Painting and Palette knives used with Oil paint in painting

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Painting and Palette Knives Palette knives:- have a solid blade from handle to tip and the tang/tongue (insert) should extend completely through the handle. The blade is usually forged steel, flexible and blunt. The handle is made of hardwood and the blade is usually straight. They are designed to be used for mixing paint and cleaning paint from the palette. Painting knives:- traditionally have a narrow cranked arm to the blade as shown in the examples left, this allows them to be flexible, light in weight and helps to keep the knuckles of the hand, out of the paint when in use. There are others that have a straight solid blade; these generally have an angled square end to the blade. The blade is forged steel tempered along its full length giving flexible stiffness, with the tang extending through the handle. The edges of the blade should not be too sharp, a blunt, smooth edge is often the easiest to work with, if it appears too sharp, dull/blunt it by rubbing on fine 'wet and dry' emery paper. A sharp edge can damage the primed surface of the canvas and even cut into the fabric. Test the blade by picking paint up from a palette, it should cut through and lift the paint with a smooth feel against the palette. Painting knives come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the knives shown to the right are pear shaped and trowel shaped. When first starting to paint with a knife, the trowel shape is probably the best to choose as it is a useful shape and easy to handle. Think of it 'like spreading jam onto bread and butter'. Applying oil paint using a Painting knife:- Painting knives are used for applying paint to canvas, especially where an impasto effect or texture is required, also very useful where a straight edge is needed or a sharply defined line. It is best to keep the knife clean between applications of paint this helps to reduce the muddying of the colours. Paint applied without too much mixing is very effective. Painting and Palette knives can be found in our online shop at J and T's Art and Calligraphy As shown left, more than one colour can be added to the knife, this can be especially useful where large sweeps of are colour are needed - an expanse of flat water for instance or the side of a building. Practice different ways of loading the knife and different actions when applying the paint. Try and develop a light touch when applying the paint, too much pressure and the paint will be removed as fast as you try to apply it. Would you consider that using a Painting knife has anything to do with the 'Building trade'? As with all things, there are good builders and not so good builders, but if you have the opportunity to watch a skilled craftsperson laying bricks or plastering a wall their expertise and dexterity with the tools of their trade are what you are after with the tools of yours! They know just how much wet mortar to place between the bricks and then the important angle and pressure of the trowel needed to give the correct finish when the mortar is dry. The plasterer, having applied the wet plaster to the wall knows how to angle and sweep his 'float' to give the correct depth of plaster and smooth finish to the work, rough bits and cracks only showing up when it's dry! Using a painting knife you are building up layers of paint; make sure your building stands the test of time. Painting knives! All manner of other useful types of blades can be tried, a wide selection can be found in the 'clay modelling' section of an art shop, from spatulas to wire tools. Try experimenting with household tools you have on hand, the main thing to remember is that the edge of the blade needs to be blunt, otherwise there is the risk of cutting the canvas. Have fun and enjoy. Copyright © Jacqui Blackman 1999 Oil Paint Painting mediums Palettes Techniques Colour mixing