Why Paint on a Wooden Palette?

A wooden palette is a light, smooth surface and is rigid. It is a warm-colored palette that helps painters perceive colors in a precise manner.

To seal a palette made of wood make use of boiled linseed oils and a lint free rag or a high quality paper towel. Rub the oil into the surface of the palette. Repeat every day, both back and front.

Wooden Palettes for Oil Painters

Painting on a wooden palette can bring all your oil paints right at your fingertips. This makes it easier to mix colors and then move them across your board or canvas. This is an excellent way to keep your brushes in fingertips. This palette has helped me save time by reducing the amount of time I have to turn around my body in order to reach my brushes to reload them. I've also noticed that it helps with my accuracy and consistency.

You can purchase wood palettes that are stained and sealed to resist the effects of water and standard solvents for artists, or you can buy them unfinished and stain them yourself. Sealing the wood before painting will allow it to absorb less oil from your oil paints. To do this, pour a small amount linseed oil on the palette and rub it in using an lint-free rag until it is fully saturated. After that, clean off any excess oil and your palette is ready to use.


I like to tone the linseed prior using it by adding a few drops to a brown medium, such as burnt sienna (or yellow ochre). This helps me visualize the shadows I'll create in my paintings and it also lets me see how the colors will look against the wood. The tone helps me differentiate between the light and dark values of my painting.

A wooden palette that has been well-used will develop a gorgeous patina over time. The oils you use to paint will stain it and the pigments will blend together to create a varnish-like finish. It's a gorgeous thing to see.

Some artists prefer using an acrylic sealer that is clear on their palettes made of wood - this will protect the wood and give it a beautiful shine. However, I've found that the old way of applying several thin coats of linseed oil works well for me. It takes a little longer than polyurethane but it's worth it since you can apply a coat every 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 encourages optimal color mixing. After each use, a quick wiping with paper towels or a cloth makes cleanup easy. The majority of craft stores have wooden palettes that are inexpensive.

For the modern acrylic painter there are numerous palette options. Plastic palettes are a lightweight option that is resistant to solvent damage and feature an anti-stick coating. They can be cleaned using warm soapy tap water and are suitable for acrylics, and other materials. They are usually available in various sizes and deep wells for color mixing.

Another popular option for acrylic painting is a paper or styrofoam plate. These plates are easily disposable and cost-effective which means they can be used only once for a painting session. This makes them a great choice for plein-air painting. However, they could absorb paint, which can make it difficult to clean.

A piece of sanded wood, such as spruce or pine with a thumbhole is one of the best options to create an acrylic paint palette that is permanent. This lets the artist hold the palette by inserting the thumb inserted into the hole leaving the other fingers for holding brushes and the mahlstick. The thumb hole helps to keep the fingers from becoming too dirty when using the palette.

buy pallets near me agronytradingllc make their own wooden palettes out of household items. A dish covered with aluminum foil or plastic can be a great place to start. You can also pick up old ceramic or glass dishes. They are available at auctions and thrift shops. They are generally attractive. You can also try using a piece of tin foil, which will resist the absorption of paint and be very easy to clean.

A very popular alternative to a homemade palette is a plastic stay-wet palette. These are basically a plastic box with a secure lid. You dampen a sponge with water and put it in the bottom of the box. Then, you place the special paper the top to keep paint moist. The box can be shut and the sponge and paper will stay moist for several days. If the paper begins to dry, you can always add more water to the palette.

Wooden Palettes for Watercolor Painters

A wooden palette is a fantastic choice for anyone who paints with oil or watercolors. They are lighter than other options like glass or paper, and are also strong enough to be handled easily. They also have interior cut-outs for the thumb and other fingers, making them comfortable to hold for long periods of time as you work. They feature a satin-finished finish that allows paint to be able to sit on top of the surface without being absorbed, and they can be cleaned easily for years of use.

Wooden palettes were one of the first mixing surfaces used by painters, and they are still an important element in many studios of artists today. They offer an elegant, professional look and are perfect for mixing acrylics, oils, and alkyds. In addition they are usually sourced from sustainable forestry practices. This makes using a wood pallet a sustainable option for contemporary artists.

The most important factor in the longevity of a wooden palette is regular cleaning and re-oiling. Reapplying linseed oils or a wood conditioner that is specially designed can help to prevent excessive absorption and extend the longevity of the palette. Re-oiling is as simple as pouring oil in the middle of the palette, and wiping with an lint-free cloth.

Some artists prefer to personalize wooden palettes with initials or other decorative elements. This is a wonderful way to make your palette feel like part of your art and add a sense history to your tool. Some of these palettes can be customized with lids that lock in the place. This is a great feature to use when traveling.

Platforms like Instagram have also played a role in the popularity of wooden palettes, with artists sharing pictures of their stunningly arranged arrangements to inspire others. These visual cues serve as a reminder that painting on a pallet made of wood can be a rewarding, artistic experience. When you continue painting with your wooden palette, it will become a cherished piece of equipment that will remind you of your artistic journey.

Wooden Palettes for Mixed Media Painters

When we think about an art pallet, the first thing we imagine is an old wooden one that was used by masters of the past. Although still used by some artists, these palettes are not ideal for use with watercolors or acrylics due to the surface is too porous and absorbs the paint too much. However, a new type of paint palette has been developed to solve this problem. The new palettes are constructed of tempered glass, which is extremely robust and won't break should you drop it. The palettes come in various sizes and shapes and sizes, so 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 hydrated and usable for a prolonged period of time after you've completed painting. To prepare a "stay wet" palette, add your preferred oil painting medium on the back of the palette. Rub it in until the paint looks tacky (like butter). Use a paper towel to get rid of any oil that has accumulated, and make sure to get into all the grooves of the wood grain. This process, also known as seasoning, allows the palette to keep the oil and pigment while allowing the brush hairs to move easily.

Another way 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 make the wood more durable and make it more resistant to water and solvents. This also stops the paint from sticking to the surface of your palette when wet.

Some painters prefer to use disposable palettes, like paper cups or styrofoam plates. This is a good choice because it doesn't absorb paint as often, and is easy to clean. I prefer a wooden palette, because it's more sturdy and feels more comfortable in my hands. I love the idea of continuing the legacy of the previous masters.