11 "Faux Pas" That Are Actually OK To Do With Your Wooden Palette
Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?
A wooden palette has a smooth, light surface and is rigid. It also has a warm tone that helps artists see colors with greater clarity when painting.
Use boiled linseed and an unlinty rag or paper towel to seal the wooden palette. Rub the oil on the surface of the wood palette. Repeat every day, both in front and back.
Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters
Oil paints are readily available when you use a wooden palette. This makes it easy to mix colors and then move them on your canvas or board. It's also a great method to keep your brushes at your fingertips. I've discovered that using such a palette can reduce the amount of time I spend shifting my body to reach and reload my brushes. I've also noticed that it aids with my accuracy and consistency.
You can purchase wooden palettes that have been stained and sealed (to repel water and conventional solvents for artists) or you can buy unfinished ones and stain them yourself. When working with raw wood you will want to seal it before you start painting. This will make it less absorbent of the oils in your oil paints. To do this, simply pour a small pool of Linseed oil onto the palette, and then rub it into the palette with an lint-free cloth until it's fully saturated. After that, clean off any excess oil and your palette is 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 allows me to visualize how my shadows will appear on the wood. The tone helps me differentiate between the light and dark values of my painting.
With time, a well-used wooden pallet will develop a gorgeous patina. It will become more opaque and smooth due to the oil in your paints staining it a bit and the pigments blending together to create their own varnish-like coating. It's a gorgeous thing to look at.
Some painters prefer to use a clear acrylic sealer on their wooden palettes, it will protect the wood and give it a stunning shine. However, I've found that the traditional method of applying several thin coats of linseed oil work well for me. It takes a little longer than using polyurethane but it's worth the wait since 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 provides a large, stable surface that resists pigment absorption and promotes optimal mixing of colors. It also makes clean up easy and quick by a quick wipe with a paper towel or cloth after each use. Palettes made of wood are also affordable and can be found at the majority of stores for arts and crafts.
There are a myriad of options available for acrylic painters today. Plastic palettes come with a nonstick coating and are light. They also withstand damage caused by solvents. They can be cleaned with warm soapy tap water and are suitable for acrylics, and other materials. They are typically available in various sizes and deep wells to mix 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 solution for plein air painting. They could take in some paint though, which could be difficult to wash.
One of the most effective options for an acrylic paint palette that is permanent is a piece of sanded wood, like pine or spruce that has a thumb hole. This lets the artist hold the palette using the thumb in the hole, leaving the other fingers free to hold brushes and the mahlstick. The thumb hole can also help to keep the fingers from becoming too dirty while using the palette.
Some artists create their own wooden palettes out of household items. An old aluminum or plastic foil-covered dish is an excellent place to begin. You can also choose old glass or ceramic dishes. They can be found at yard sales or thrift shops and are usually quite attractive. You can also make use of an aluminum foil that can resist paint absorption and is easy to clean.
A palette made of stay-wet is a substitute for the homemade palette that is very well-known. They are essentially an empty plastic container with a tight lid. You place a sponge at the bottom and dampen with water, then you place a sheet of specialty paper on top to keep the paint wet. The box can be sealed and the sponge and paper will stay damp for several days. If the paper dries out it is possible to add more water to the palette.
Wooden Palettes for Watercolor Painters
Whether you are painting with oil paints or watercolors using a wooden palette can be the best option. They are lighter than other alternatives such as glass or paper and are strong enough to be handled easily. They also have internal cut-outs for the thumb and other fingers, which makes them comfortable to hold for long periods of time as you work. They feature a satin-finished finish that lets paint be able to sit on top of the surface without being absorbed, and they can be cleaned easily to last for a long time.
Wooden palettes were among the first mixing surfaces utilized by painters, and they remain a vital element in many studios of artists in the present. They offer a classic, professional look and are ideal for mixing oils, acrylics, and alkyds. They are often made using sustainable forestry practices. This makes using a wooden pallet a sustainable choice for modern artists.
Regular cleaning and re-oiling is key to a wooden pallet's longevity. Applying pallet buying​ , or a wood conditioner can help prevent excessive absorption, and prolong the lifespan of your palette. Based on the type of wood, re-oiling a palette can be as easy as pouring a pool of oil into the center of the palette, then wiping it off with a lint-free, clean cloth.
Some artists opt to personalize wooden palettes using initials or other decorative elements. This is a fantastic way to make your palette feel as if it's part of your artwork and create a sense of history for your tool. Some of these personalised palettes come with lids that be locked into the place this is a great feature for travel.
Instagram has also contributed to the popularity of wooden palettes. Artists post photos of their beautifully-arranged setups on Instagram to inspire others. These visual clues serve as a reminder that painting on a pallet made of wood can be a rewarding, artistic experience. If you continue to paint using your wooden palette, it will become a beloved piece of equipment that will remind you of your journey to creativity.
Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters
When we think about an art pallet the first image we have is an old wooden one, which was used by old masters. While still used by a few painters however, these palettes aren't suitable for acrylics or watercolors because the surface is porous and absorbs the paint too much. A new palette for painting was designed to solve this issue. The new palettes are made of tempered glass, which is sturdy and won't break if you drop it. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can find one that is comfortable to hold and fits into your hand while working.
These new palettes, referred to as "stay-wet" palettes, keep your paints moist and usable for a long time after you've finished painting. To prepare a "stay wet" palette, add your preferred oil painting medium to the back of the palette. Rub it into the wood until the paint appears tacky (like butter). Then apply a paper towel or lint free cloth to clean any excess, ensuring to reach all the tiny grooves within the wood grain. This process, referred to as seasoning, enables the palette to retain the color and oil, while allowing the hairs of the brush to pass easily.
Another good way to prep a wooden palette is by using a drying oil such as linseed, safflower or walnut - and then applying it to the surface of the palette with an abrasive. High-Quality Factory-Made Pallets will seal the wood and make it more resistant to solvents and water. It also stops the paint from sticking to the surface of the palette when wet.
Some painters prefer to use disposable palettes such as paper cups or styrofoam plates. This is a good choice because it won't absorb the paint too much and is easy to clean. However, I'd prefer to use an old-fashioned wooden palette since it's more durable, and it feels better in my hand. I am awestruck by the idea of preserving the legacy of the previous masters.