Art Terms in Action: Palette Knife
History & humanitiesSpecial topics in art history0:281 check-ins
About this video
Palette knives are used to mix paint on the canvas with more paint, solvents or medium. Artists also use them to apply paint directly to the canvas and sometimes to scrape paint off.
You'll be able to
- describe three ways artists use a palette knife.
- name things paint can be mixed with using a palette knife.
Key words
- palette knife
- A flat, blunt blade used to mix, apply or scrape paint.
- medium
- A substance mixed into paint to change how it handles or looks.
- solvent
- A liquid that thins or dissolves paint.
Transcript
Voiceover: Palette knives are typically used to mix paint on the canvas. Sometimes paint with paint. Sometimes paint with solvents. Sometimes paint with more medium. Pallet knives also have been used by artists to apply paint directly to the canvas, and in some cases artists can use a knife to scrape paint off of canvas.
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