Why Use pallet prices For Oil Painting?
For oil painting wooden palettes are employed. They are light and easy to clean. They also look beautiful.
Many images of artists at work have survived. Some depict wooden pallets like the one that Vermeer employed.
To prepare a palette made of wood clean it with drying oils like linseed or safflower. It is important to keep the palette in good shape by applying an oil-based coating.
Lightweight
In contrast to glass or tear-off palettes, a wooden palette is lightweight and can be carried easily at ease. Its thickness makes it rigid and stable, which prevents it from bending under pressure. It can also be sanded and stained to give it colour. A wood palette is more durable and resistant to insects and fungi than other materials. The wooden palettes are perfect to mix alkyds and acrylics.
The most common type of wooden palette is made of pine or maple both of which can resist cracking and warping. It is important to choose one that has been treated to stop the growth of insects or fungi. This is crucial to the longevity and quality of a pallet made from wood. Furthermore the surface of a quality wooden palette must be smooth and evenly sanded. It should also have a low concentration of moisture, which will reduce the possibility of paints becoming damaged or wrinkling.
A wooden palette has another wonderful benefit: it's simple to clean. At the end of each painting session, artist can wipe the palette with a drying oil to prepare it for the next time. Linseed oil is a good choice due to its low cost, readily available and quick-drying.
The natural brown of the wooden palette is ideal to mix colors since it is similar to the predominant color of the canvas. This helps avoid the impression that the colors appear as being lighter or darker than they actually are. Vermeer used the typical wooden palette. In a 1676 inventory the inventory mentions that "tweeschilders eesels" (two easels for painters) and "drye paletten" (3 wooden palettes) were present. Frans van Mieris depicted a painted version of a Vermeer-style palette in his allegorical figure in Pictura and Roger de Piles recommended painters to paint the flesh tones ranging from light to dark on a wooden palette.
Sturdy
Artists have used wooden palettes for centuries due to the fact that they're strong and durable. They're light compared to tear-off or glass palettes and they're more rigid than paper ones. This makes them easier to hold and use while painting. They also make a great option for mixing oil paints and alkyds. It is crucial to choose an alkyd palette made of wood of good quality that has been heat treated. This process eliminates the insects and fungi that could damage the palette.
A good wooden palette is smooth and well-made, allowing your brushes to glide effortlessly across it. It should be finished with a drying oil to protect the wood against water and solvent damage, and help it maintain its shape. You can purchase pre-finished palettes that are ready for use, or you can build your own using raw wood. If you're using a wooden palette, make sure to clean it after every painting session. Wet paint left on a wood palette can cause it to crack or warp over time.
Wooden Palettes remain popular among artists. They were the first mixing surfaces to be used to mix oil paints. They are lightweight and sturdy and can hold large quantities of paint without breaking. They are also ideal to mix alkyds, acrylics, and any other thick-bodied paints.
In the time of Vermeer, the common palette with a hole to accommodate the thumb was replaced by the earlier rectangular model with handles. The painter held the palette by putting his thumb in the hole, allowing him to free his other fingers for holding brushes and the mahlstick.
A good quality palette is made of spruce or other hardwood which has been treated to kill any fungi or insects. A treatment that heats wood can also make it harder to scratch or sand the surface of the palette. A well-used, conditioned wooden palette will get an even, glass-like appearance after many years of use. This is due to the build-up of thin layers of dry oils that allow the surface retain its shape.
Easy to clean
A wood palette gives you an easy-to-clean, smooth palette that lasts for many years. This type of palette is a favorite among oil artists because it will not break or crack like glass palettes. You can purchase a wood palette pre-oiled, or seal it yourself. To do this, you'll require boiling linseed oil from the hardware store, nitrile gloves and high-quality paper towels or rags (if it has bits, don't use it). The process of sealing a palette with a drying oil fills the tiny gaps in the wood and creates an even surface that improves with each painting you make.
Once you have your palette oiled you will need to recondition it after each painting session. This is important because it will keep your paints evenly mixed on the palette and protect your hands from solvents. Begin by lightly sanding your palette using 180-grit paper. This will help open the grain of the wood, allowing it to absorb oil more easily. Then pour a bowl of linseed oil onto the palette and then use a rag wipe it evenly over the entire surface. Then, let the oil dry for a day or two.
After your palette has dried you can use a paper towel to wipe it off and if you have any leftover paint just a tiny OMS on a rag will remove it. You should not use anything sharp to scrape off the dried paint. This can cause damage and scratching to your palette.
If you do need to scrape some of the dried paint off your palette it's best to use a soft brush instead of using the knife. If you scrape it too hard you could break the wood and ruin the palette.
Aesthetically pleasing
A wooden palette is a beautiful and durable mixing surface. It makes you feel like a true artist. It can be used with acrylics, oil paints, and alkyds. Its smooth surface is easy to clean and glides effortlessly across the brush as you mix and pick up paint. Wooden palettes are also light and come in a variety of sizes to suit your hands. They come in a variety of finishes and styles.
Wooden palettes have been around for as long as art itself and are among the oldest mixing surfaces. The wood has a warm brown hue which doesn't affect the colors of the paints. This is important since the dominant tone is what influences the perception of the color. A wooden palette also helps you to determine the hues of your paints since it has a mid-value which shows the hues against.
The earliest palettes were made from tin foil or paper, but the ones Vermeer used were likely made of wood. In the 1676 probate inventories two easels for painters were listed, along with three palettes. Vermeer's contemporary Frans van Mieris can be seen using the same type of palette in an allegorical painting depicting Pictura. A traditional wooden palette used for oil painting is generally designed to hold the thumb hole that is used to support the palette while the other fingers hold brushes and the maulstick to hold the hand over the canvas while painting.
After cleaning the surface, wipe it clean with a drying oil -- linseed, or another - to keep the palette in good condition until the next time you require it. This will fill in the pores in the wood grain and provide an easier surface for your brushes. Over time an oil-based palette will develop a gorgeous patina that will add to its character.