What is a 'palette' in painting?

A palette in painting is a flat board or surface on which an artist arranges, holds, and mixes colours before applying them to a canvas or other support. Traditional palettes are made of wood (often with a thumb hole for easy holding), though modern versions may be made of glass, plastic, or ceramic. The term is also used figuratively to describe the range of colours an artist chooses for a particular work.

A shading technique refers to methods of creating tonal variation (such as hatching or blending), not a physical tool. A brush cleaner is a solvent or container used to wash paint from brushes. A frame is the border structure that surrounds and protects a finished painting.