Painting with knives

[Vignette]

Hello! I wasn't sure where to post this, hopefully this is the right forum.

I'd like to learn more about painting with knives. I paint in acrylic and oil, but I believe my style is too tight and fussy - plus I'm not completely comfortable with color. I want to loosen up and practice working in a different way, seems that knife work has a wonderful looseness and texture that's very appealing.

Is there anyone here who works extensively with knives?

I've also not painted in a long time and am ready to get back into it, and am looking for new inspiration.

[Bringer]

Hi there,

I've tried it and I like it, but haven't done it much.
One of our coleagues from Spain makes wonderful works using knives.
I guess that he posts at the Oils Forum.
Maybe someone there can help you finding out who he his.

Kind regards,

José

[Steve Orin]

Mostly, you have to get a few blades & start painting. Can't develop what you like till you get some of what you don't & learn to weed it out with different techniques. Use oils at first cuz your mixes will stay useable longer on the pallet. I use a drying medium after the colors are right so the paints on the canvas harden over night.

[Vignette]

Thank you!

I started some today and was surprised to find more paint on me than on the canvas at the end of it. Definitely a different feel than painting with brushes, but I really enjoyed it. Tough to control - it will be a fun challenge.

Is the boat painting done with knives? That's a wonderful piece!

[Steve Orin]

Nice aspect of blades is loading with two or three colors & applying so they intermingle. Adds mucho impact.
The shrimper was both brush & blade. This one was all blade:

[J Jordan Bruns]

Are there any art books that are dedicated to the pallet knife? I paint with a knife every so often, but would like a refresher on how to better articulate it to students.

[llawrence]

Steve, I'm blown away that you can paint like that with a knife. When I try it it looks like I used a trowel, and all I get are these awful scalloped triangle shapes. I'm going to have another go at it with your pics as inspiration. I'll try loading with multiple colors as you posted.

[EKIpopo]

nice

[Gingerbear]

Hi, Steven. I really liked your works with the knives but I agree I get more mess on me than when using the brush. I'm still using up my Grumbacher Acadamy paints and have tried mixing in Golden Regular Gel which a fellow art club member let me try and then continued at home with a sample of Golden extra Heavy Gel (Matte) with my small triangular palette knife. But, it still doesn't spread on canvas the same as the oil - Georgian Daler -Rowney oils I tried and quite successfully for my very first 2 pictures. Can anyone suggest what to use that would give the same spread as oils? ..... Gingerbear

[tuzigoot]

I've been using W/N Liquin Impasto - it holds the knife strokes, doesn't seem to compromise the colors and the heavy paint dries to touch in 12-24 hours (in uber-dry southern Nevada). If you're interested in following someone who does, I think, excellent work with a knife, check out briansimons here on WC. I just posted Blue Mtn in Landscapes and the detail shots show the textures that the Liquin Impasto makes possible.

[birdhs]

Perhaps you might visit Rudiratlos44, I love his work and it is knife work. BNGuffey, too Spending time on the oil painting forum will reveal many more, unfortunately after working a 12 hr shift I just can't recall all their names right now, and yes, there are books on pallettknife painting, but I found just experimenting was the best way for me. I love the textures and the way each color stays separate if you don't overwork. The edges are sharp which also appeals to me.

Looking forward to your posts, Greg

[bnguffey]

Thanks for mentioning me Greg. I have painted quite a bit with knives, but mostly smaller works.

Here's a link to a series I did a while back. All but 2 of the 51 were done with one small knife.

http://www.bnguffey.com/gallery/1688...State%20Series

[id-art]

Sean Dye has a DVD called Palette Knife Landscape which is very good. The last hours is all knife. Coulton Waugh's book How to Paint with a Knife is available used and a must have addition to your library. William Powell's Oil Painting Techniques has good instruction on the basics.

Here's a few of mine:

Not able to post images at the moment. You can see 'em here...

http://www.buildart.com/secrt_of_Pal...ilPainting.htm

[ColorColorColor]

Painting with a knife was taught in The Cape Cod School of Art. I just found a book, Painting the Impressionist Landscape by Lois Griffel, which takes you step-by-step painting in that school's method. So far, it seems like a great book. I'm half way through it.

[id-art]

Painting the Impressionist Landscape by Lois Griffel....good tip!