Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?
A wooden palette has a smooth, light surface and is rigid. It also has warm tones that allow artists see colors with greater clarity when painting.
Make use of boiled linseed, an lint-free rag or towel to seal a wooden palette. Rub the oil on the surface of the wood palette. Repeat daily, front and back.
Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters
Oil paints are available when you work with the wooden palette. This makes it easier to mix colors and move them on your board or canvas. This is a great way to have your brushes in fingertips. I've found that using a palette like this reduces the amount of time I spend turning my body to reach and refill my brushes. I've also noticed that it aids me in my accuracy and consistency.
You can purchase wood palettes that are stained and sealed to resist the effects of water and standard solvents for artists, or you can buy them unfinished and stain them yourself. Sealing the wood before painting will help it absorb less oil from your oil paints. To do this, pour a small pool of oil from linseed onto your palette and rub it into the palette with a lint free cloth until it's saturated. Then wipe off the excess and your palette is now ready to use.
I prefer to tone the linseed before using it by adding a few drops to an oil medium that is brown, like burnt sienna (or yellow ochre). This helps me see the shadows I'll create in my paintings and it also lets me see how the colors will look against the wood. The tone will help me to distinguish between the light and dark values of my painting.
Over time, a properly used wooden pallet will develop a gorgeous patina. It will become more opaque and smooth due to the oil in your paints staining it bit and the pigments merging together to create their own varnish-like coating. It's stunning to look at.
Some painters apply an acrylic varnish that is clear to seal their wooden palettes. This protects the wood and give it a beautiful shine. However, I've found that the traditional method of applying multiple thin coats of linseed oil is well for me. It takes a bit more time 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
A wooden palette is the most popular option for acrylic and oil painting. It provides a large, stable surface that resists pigment absorption and facilitates optimal color mixing. After each use, a quick wipe with a paper towel or cloth will make cleanup easy. Most arts and crafts stores have wooden palettes that aren't expensive.
There are a myriad of options available for acrylic painters today. Plastic palettes are a light alternative that can withstand solvent damage and have an anti-stick coating. They are easy to clean using warm soapy water and can be utilized for a variety of materials including acrylics. They are typically available in a variety of sizes and deep wells for mixing colors.
A paper or styrofoam dish is a popular alternative for acrylic painting. These are affordable and disposable, so they can be used for just one painting session, making them a great solution for plein air painting. They can absorb some of the paint though, which could be difficult to wash.
A piece of sanded lumber such as pine or spruce with a thumbhole, is one of the best options for creating a permanent acrylic paint pallet. This allows the artist to hold the palette with the thumb inserted into the hole leaving the other fingers for holding brushes and the mahlstick. The thumb hole helps to stop fingers from becoming too dirty when using the palette.
Some artists prefer to build their own wooden palettes using common items. An old plastic or aluminum foil-covered dish could be an excellent place to begin. You can also opt for old ceramic or glass dishes. They are available at yard sales or thrift shops and are often quite beautiful. You can also use the foil piece that will resist paint absorption and is easy to clean.
An extremely popular alternative to a homemade palette is a plastic stay-wet palette. They are essentially a plastic box with a secure lid. You dampen a sponge with water and place it in the bottom of the box. Then, you put an extra sheet of paper on top to keep paint damp. The box can be closed and the sponge and paper will remain damp for several days. If the paper starts to dry out it is possible to add more water to the palette.
Wooden Palettes For Watercolor Painters
A wooden palette is a fantastic option for anyone who paints using watercolors or oil. These palettes are lightweight in comparison to other alternatives, including paper and glass and are strong enough to allow for easy handling. They have cutouts inside for your thumb and other fingers. This makes them easier to hold during long periods. 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 over time.
The wooden palette was among the first mixing surfaces used by artists. They are an integral component of many studios. They provide an elegant, professional appearance and are perfect to mix acrylics, oils and alkyds. They are also often sourced with sustainable forestry practices. In this way, using a wooden palette could be a sustainable option for the contemporary artist.
purchase used pallets Agrony Trading and re-oiling is the essential to a wooden pallet's longevity. A reapplication of linseed oil or a special wood conditioner can help to prevent excessive absorption and extend the lifespan of the palette. Based on the type of wood that is used, re-oiling a palette could be as easy as pouring a puddle of oil in the center of the palette, then wiping it with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Some artists prefer to personalize wooden palettes using initials or decorative elements. This is a great way to make the palette appear as an extension of your work and give a sense of historical significance to your tool. Some of these personalised palettes have lids that can be locked into the place and lock in place, which is a wonderful feature for travel.
Platforms like Instagram have also contributed to the popularity of wood palettes, with artists sharing photos of their beautifully arranged sets to inspire others. These visual cues are a great reminder that painting using a wooden palette can be a rewarding and artistically satisfying experience. If you continue to use your wooden palette, it will grow into an item that you will treasure and an excellent reminder of your creative journey.
Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters
When we think about a paint pallet the first thing we imagine is an old wooden one, which was used by old masters. While still used by a few artists but these palettes aren't suitable to use with acrylics or watercolors because the surface is porous and absorbs the paint too much. However, a different type of palette for painting has been invented that solves this issue. These new palettes are made of tempered glass, which is extremely robust and won't break should you drop it. They also come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so you can find one that is easy to hold and fits into your hand while working.
These new palettes, referred to as "stay-wet" palettes, will keep your paints moist and usable for a prolonged period of time after you have completed painting. To prepare a stay wet palette, add your preferred oil painting medium to the back of the palette. Rub it in until it appears somewhat tacky (like soft butter). Use a towel to wash away any excess oil and ensure that it gets in all the grooves of the wood grain. This process, called seasoning, allows the palette to keep the pigment and oil, while allowing hairs of the brush to flow through with ease.
Another way to prepare 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 a rag. This will make the wood more durable and make it impervious to water and solvents. This will also stop the paint from sticking on the surface of your palette when wet.
Some artists prefer using disposable palettes like paper plates or styrofoam cups. This is a good option since it doesn't absorb paint too much and is easy to clean. However, I would prefer to make use of an old-fashioned wooden palette since it's more durable, and it feels more comfortable in my hands. I am awestruck by the idea of preserving the tradition of the older masters.