7 Simple Tips To Totally Rolling With Your Wooden Palette
Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?
A wooden palette has a smooth, lightweight surface that is also rigid. It also has a warm tone that helps artists see colors with greater clarity when painting.
To seal a palette made of wood make use of boiled linseed oils and an lint-free rag, or a high-quality paper towel. Rub the oil onto the surface of the palette. Repeat every day, front and back.
Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters
Oil paints are readily available when you work with the wooden palette. This makes it easy to mix colors and then move them across your board or canvas. This is a great way to have your brushes in your fingertips. I've noticed that a palette of this sort reduces the amount of time I spend moving my body to reach and refill my brushes. I've also noticed that it aids with my precision and consistency.
You can purchase wood palettes that have been sealed and stained (to repel water and standard artist solvents) or you can purchase unfinished ones and stain them yourself. When working with wood that is raw, you'll need to seal it prior to painting. This will make it less adsorbent of the oils used in your oil paints. Put a small amount of linseed on the palette, then rub it in using a lint-free, lint-free cotton rag. Then, wipe off any excess oil and your palette will be ready to use.
I prefer to tone the linseed prior to using it by adding a few drops to a brown medium, like burnt sienna (or yellow ochre). This allows me to imagine how my shadows will look on the wood. The tone helps me to distinguish between the light and dark values of my painting.
With time, a well-used wooden pallet will begin to 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 merging together to create their own varnish-like coating. It's gorgeous to see.
Some artists apply an acrylic varnish that is clear to seal their wooden palettes. This protects the wood, and give it a beautiful shine. I prefer the old method of applying thin layers of oils from linseed. It takes a bit more time than using polyurethane, but it's worth the wait since you can apply a coat every time you clean your palette. And it will only improve with time.
Wooden Palettes for Acrylic Painters
A wooden palette is a popular choice for acrylic and oil painting. It provides a large, stable surface that resists pigment absorption and promotes optimal mixing of colors. After each use, a quick wiping with a paper towel or cloth makes cleanup easy. The majority of stores selling arts and crafts carry wooden palettes, which are inexpensive.
If you are a modern acrylic artist, there are many palette options. Plastic palettes are a light option that is resistant to damage from solvents and also have a non-stick coating. They can be cleaned with warm soapy tap water and are suitable for acrylics, as well as other materials. They are typically available in several sizes with deep wells for color mixing.
A dish made of paper or styrofoam is a popular alternative for acrylic painting. They are cheap and disposable so they can be used for only one painting session, making them an ideal option for plein air painting. However, they can absorb some paint which can make it difficult to clean.
One of the most effective alternatives for a permanent acrylic paint palette is a piece of sanded wood like spruce or pine, with a thumb hole. The thumb can be inserted into the hole to allow the artist to hold the palette with their other fingers. The thumb hole can also help prevent the fingers from getting too dirty while using the palette.
Some painters make their own wooden palettes from household items. An old plastic or aluminum foil-covered dish is a good place to start. Old ceramic or glass dishes are also good choices. They can be found at yard sales and thrift shops and are usually quite pretty. You can even try an tin foil piece, which will resist the absorption of paint and be very easy to clean.
A palette made of stay-wet is a substitute for the DIY palette that is extremely popular. These are basically containers made of plastic with an airtight lid. You place a sponge in the bottom and dampen with water, then place a piece of paper that is specially designed to keep the paint moist. The box can be closed and the sponge and paper will remain wet for a few days. You can always add water to the palette if the paper starts to dry.
Wooden Palettes For Watercolor Painters
When you're painting watercolors or oil paints, using an wooden palette is an excellent choice. These palettes are lightweight compared to other options, especially glass and paper and are strong enough to allow for easy handling. These palettes have interior cutouts for your thumb and other fingers. This makes them simple 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. Furthermore, they can be cleaned easily over time.
The wooden palette was one of the earliest mixing surfaces utilized by artists. They are a vital component of many studios. 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. In this way, using a wooden palette can be a sustainable option for the contemporary artist.
Regular cleaning and re-oiling is key to the longevity of a wooden pallet. Reapplying linseed oil or a specialized wood conditioner can help to prevent excessive absorption and prolong the longevity of the palette. Depending on the kind of wood, re-oiling a palette can be as easy as pouring a small amount of oil in the center of the palette and wiping it off with a lint-free, clean cloth.
Some artists prefer to personalize wooden palettes using initials or other decorative elements. This is a fantastic method to make your palette feel like part of your work and create a sense of history for your tool. Some of these palettes are customizable with lids that lock in the place. This is a great feature to use when traveling.
Instagram has also played a role in the popularity of wooden palettes. Artists share pictures of their beautiful setups on Instagram to inspire others. These visual cues serve as an example of how painting on a wooden pallet can be a rewarding, artistic experience. When you continue painting with your wooden palette, it'll become a favorite piece of equipment that reminds you of your artistic 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 old masters. While still used by buy pallets near me , these palettes aren't ideal for use with watercolors or acrylics due to the surface is porous and absorbs the paint too much. A new palette for painting was invented to solve this issue. The new palettes are made of tempered glass, which is extremely robust and will not break if you drop it. The palettes come in a variety of sizes and shapes which means you can pick one that is comfortable in your hand and is simple to use.
These new palettes, called "stay-wet" palettes, help keep your paints moist and useable for a long time after you have finished painting. To prepare a stay-wet palette, simply add your preferred oil painting medium on the back of the palette and rub it into the wood until it appears somewhat tacky (like soft butter). Use a towel to wash away any excess oil, and ensure that it gets into all grooves of the wood grain. This process, known as seasoning, enables the palette to keep pigment and oil while allowing the brush hairs to move easily.
Another way to prepare a wooden palette is using a drying oil like linseed or safflower, or walnut - and rubbing it to the surface of the palette using the help of a rag. This will help seal the wooden surface and make it impervious to water and solvents. This will also stop the paint from sticking to the surface of your palette when it is wet.
Some painters prefer to use disposable palettes, like paper cups or styrofoam plates. This is a great option because it won't absorb the paint too much and is easy to clean. However, I would prefer to use an old-fashioned wooden palette since it's more durable, and it feels more comfortable in my hands. I also like the idea that I'm preserving the legacy of the old masters!