An artist's palette is a flat surface, often handheld, used for mixing and arranging paints. It can be made from various materials like wood, plastic, glass, or disposable paper, each with its own advantages. Palettes are essential for artists to organize their colors and prepare them for application to a painting surface.
Here's a more detailed description:
Function:
Palettes serve as a central hub for an artist's colors. They allow for easy access to different shades and facilitate the mixing of custom colors.
Materials:
Wood: Traditional and often oval-shaped with a thumbhole, offering a warm, natural surface, though it can stain over time.
Plastic: Lightweight and easy to clean, suitable for various mediums, especially acrylics.
Glass: Smooth and easy to clean, but can shatter.
Disposable Paper: Convenient for single-use, especially with messy mediums.
Ceramic: Durable and easy to clean, often used for watercolor palettes.
Types:
Handheld: Traditional palettes, often oval with a thumbhole, designed for easy portability.
Stay-wet: Palettes with a moist sponge or membrane to prevent acrylics from drying out too quickly.
Watercolor palettes: Often plastic or ceramic with wells for holding individual colors.
Other uses:
The term "palette" can also refer to:
Color palette: The specific range of colors an artist uses in a painting or series of works.
Computer palettes: In computer graphics, a palette is a set of colors assigned to numbers that determine the color of pixels.