A palette , in the original sense of the word, is a rigid, flat surface on which a painter arranges and mixes
paint
Paint is any pigmented liquid, liquefiable, or solid mastic composition that, after application to a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to protect, color, or provide texture. Paint can be made in many ...
s. A palette is usually made of
wood,
plastic,
ceramic, or other hard,
inert
Inert may refer to:
* Chemically inert, not chemically reactive
** Inert gas
** Noble gas, historically called inert gas
* Inert knowledge, information which one can express but not use
* Inert waste, waste which is neither chemically nor biol ...
, nonporous material, and can vary greatly in size and shape. The most commonly known type of painter's palette is made of a thin wood board designed to be held in the artist's hand and rest on the artist's arm.
Watercolor palettes are generally made of plastic or porcelain with rectangular or wheel format with built in wells and mixing areas for colors.
Palettes are also a universal symbol of painting and art in general, alongside
paintbrushes
A paintbrush is a brush used to apply paint or ink. A paintbrush is usually made by clamping bristles to a handle with a ferrule. They are available in various sizes, shapes, and materials. Thicker ones are used for filling in, and thinner ones ...
, for example in the symbol of
Microsoft Paint.
See also
{{Commons category, Painting palettes
*
Palette (computing)
*
Color scheme
*
Palette knife
External links
Palette Online Etymology Dictionary
Color palette
Painting materials
Archaeological palettes