Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?
A wooden palette is a light, smooth surface and is rigid. It also has a warm tone that helps artists to see colors clearly when painting.
Use boiled linseed and an lint-free rag or towel to protect a wooden palette. Rub the oil onto the the wood palette. Repeat High-Quality Factory-Made Pallets , front and back.
Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters
Oil paints are at your fingertips when you use a wooden palette. This makes it much easier to mix colors and move them across the surface of your board or canvas. This is an excellent way to keep your brushes close at your fingertips. I've noticed that such a palette can reduce the amount of time I spend moving my body to grab and reload my brushes. I've also noticed that it aids with my precision and consistency.
You can either buy wood palettes that are stained and sealed to withstand water and standard solvents for artists, or you can buy them unfinished and stain them yourself. When working with raw wood you'll need to seal it prior to painting - this makes it less able to absorb of the oils used in your oil paints. To do this, pour a small amount oil from linseed onto your palette, and then rub it in using 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 use by adding the smallest amount of brown medium (such as burnt sienna or yellow ochre) to the Linseed oil. This helps me visualize how my shadows will appear on the wood. Tone also helps me distinguish between shades of light and dark in my paintings.
A well-used wooden palette will form a gorgeous patina over time. It will become more opaque and smooth with the oil from your paints staining it bit and the pigments blending together to form their own varnish-like coating. It's gorgeous to see.
Some painters prefer to use an acrylic sealer that is clear on their wooden palettes - this will protect the wood and give it an attractive shine. However, I've found that the old method of applying thin coats of linseed oil work perfectly for me. It takes a bit longer than polyurethane, but it's worth it since you can apply one coat every time you clean your palette.
Wooden Palettes for Acrylic Painters
A wooden palette is the most popular choice for acrylic and oil painting. It offers a wide and stable surface that blocks 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. The majority of stores selling arts and crafts carry wooden palettes, which aren't expensive.
If you are a modern acrylic artist, there are many palette options. Plastic palettes come with a nonstick coating and are lightweight. They also withstand solvent damage. They are easy to clean with warm soapy water, and can be used for a wide range of materials, including acrylics. They are available in different sizes and come with deep wells to mix colors.
A paper or styrofoam dish is a different option for acrylic painting. These plates are reusable and inexpensive which means they can only be used once for an entire painting session. This is why they are a great option for plein-air painting. They could take in some paint, and could be difficult to wash.
One of the best options for an acrylic paint palette that is permanent is a piece of sanded hardwood, like pine or spruce that has a thumb hole. The thumb can be inserted into the hole to allow the artist to hold it with their other fingers. The thumb hole also helps to keep the fingers from becoming too dirty when using the palette.
Some painters make their own wooden palettes using household items. An old plastic or aluminum foil-covered dish is an excellent place to begin. You can also choose old glass or ceramic dishes. You can find them at yard sales and in thrift shops. They are generally beautiful. You can also try an tin foil piece that will ward off the absorption of paint and be very easy to clean.
A popular alternative to a DIY palette is a stay-wet palette. They are basically a plastic box with an airtight lid. You place a sponge in the bottom and dampen with water, then place a piece of specialty paper on top to keep the paint wet. The box can be shut and the sponge and paper will stay damp for several days. You can always add water to the palette if the paper starts to dry.
Wooden Palettes for watercolor artists
Whether you are painting oil paints or watercolors using an wooden palette is an excellent option. These palettes are lighter than other alternatives such as glass or paper, and are also strong enough to handle easily. They also have interior cut-outs for the thumb and other fingers, making them comfortable to hold for long periods of time while you work. They feature a satin-finished finish that lets paint be able to sit on top of the surface without being absorbed. Additionally, they are easy to clean over time.
Wooden palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces utilized by artists and remain a vital part of many artist's studios today. They have an elegant and professional appearance and are ideal to mix alkyds, oils and acrylics. They are also often sourced by forestry practices that are sustainable. This makes a wooden pallet a sustainable option for modern artists.
Regular cleaning and re-oiling are the key to the durability of a wooden pallet. A reapplication of linseed oil or a specialized wood conditioner can prevent excessive absorption and extend the longevity of the palette. Depending on the kind of wood that is used, re-oiling a palette could be as easy as pouring a pool of oil in the center of the palette and then wiping it with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Some artists choose to personalize their wooden palettes by carving initials or other decorative elements into them. This is a great way to make your palette feel as if it's part of your work and add a sense history to your tool. Some of these personalised palettes come with lids that be locked in the position, which is a nice feature for travel.
Platforms such as Instagram have also played a role in the popularity of wood palettes, with artists sharing photos of their beautifully arranged arrangements to inspire others. These visual cues serve as an encouragement to paint on a wooden palette can be a rewarding, artistic experience. As you continue to use your wooden palette, it will eventually become a favorite 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. They are still utilized by a few artists, are not suitable for watercolours or acrylics because of their porous surfaces. However, a new type of palette for painting has been invented that solves this problem. These new palettes have been made from tempered glass which is extremely strong and won't break if dropped. These palettes are available in various sizes and shapes which means you can pick one that fits comfortably in your hand and is easy to use.
These new palettes, called "stay-wet" palettes, will keep your paints hydrated and usable for a prolonged period of time after you've finished painting. To make a stay wet palette, add your preferred oil painting medium to the back of the palette. Rub it in until it looks slightly tacky (like soft butter). Then apply pallet prices or lint-free cloth to wipe off any excess, making sure to get into all of the tiny grooves in the wood grain. This process, also known as seasoning, allows the palette to hold the oil and pigment while allowing the hairs of the brush to pass easily.
Drying oil, such as linseed or walnut is a great option to prepare a wooden palette. Apply it with an abrasive to the surface. This will help seal the wood and make it more resistant to water and solvents. It will also stop the paint from sticking to the surface of the palette when it's wet.
Some artists prefer using disposable palettes, such as paper cups or styrofoam plates. This is a good choice because it doesn't soak up paint too often, and is easy to clean. I prefer a wooden palette, because it's more durable and feels better in my hands. I love the idea of preserving the tradition of the old masters.