Why pallet for sale on a Wooden Palette?
A wooden palette has a smooth, light surface and is rigid. It also has a warm tone that helps artists to see colors clearly when painting.
To seal a palette made of wood use boiled linseed oil and a lint-free rag or high quality paper towel. Rub the oil onto the the wood palette. Repeat daily, on both sides.
Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters
Oil paints are at your fingertips when you use the wooden palette. This makes it easy to mix colors and then move them on your board or canvas. It's also a great way to keep your brushes close at your fingertips. This palette has helped me reduce the amount of time I have to turn around my body to reach my brushes and reload them. I've also noticed that it aids me in my accuracy and consistency.
You can purchase wood palettes that have been stained and sealed (to repel water as well as conventional solvents for artists) or you can buy unfinished ones 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 amount Linseed oil onto the palette and then rub it in with an lint-free cloth until it's fully saturated. After that, clean off the excess and your palette is now ready to use.
I like to tone my palette before using it by adding some drops of a brown medium (such as burnt sienna or yellow ochre) to the Linseed oil. This helps me to visualize the shadows I'll be creating in my paintings and it also allows me to observe how the colors look against the wood. The tone will help me to distinguish between the light and dark values of my painting.
As time passes, a well-used wooden pallet will develop a gorgeous patina. The oils you use to paint will stain the wood and the pigments will mix to form a varnish-like finish. It's gorgeous to see.
Some artists use a clear acrylic varnish to seal their palettes made of wood. This protects the wood, and give it a beautiful shine. However, I find that the old way of applying multiple thin coats of linseed oil work perfectly for me. It takes a bit longer than using polyurethane but it's worth the wait because you can apply a coat every time you clean your palette and it will only improve over time.
Wooden Palettes for Acrylic Painters
The wooden palette is a popular option for oil and acrylic painting. It is a large and stable area that is resistant to the absorption of color and facilitates color mixing. It also makes cleaning easy and quick with a quick wipe of a paper towel or cloth after every use. The majority of stores selling arts and crafts offer wooden palettes, which are inexpensive.
If you are a modern acrylic artist, there are many palette options. Plastic palettes are a lightweight option that resist 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 generally available in a variety of sizes and deep wells for color mixing.
A styrofoam or paper dish is another popular option for acrylic painting. They are cheap and disposable so they can be used for only one painting session, which makes them an ideal option for plein air painting. They can take in some paint though, which can be difficult to clean.
A piece of sanded wood such as spruce or pine with a thumbhole, is among the best options for creating an acrylic paint palette that is permanent. This lets the artist hold the palette by inserting the thumb placed inside the hole, leaving the other fingers free to hold brushes and the mahlstick. The thumb hole can also help prevent the fingers from getting too dirty when using the palette.
Some painters make their own wooden palettes using household items. A dish that is covered in aluminum foil or plastic can be a great place to start. You can also opt for old ceramic or glass dishes. They are available at auctions and thrift shops. They are usually quite beautiful. You can also try a piece of tin foil that will ward off the absorption of paint and will be easy to clean.
An extremely popular alternative to a DIY palette is a plastic stay-wet palette. They are basically containers made of plastic with an airtight lid. You place a sponge at the bottom that you make damp with water, and 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 remain wet for a few days. If the paper starts to dry out it is possible to add more water to the palette.
Wooden Palettes for watercolor artists
Whether you are painting watercolors or oil paints using the wooden palette is an excellent choice. These palettes are lightweight in comparison to other alternatives, including glass and paper and are strong enough to allow for easy handling. They feature cutouts in the interior for your thumb and other fingers. This makes them easy to hold for long periods. They feature a satin-finished finish that allows paint to rest on top without being absorbed. Furthermore, they are easy to clean to last for a long time.
Wooden palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces utilized by painters, and they are still an important part of many artist's studios today. They provide an elegant, professional appearance and are perfect for mixing acrylics, oils, and alkyds. They are often made with sustainable forestry practices. In this way, using a wooden palette can be a sustainable choice for the modern artist.
Regular cleaning and re-oiling are the essential to a wooden pallet's longevity. Reapplying linseed oils or a specialized wood conditioner can help to prevent excessive absorption and prolong the longevity of the palette. Re-oiling can be as easy as pouring oil into the middle of the palette, and wiping it off with a lint free cloth.
Some artists choose to personalize their wooden palettes by carving initials or decorative elements into the surface. This is a fantastic option to make your palette feel as if it's part of your art and create a sense of history for your tool. Some of these palettes can be customized with lids that lock into place. This is a great feature to take with you when traveling.
Platforms like Instagram have also contributed to the popularity of wood palettes, with artists sharing photos of their beautifully arranged arrangements to inspire others. These visual cues are a great reminder that painting with a wooden palette can be a rewarding and satisfying experience. If you continue to use your wooden palette, it will eventually become a beloved piece of equipment and a reminder of your creative journey.
Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters
When we think of a palette to paint, the first thing that comes to mind is one made of wood, used by old masters. These palettes, though used by some artists are not suitable for watercolours or acrylics because of their porous surface. A new paint palette was designed to solve this issue. These new palettes have been made from tempered glass which is extremely strong and won't break in the event of a drop. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes which means you can pick one that is easy to hold and fits into your hand while working.

These new palettes are known as "stay wet" palettes due to the fact that they keep your paints moist and able to work for a long time after you've completed painting. To prepare a "stay wet" palette, place your preferred oil painting medium on the back of the palette. Rub it in until the paint looks tacky (like butter). Then you can use a paper towel or lint free cloth to wipe off any excess, ensuring to reach all the little grooves in the wood grain. This process, called seasoning, helps the palette retain oil and pigment while allowing brush hairs to move through with ease.
A drying oil such as linseed, or walnut can be used to make a wooden pallet. Apply it using a rag to the surface. This will help to protect the wood and make it more resistant to solvents and water. It will also prevent the paint from sticking to the surface of the palette when it's wet.
Some painters like to use disposable palettes such as paper plates or styrofoam cups. This is a great option because it doesn't soak up paint too much, and it's also easy to clean. I prefer a wooden palette because it is more durable and feels better in my hands. I am awestruck by the idea of continuing the tradition of the old masters.