Why We Our Love For Wooden Palette And You Should Also

Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?

A wooden palette has a smooth, lightweight surface that is also rigid. It has a warm color that helps painters perceive colors in a precise manner.

Use boiled linseed and a lint-free rag or paper towel to seal a wooden palette. Rub the oil onto the surface of the palette. Repeat daily, both front and back.

Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters

Painting on a wooden palette allows all your oil paints right at your fingertips. This makes it a lot easier to mix colors and move them around the surface of your board or canvas. This is a great way to have your brushes at your fingertips. This palette has helped me to save time by reducing the amount of time I have to turn around my body in order to reach my brushes to reload them. I've noticed that it helps me with my accuracy and consistency.

You can buy wooden palettes that have been stained and sealed to withstand water and standard artist solvents or purchase them unfinished and stain them yourself. When working with wood that is raw, you should seal it before you start painting - this will make it less adsorbent of the oils in your oil paints. Pour a small amount linseed onto your palette, and then rub in using a lint-free, clean cloth. After that, clean off any excess oil and your palette will be ready to use.


I like to tone the linseed prior using it by adding a few drops to a brown medium such as burnt sienna (or yellow ochre). This helps me see the shadows I'll create in my paintings and it helps me visualize how the colors will appear against the wood. The tone will help me differentiate between the light and dark values of my painting.

Over time, a properly used wooden pallet will begin to develop a gorgeous patina. The oils from your paints will stain it, and the pigments will mix to form a varnish-like finish. It's beautiful to see.

Some artists prefer using an acrylic sealer with a clear finish on their wooden palettes - it will protect the wood and give it an attractive shine. I prefer the old method of applying several thin layers of Linseed oils. It takes a bit longer than polyurethane, but it is worth it since you can apply one coat each time you clean your palette.

Wooden Palettes for Acrylic Painters

A wooden palette is the most popular choice for oil and acrylic painting. It is a large, stable area that resists absorption of pigment and encourages color mixing. After each use, a quick wipe with paper towels or a cloth will make cleanup easy. The majority of craft stores carry wooden palettes, which are inexpensive.

There are a variety of options for acrylic painters today. Plastic palettes have a nonstick coating and are lightweight. They also withstand solvent damage. They can be cleaned with warm soapy tap water and are suitable for acrylics and other materials. They are generally available in various sizes and deep wells for mixing colors.

A paper or styrofoam dish is another popular option for acrylic painting. These plates are easily disposable and cost-effective which means they can be used only once for the duration of a painting session. This makes them a great choice for plein air painting. However, they can absorb paint, which could make them difficult to clean.

A piece of sanded wood like spruce or pine with a thumbhole, is among the best options to make a permanent acrylic paint pallet. The thumb can be placed into the opening to allow the artist to hold it using their other fingers. The thumb hole can also help keep fingers from getting too dirty while using the palette.

Some artists prefer to build their own wooden palettes using common items. An old plastic or aluminum foil covered dish can be a good place to start. You can also pick up old ceramic or glass dishes. They are available at yard sales or thrift shops and are usually quite beautiful. You could also try using a piece of tin foil that will block the absorption of paint and will be easy to clean.

A palette made of stay-wet is an alternative to the homemade palette that is very well-known. These are basically boxes made of plastic that have an airtight lid. The sponge is placed at the bottom, which you then make damp with water, and then you place a sheet of specialty paper on top to keep the paint moist. The box can be closed and the sponge and paper will stay moist for several days. If the paper dries out, you can always add more water to the palette.

Wooden Palettes for Watercolor Painters

A wooden palette is a fantastic option for those who paint with watercolors or oil. These palettes are lightweight compared to other alternatives, particularly paper and glass and are strong enough to allow for easy handling. These palettes have interior cutouts for your thumb and other fingers. This makes them easier to hold during long periods. They feature a satin-finished finish that allows paint to rest on top without being absorbed, and they are easy to clean for years of use.

The wooden palettes were among the first mixing surfaces used by artists, and they remain a vital part of many artist's studios today. They have an elegant and professional appearance and are perfect to mix alkyds, oils and acrylics. Additionally, they are often produced using sustainable forestry practices. This is why using a wooden palette could be a sustainable option for the contemporary artist.

The key to the long-term durability 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 life of your palette. Depending on the type of wood the palette is made of, re-oiling it can be as simple as pouring a pool of oil in the center of the palette and then wiping it with a clean, lint-free cloth.

Some artists opt to personalize their wooden palettes by carving initials or other decorative elements into the wood. This is a great method to make the palette appear as an extension of your work and give a sense of historical significance to your tool. Some of these palettes can be personalized with lids that lock into the place. This is a great feature for traveling.

Platforms like Instagram have also contributed to the popularity of wood palettes, as artists post pictures of their stunningly arranged sets to inspire others. These visual cues serve as a good reminder that painting with a wooden palette can be a satisfying and artistically satisfying experience. When you continue painting with your wooden palette, it will become a beloved piece of equipment that will remind you of your artistic journey.

buy pallets near me for Mixed Media Painters

When we think of an art pallet the first thing we imagine is a wooden one that was used by masters of the past. While still used by a few artists but these palettes aren't suitable for use with acrylics or watercolors because the surface is porous and absorbs paint too much. However, a new kind of paint palette is being developed that solves this problem. These new palettes have been made from tempered glass which is extremely sturdy and won't crack if dropped. The palettes come in a variety of sizes and shapes and sizes, so you can pick one that is comfortable in your palm and is easy to use.

The new palettes, also known as "stay-wet" palettes, help keep your paints moist and useable for a prolonged period of time after you have completed painting. To prepare a "stay wet" palette, put your preferred oil painting medium on the back of the palette. Rub it into the wood until the paint looks tacky (like butter). Then apply a paper towel or lint free cloth to wipe off any excess, ensuring to get it into all the tiny grooves within the wood grain. This process, also known as seasoning, permits the palette to keep the color and oil, while allowing brushhairs to pass easily.

Another good way to prep for a wooden palette is using a drying oil - like linseed, safflower or walnut - and rubbing it on the surface of the palette with the help of a rag. This will help 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 wet.

Some painters prefer to use disposable palettes, like paper cups or styrofoam plates. This is a good choice because it doesn't absorb paint as much, and it's also easy to clean. However, I'd prefer to make use of a traditional wooden palette because it's more durable and feels more comfortable in my hands. I also love the idea that I'm preserving a tradition of the old masters!

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Pub: 13 Dec 2024 00:18 UTC
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