceramic or glass dishes. These can be found at yard sales or thrift shops and are often quite pretty. You can also use an aluminum foil that will resist the absorption of paint and is easy to clean.
An extremely popular alternative to a homemade palette is a stay-wet palette. These are basically a plastic box with a tight lid. You place a sponge at the bottom that you dampen with water, then place a piece of special paper on top to keep the paint wet. The box can be closed and keep the sponge and Pallet Prices (Pediascape.Science) paper moist for several days. If the paper starts to dry out you can always add more water to the palette.
Wooden Palettes for Watercolor Painters
A wooden palette is a great option for those who paint with oil or watercolors. They are lighter than other alternatives like glass or paper and rigid enough to be able to be handled easily. These palettes have interior cutouts for your thumb and other fingers. This makes them easy to hold while working for long periods. They have a satin finish that lets paint rest on top without being absorbed. Additionally, they are easy to clean over time.
Wooden palettes were among the first mixing surfaces utilized by artists and are still an important component of many artists' studios in the present. They provide an elegant, professional look and are ideal for mixing acrylics, oils, and alkyds. Additionally they are typically sourced from sustainable forestry practices. This makes using a wood pallet wood for sale a green option for contemporary artists.
Regular cleaning and re-oiling is key to a wooden pallet's longevity. Reapplying linseed or a wood conditioner can help prevent excessive absorption and extend the lifespan of your palette. Depending on the type of wood that is used, re-oiling a palette could be as easy as pouring a puddle of oil into the center of the palette and then wiping it with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Some artists opt to personalize wooden palettes with initials or decorative elements. This is a great way to make the palette appear as an extension of your work and add a sense of history to your tool. Some of these palettes can be customized with lids that lock in the correct position. This is an excellent feature for traveling.
Instagram has also played a part in the popularity of wooden palettes. Artists share photos of their beautifully-arranged setups on Instagram to inspire others. These visual cues serve as a good reminder that painting using a wooden palette can be a rewarding and satisfying experience. As you continue to work with your wooden palette, it will eventually become an item that you will treasure and an excellent reminder of your creative journey.
Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters
When we think of a palette to paint, the first image that comes to mind is one made of wood, used by old masters. Although they are still used by some artists however, these palettes aren't ideal for use with watercolors or acrylics due to the surface is too porous and absorbs the paint too much. However, a new kind of palette for paint is being developed that solves this issue. These new palettes are made of tempered glass, which is extremely sturdy and won't break if you drop it. They also come in various shapes and sizes, so you can find one that is easy to hold and fits into your hand when you work.
The new palettes are referred to as "stay wet" palettes because they keep your paints moist and functional for a lengthy time after you've completed painting. To make a stay wet palette, add your favorite oil painting medium on 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 excess oil and make sure to get into all grooves of the wood grain. This process, also known as seasoning, permits the palette to retain pigment and oil while allowing brushhairs to pass easily.
Another good way to prep for a wooden palette is using a drying oil like linseed or safflower, or walnut - and then applying it to the surface of the palette with an abrasive. This will make the wood more durable and make it impervious to solvents and water. It will also stop the paint from sticking to the surface of the palette when wet.
Some artists prefer to use disposable palettes like paper plates or styrofoam cups. This is a good choice because it won't absorb the paint too much, and it's easy to clean. However, I'd prefer to make use of a traditional wooden palette because it's more durable and is more comfortable to hold. I also love the thought that I'm continuing a tradition of the old masters!