Painting Knife Techniques

If you’ve ever 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.

Overviews

Surface and Paint Consistency

I’ve found that the painting surface for a piece done with knives must be firm to prevent the paint from cracking as it dries. Ampersand Gessobord works

well, and there are many other suitable surfaces on the market.

Wielding the Painting Knife

Apply paint with a knife as you would spread frosting on a cake—working the texture to achieve the

desired thickness and swirls.

Choosing the Painting Knife Size

Smooth, relatively flat areas can be painted with a large blade, so the larger painting knife in my

collection is used for laying in large areas of paint