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How To Hold a Painting Knife

Painting with knives is a painting technique. Artist-quality painting knives and other
​painting tools can be found at stores that carry art supplies.

Picture

How Artists Hold a Knife for Painting

A wooden-handled artist's painting knife.
Oil (and acrylic) painting can be done in many styles. Most commonly paintbrushes are used for painting, but sometimes artists prefer using painting knives for spreading paint on the surface. For artists looking for a new edge to their painting, using painting knives instead of brushes can give a kick to a tired or unsatisfying painting routine.

​Painting knives are tools that artists use for painting in oils or acrylic. The knives are usually made from metal, such as stainless steel, and have a wooden handle. Knives made for painting have a bend or crank in the blade to keep the artist’s fingers from sweeping over the palette paints. The bend keeps the hand from dragging through and smearing the paint already applied.
 
The Handle of a Painting Knife
A smooth wooden handle can be a joy to hold. The handle should feel comfortable, with rounded edges. The knife needs to feel balanced when held. The handle and knife blade work together to enhance the variety of marks an artist needs for painting.
 
Tips to Care for Wooden Handles:
  • A wooden handle should be sanded smooth.
  • Don’t wash a wooden handle in water.
  • Smooth a little oil over the handle to keep the wood from drying out.
 The metal blade or tang should be tight and secure at the place it exits the handle. It needs to be well attached so that there is no wobbling. And it should not be so loose that the blade rotates as pressure is applied to the painting surface.
 
Picking up Paint from the Oil Painting Palette
Hold the handle the same as if holding a butter knife. The forefinger rests on top. The fingers curl under for a secure grip or hold by the fingertips for a more flexible grip. The blade is tilted or rotated to create different kinds of marks.
 
A painting knife has a long flat blade. The blade can be said to have two surfaces, top and bottom. Most people are inclined to scoop up the paint on the top of the blade, by tilting the knife towards the body. But it is easier to use a knife in painting if the blade is tilted away and paint is picked up on the back of the blade. The paint is then easier to apply to a flat surface.
 
Follow these steps to pick up paint from the palette:
  1. Tilt the knife and cut into the edge of the blob of paint.
  2. Pull it sideways in a scraping movement so that the paint is evenly spread along the edge of the blade.
  3. Tilt the blade above the painting surface. The full length of the knife edge should be parallel to the canvas or board.
  4. Skim the blade along the surface.
  5. Let the paint flow out in thick bands or sheets to cover wide areas.
 Spreading the paint is a bit like buttering a piece of bread. Tilting the knife and applying paint at various angles provides a variety of ways an artist can make shapes and marks.

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Author: Karla Beatty About
​Making Marks with the Painting Knife
There are many different marks an artist can make. Textures, impasto strokes, and shapes can all be done easily. Marks with a painting knife look very different than marks made with a brush. The artist is almost forced to stay loose and large. Thus painting with a knife can bring a freshness or difference to an artist’s typical style. It may seem awkward at first, but knife painting can be fun and expressive.
Did you enjoy this SimpleTens article on How to Hold a Painting Knife? Read more articles about palette knives, painting, and fine art.

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  • Home
    • Index of Articles
    • About
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
  • Meditation
    • Sitting Meditation
    • Walking Meditation Basic Techniques
    • Walking Meditation Benefits
    • Meditation Breathing
    • Meditation Posture
    • Breathing: On Counting Breaths
    • Practicing: On Meditation Practice
    • Bellows Breathing
    • Mindfulness of Breathing
    • Buddhism 101: The Grand Illusion
  • LifeStyle
    • Mind and Spirit >
      • How To Be Happy
      • Pope's Tips for a Happier Life
      • Happiness If-Onlys
      • What is Love
      • Psychic Protection in Crowds
    • Work Abundance >
      • Jobs Using the Internet
      • Be a Team Player
      • Time for a New Career?
      • Be More Productive
    • People Connection >
      • 10 Nice Things You Can Do for Your Neighbors
      • Live a Long Life
      • Mini-Tens >
        • Funny Tens >
          • Cheesy Pick Up Lines
          • Pick Up Lines for Scientists
    • Food for Life >
      • Lacy Baked Cheese Crisps
      • Healthy Snack Kale Chips
      • An Apple a Day
      • Become a Vegan
      • Tips for a Vegan Diet
      • Juice Cleanse
      • Juice Cleanse Recipes
    • Expanding World >
      • Travel First-Aid Kit
      • 10 Ways to Relieve Stress
  • Creative Arts
    • You Can Do It >
      • Oil Painting Brushes
      • How To Hold a Paint Brush
      • Painting with a Painter's Knife
      • How To Hold a Painting Knife
      • Use a Painting Knife: Textures and Marks
      • Sketchbooks for Artists
      • Be Creative With Your Photographs
      • Warm Up the Voice for Singing
      • How To Write A Haiku Poem
      • Listen to Music
    • Creativity Matters >
      • Traits of Creative People
      • Jobs for Creatives
      • Joyful Music
      • Funniest Songs
    • Arts Appreciated >
      • Vincent Van Gogh Insights into Creativity
      • Brilliant Quotes for Artists
      • History of Botanical Illustration
      • Haiku Poetry of Basho
  • Nature
    • Environment >
      • Sow Bugs in Vegetable Gardens
      • Sow Bugs and Diatomaceous Earth
      • Organic Pest Control
      • Organic Lawn Care
      • Feeding and Weeding Organic Lawn Care
      • Compost Tea
      • Making Compost Tea
      • 10 Steps to Organic Lawn Care
      • Ground Covering Plants
      • Electric Vehicles Benefits
      • Recycling Paper Benefits
      • Save Energy and Natural Resources
      • Wind Mill Turbines
    • Natural World >
      • Survive an Earthquake
      • Survive a Landslide
      • Tsunamis Start With Little Warning
      • Coyotes and People Encounters
      • Domesticated Insects
    • Your World Outdoors >
      • Spiritual Experiences in Nature
      • Natural Tick Prevention
      • Tailgate Parties Go Green
  • Well-Being
    • Self-Care Vitality >
      • High Heels Are Hurting Me
      • Muscle Relaxation Head and Back
      • Progressive Muscle Relaxation
      • How to Breathe
      • Breathe Deeply Health Benefits
      • Natural Skin Care Tips
      • Dry Brush Skin Exfoliation
    • Alternative Medicine >
      • Natural First Aid Kit
      • CoQ10 for Vibrant Health
      • Rhodiola, a Natural Herbal Alternative
      • 10 Natural Home Remedies for Bee Stings
      • Safe Tick Repellent
      • Natural Deodorants Lose Underarm Odor
    • Fitness Your Way >
      • Motivational Quotes for Fitness and Exercise
      • Cardio Exercise for the Lazy
      • Motivational Quotes to Lose Weight
      • 10 Ways to Boost Metabolism
      • Fatigue Fighters Boost Energy
    • Food As Medicine >
      • Foods That Fight Cancer
      • Honey as Medicine
    • Tens Devices >
      • TENS Units
      • Comparison of TENS and EMS
  • Contact