A
palette knife is a blunt
toolA broad definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other. The most basic tools are simple machines. For example, a crowbar simply functions as a lever. The further out from the pivot point, the more...
with an extremely flexible
steelSteel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
blade and no sharpened cutting edge, although one edge can commonly become razor sharp after long term use. This is the result of the abrasive qualities of the powdered pigments in the paints that the palette knife is being used to mix. It is primarily used for mixing
paintPaint is any liquid, liquifiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film.-History:...
colors,
pastePaste may refer to:*Glue, an adhesive, which may be a paste*Wheatpaste, also known as potato paste, flour paste, rice paste, Marxist glue, or simply paste, made from vegetable starch and water*Paste , a Mexican pastry...
, etc., or for
marblingPaper marbling is a method of aqueous surface design, which can produce patterns similar to marble or other stone, hence the name. The patterns are the result of color floated on either plain water or a viscous solution known as size, and then carefully transferred to a sheet of paper...
, decorative endpapers, etc.
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A
palette knife is a blunt
toolA broad definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other. The most basic tools are simple machines. For example, a crowbar simply functions as a lever. The further out from the pivot point, the more...
with an extremely flexible
steelSteel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
blade and no sharpened cutting edge, although one edge can commonly become razor sharp after long term use. This is the result of the abrasive qualities of the powdered pigments in the paints that the palette knife is being used to mix. It is primarily used for mixing
paintPaint is any liquid, liquifiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film.-History:...
colors,
pastePaste may refer to:*Glue, an adhesive, which may be a paste*Wheatpaste, also known as potato paste, flour paste, rice paste, Marxist glue, or simply paste, made from vegetable starch and water*Paste , a Mexican pastry...
, etc., or for
marblingPaper marbling is a method of aqueous surface design, which can produce patterns similar to marble or other stone, hence the name. The patterns are the result of color floated on either plain water or a viscous solution known as size, and then carefully transferred to a sheet of paper...
, decorative endpapers, etc. The "palette" in the name is a reference to an artist's
paletteA palette is: ' a rigid, flat surface on which a painter arranges and mixes paints. A palette is usually made of wood, plastic, ceramic or other hard, inert, nonporous material, and can vary greatly in size and shape...
which is used for mixing oil paints. Certain artistic techniques, such as those of
Leonid AfremovLeonid Afremov is a Belarusian painter. His painting are often vividly-coloured landscapes, cityscapes and figures, and are typically painted using a palette knife and oil paint....
, call for painting with a palette knife.
Art palette knives come primarily in two types:
- symmetric knife resembling a putty knife
A putty knife is a specialized tool used when glazing single glazed windows, to work putty around the edges of each pane of glass. An experienced glazer will apply the putty by hand, and then smooth it with the knife...
with a rounded tip, suited for mixing paints on the palette;
- asymmetric knife with a pointed tip, lowered or "cranked" like a trowel
A trowel is one of several similar hand tools used for digging, smoothing, or otherwise moving around small amounts of viscous or particulate material.-Hand tools:...
, suited for painting on canvas.
Palette knives are also used in
cookingCooking is the process of preparing food by applying heat, selecting, measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible food. The process encompasses a vast range of methods, tools and combinations of ingredients to alter the flavor, appearance, texture,...
, where their flexibility allows them to easily slide underneath
pastriesPastry is the name given to various kinds of baked goods made from ingredients such as flour, butter, shortening, baking powder or eggs. Small cakes, tarts and other sweet baked goods are called "pastries"....
or other items. See
frosting spatulaA frosting spatula or palette knife is a kitchen utensil designed especially for the use of spreading a substance onto a flat surface, such as frosting on a cake. It is also an ideal tool for applying spreads onto sandwiches in mass quantities....
.