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Why Paint on a Wooden Palette? A wooden palette is lightweight, rigid and has an even surface. It also has warm tones that allow artists to see colors clearly when painting. To seal a wooden palette use boiled linseed oil and an lint-free rag, or high quality paper towel. Rub the oil onto the surface of the palette. Repeat daily, on both sides. Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters Oil paints are at your fingertips using the wooden palette. This makes it much easier to mix your colors and move them around your board or canvas. It's also a great method to keep your brushes at the ready. I've noticed that a palette like this really cuts down on the amount of time I spend turning my body to grab and reload my brushes. I've also noticed that it aids with my precision and consistency. You can buy wood palettes that are stained and sealed to resist water and standard solvents for artists or buy them unfinished and stain them yourself. Sealing the wood prior painting will allow it to absorb less oil from your oil paints. Pour a small amount of linseed on the palette, then rub it in with a non-lint cotton rag. After that, clean off the excess and your palette is now ready to use. I like to tone my palette prior to using it by adding some drops of a brown medium (such as burnt sienna or yellow orange) to the Linseed oil. This helps me to visualize the shadows I'll create in my paintings and it also allows me to visualize how the colors will look against the wood. Tone also helps me distinguish between light and dark values in my artwork. With time, a well-used wooden pallet will develop a gorgeous patina. It will get more opaque and smooth with the oil from your paints staining it bit and the pigments merging together to form their own varnish-like coating. It's stunning to look at. Some painters use a clear acrylic varnish to seal their wooden palettes. This protects the wood, and give it a beautiful shine. However, I've found that the old way of applying multiple thin coats of linseed oil works just fine for me. It takes a bit more time than polyurethane, but it's worth it as you can apply a coat each time you wash your palette. Wooden Palettes for Acrylic Painters The wooden palette is a popular option for oil and acrylic painting. It offers a wide solid surface that is resistant to pigment absorption and promotes optimal color mixing. After each use, a quick wiping with paper towels or a cloth will make cleanup easy. Palettes made of wood are also affordable and are available at the majority of stores for arts and crafts. There are a variety of options for acrylic painters today. Plastic palettes are a lightweight option that is resistant to solvent damage and have a non-stick coating. They can be cleaned using warm soapy tap water and are suitable for acrylics among other materials. They are generally available in a variety of sizes and deep wells to mix colors. Another popular choice for acrylic painting is a styrofoam plate. These plates are disposable and affordable and are only used once during an entire painting session. This makes them an excellent solution for plein-air painting. They could take in some paint, however, which can be difficult to clean. One of the most effective options for an acrylic paint palette that is permanent is a piece of sanded hardwood such as spruce or pine that has a thumb hole. This allows the artist to hold the palette using the thumb placed inside the hole, leaving the other fingers to hold brushes and the mahlstick. The thumb hole helps stop fingers from becoming too dirty while using the palette. Some artists make their own wooden palettes out of household items. purchase wood pallets or aluminum foil covered dish can be an excellent place to begin. You can also choose old glass or ceramic dishes. These can be found at yard sales and thrift shops and are usually quite attractive. You can also use an aluminum foil that will resist the absorption of paint and is easy to clean. An extremely popular alternative to a DIY palette is a plastic stay-wet palette. They are essentially a plastic box with a lid that is tight. The sponge is placed at the bottom and make damp with water, and then place a piece of special paper on top to keep the paint moist. The box can be kept closed and keep the sponge and paper moist for several days. If the paper starts to dry out, you can always add more water to the palette. Wooden Palettes For Watercolor Painters Whether you are painting oil paints or watercolors, an wooden palette is an excellent choice. They are lighter than other alternatives like glass or paper and are strong enough to handle easily. These palettes have interior cutouts for your thumb and other fingers. This makes them easier to hold while working for long periods. They have a satin finish that lets paint be able to sit on top of the surface without being absorbed, and they are easily cleaned for years of use. Wooden palettes were among the first mixing surfaces used by artists and are still an important component of many artists' studios in the present. They have an elegant and professional design and are perfect for mixing alkyds, oils and acrylics. They are often made by forestry practices that are sustainable. This is why using a wooden palette can be a sustainable choice for the modern artist. Regular cleaning and re-oiling is essential to the longevity of a wooden pallet. A reapplication of linseed oil or a specialized wood conditioner can help to prevent excessive absorption and extend the longevity of the palette. Re-oiling is as easy as pouring oil in the middle of the palette, and wiping with an lint-free cloth. Some artists opt to personalize their wooden palettes by carving initials or other decorative elements into them. This is an excellent option to make your palette appear as an extension of your artwork and give a sense of historical significance to your tool. Some of these palettes are customizable with lids that lock in the place. This is a great feature to take with you when traveling. Instagram has also contributed to the popularity of wooden palettes. Artists share pictures of their beautiful setups on Instagram to inspire others. These visual cues are a wonderful reminder that painting with a wooden palette can be a rewarding and satisfying experience. As you continue to paint using your wooden palette, it will become a cherished piece of equipment that reminds you of your artistic journey. Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters When we think of a palette to paint the first image that comes to mind is one made of wood, used by the masters of the past. While still used by a few painters, these palettes are not suitable to use with acrylics or watercolors because the surface is porous and absorbs the paint too much. However, a new kind of palette for painting has been invented that solves this problem. These new palettes are made of tempered glass, which is robust and will not break if you drop it. They are also available in various shapes and sizes, so you can find one that is comfortable to hold and fit into your hand while working. The new palettes are referred to as “stay wet” palettes since they keep your paints hydrated and functional for a lengthy time after you've finished painting. To prepare a “stay wet” palette, add your preferred oil painting medium on the back of the palette. Rub it into the wood until the paint looks tacky (like butter). Then, use either a paper towel or lint-free cloth to wipe off any excess, making sure to reach all the tiny grooves in the wood grain. This process, also known as seasoning, permits the palette to keep pigment and oil while allowing brushhairs to pass easily. Another method to prepare a wooden palette is by using a drying oil – like linseed, safflower or walnut – and rubbing it to the surface of the palette with the help of a rag. This will help to seal the wood and make it resistant to water and solvents. It will also prevent 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 much, and it's also easy to clean. I prefer a wooden palette, because it's more sturdy and feels better in my hands. I also love the thought that I'm preserving the tradition of the previous masters!