How to Paint With Oil and a Palette Knife
When creating art, whether professionally or for recreation, you probably use diverse tools in your work and may even find innovative ways to repurpose those tools. Palette knives are traditionally used to mix paint colors on a palette; however, painting with these knives rather than traditional brushes can lend a unique texture and dimension to your work. Palette knives are blunt-tipped, flexible and are made from wood, metal, or plastic. They come in various shapes and sizes. These knives work best with oil paints for an impasto technique, which consists of paint laid thickly on a canvas with visible knife strokes.
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Instructions
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Squeeze oil paint onto your palette knife, or dip your knife into the paint. The thicker the paint, the better the texture and coverage will be. You can blend paint colors or use one at a time and blend them on your canvas.
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Drag your palette knife along the canvas to spread the paint as you desire. Use the flat surface of the palette knife for larger areas you wish to cover and the tip for smaller areas. Create layers and texture by using the flat surface of the knife and smoothing or pressing it into the canvas with your oil paints.
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Hold the palette knife at a 90 degree angle to use the point for creating scratches, symbols or patterns while the paint is wet.
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Wipe the palette knife clean with a damp cloth immediately after use. You shouldn't need any cleaning agents other than a cloth and/or some soap and water because palette knives are much easier to clean than brushes.
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Tips & Warnings
It is best to use a palette knife with a bent handle that provides an angle to keep your knuckles from dragging in the paint. Keep a couple sizes of palette knives handy for the different coverage, texture and techniques you may want to accomplish.
Make sure your paint doesn't dry before you are finished layering, blending and working with your palette knife because it is hard to use the knife over bumpy, dry areas.
References
- Photo Credit red image by Pefkos from Fotolia.com
