Don't Make This Mistake On Your Wooden Palette

· 6 min read
Don't Make This Mistake On Your Wooden Palette

Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?

pallet for sale​  is lightweight, rigid and has an even surface. It is a warm-colored palette which helps artists perceive the colors with precision.

Make use of boiled linseed, an unlinty rag or paper towel to seal a wooden palette. Rub the oil onto the surface of the wood palette. Repeat every day, both in front and back.

Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters

Oil paints are at your fingertips using an wooden palette. This makes it much easier to mix colors and then move them on your board or canvas. This is an excellent way to keep your brushes at your fingertips. This palette has helped me reduce the amount of time I have to turn around my body in order to reach my brushes and then reload them. I've also noticed that it aids with my accuracy and consistency.

You can either buy wood palettes that are stained and sealed to withstand water and standard artist solvents or buy them unfinished and stain them yourself. Sealing the wood prior to painting will help it absorb less oil from your oil paints. To do this, pour a small pool of linseed oil on the palette and rub it in using a lint free cloth until it's fully saturated. After that, clean off any excess and your palette is now ready to use.

I prefer to tone the linseed before using it by adding a few drops to a brown medium like burnt sienna (or yellow ochre). This helps me see the shadows I'll create in my paintings. It also lets me visualize how the colors will look against the wood. Tone also helps me to distinguish the shades of light and dark in my artwork.

Over time, a properly used wooden pallet will develop a beautiful patina. The oil from your paints will stain it, and the pigments will mix to create a varnish-like finish. It's gorgeous to see.

Some artists use an acrylic varnish that is clear to protect their wooden palettes. This will protect the wood, and give it a beautiful shine. I prefer the traditional method of applying multiple thin layers of Linseed oils. It takes a little longer than polyurethane but it's worth it since you can apply a coat every time you clean your palette.

Wooden Palettes for Acrylic Painters

A wooden palette is the classic choice for oil and acrylic painting. It offers a wide and stable surface that blocks pigment absorption and encourages optimal color mixing. It also makes clean up easy and simple with a quick wipe of a paper towel or cloth after each use. The majority of craft stores have wooden palettes that aren't expensive.

For the modern acrylic painter, there are many palette options. Plastic palettes are a lighter option that resist 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 available in a variety of sizes and come with deep wells for mixing colors.

A dish made of paper or styrofoam is a popular alternative for acrylic painting. These plates are reusable and inexpensive which means they can only be used once during the duration of a painting session. This is why they are a great option for plein-air painting. However, they could absorb paint, which could make it difficult to clean.


A piece of sanded lumber such as spruce or pine with a thumbhole is one of the best options to create an acrylic paint palette that is permanent. This allows the artist to 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 also helps keep fingers from getting too dirty while using the palette.

Some artists make their own homemade wooden palettes using household items. An old plastic or aluminum foil-covered dish could be an ideal place to begin. You can also pick up old glass or ceramic dishes. You can find them at auctions and thrift shops. They are usually quite gorgeous. You can also try an tin foil piece, which will resist the absorption of paint and be very easy to clean.

An extremely popular alternative to a homemade palette is a plastic stay-wet palette. These are basically made of plastic with a secure lid. You moisten a sponge with water and place it in the bottom of the box. Then, you put an extra sheet of paper on the top to keep the paint moist. The box can be sealed and will keep the sponge and paper wet for days. If the paper begins to dry it is possible to add more water to the palette.

Wooden Palettes for Watercolor Painters

When you're painting watercolors or oil paints, using a wooden palette can be the best option. They are lighter than other options such as glass or paper, and are also strong enough to be able to be handled easily. They also have interior cut-outs for the thumb and other fingers, making them more comfortable to hold for long periods of time as you work. They have a satin finish that allows paint to sit on top without being absorbed. Additionally, they are easy to clean over time.

Wooden palettes were among the first mixing surfaces utilized by painters, and they are still an important component of many artists' studios in the present. They have an elegant and professional design and are ideal to mix alkyds, oils and acrylics. They are also often sourced with sustainable forestry practices. This makes a wooden pallet a green option for contemporary artists.

Regular cleaning and re-oiling are the key to a wooden pallet's longevity. A reapplication of linseed oil or a wood conditioner that is specially designed can help prevent excessive absorption and extend the life 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 even choose to personalize their wooden palettes by carving initials or decorative elements into them. This is a great method to make your palette feel like a part of your art and give a sense of history to your tool. Some of these palettes can be customized with lids that lock into the place. This is a great feature to use when traveling.

Platforms such as 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 wonderful reminder that painting using a wooden palette could be a rewarding and artistically satisfying experience. If you continue to paint with your wooden palette it will become a cherished piece of equipment that reminds you of your creative journey.

Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters

When we think about an art pallet the first thing we think of is an old wooden one used by masters of the past. These palettes, though used by some artists, are not suitable for acrylics or watercolours due to their porous surface. A new paint palette was invented to solve this problem. The new palettes are constructed of tempered glass, which is extremely strong and won't break if dropped.  where to get pallets​  come in different sizes and shapes and sizes, so you can pick one that fits comfortably in your hand and is simple to use.

These new palettes, referred to as "stay-wet" palettes, help keep your paints hydrated and usable for a prolonged period of time after you've completed painting. To prepare a stay-wet palette, simply add your preferred oil painting medium on the back of the palette and rub it in until it appears somewhat tacky (like soft butter). Then, use either a paper towel or lint-free cloth to clean any excess, ensuring to get into all of the tiny grooves in the wood grain. This process, called seasoning, allows the palette to keep pigment and oil while allowing brush hairs to pass through easily.

Drying oils such as linseed, or walnut is a great option to make a wooden pallet. Apply it with an abrasive to the surface. This will make the wood more durable and make it more resistant to solvents and water. This will also stop the paint from sticking to the surface of your palette when wet.

Some painters prefer to use disposable palettes such as paper cups or styrofoam plates. This is a good option since it doesn't absorb paint too much and it's easy to clean.  wooden palette​  prefer a wooden palette, because it's more sturdy and feels better in my hands. I also love the idea that I'm carrying on the tradition of the previous masters!