To prep a raw wooden palette for oil painting, lightly sand it, rub on a light coat of linseed oil, wait a day, and then repeat the process, sanding lightly again between coats.
Preparing a raw wooden palette is a crucial step for oil painters. This process seals the wood, preventing it from absorbing the oil from your paints and making cleaning easier. Based on the provided reference, here is a straightforward method using linseed oil:
Steps for Oil Preparation
Follow these steps to properly seal your raw wood palette using oil:
- Light Sanding: Begin by sanding the raw wood palette lightly. This helps to smooth the surface and open the pores slightly to accept the oil.
- Apply Linseed Oil: Rub the palette with a light coat of linseed oil. Ensure the oil is spread evenly across the surface.
- Allow to Dry: Wait a day to allow the first coat of linseed oil to penetrate and begin drying.
- Repeat Process: Repeat steps 1 and 2. This involves sanding lightly between coats before applying the second light coat of linseed oil.
Applying multiple thin coats with drying time and light sanding in between builds up a durable, sealed surface suitable for mixing oil paints.
Alternative Method
The reference mentions that you can use lacquer instead of oil. However, it notes that lacquer "seems messier... since lacquer goes through a sticky phase when drying." For this reason, the linseed oil method is presented as the seemingly preferred approach in the reference.
Properly preparing your wooden palette ensures longevity and provides an ideal surface for mixing and manipulating your oil paints.
