If you’ve ever find a chance to spread frosting on a cake, you have an idea of the textural possibilities when using a painting knife to create an oil painting. Different from painting with a brush, this process can help you achieve a variety of effects, from the sweeping strokes associated with impasto to refined details.
Knife Painting
The terms painting knife and a palette knife are often used interchangeably when describing the technique of applying paint to a surface with the blade of an artist’s knife. Tools are made up of either plastic or of wood and metal. Both are available in a variety of blade shapes and sizes. The purpose of the palette knife is to mix colors or clean the surface of the palette.
Painting surface for a piece done with knives must be firm to prevent the paint from cracking as it dries. When the paint is applied to a surface with a painting knife, whether it be with oil or acrylic, it must be applied with a heavy body. the oils dry very slowly and can become muddied if the too much-wet paint is applied. This can happen easily when the paint is applied with a knife.