How to Use Your Palette Knife for Bold, Expressive Brushstrokes

If you’re looking to add bold texture and energy to your acrylic paintings, the palette knife is your new best friend. I don’t typically use palette knives often, but when it comes to creating expressive strokes and layering texture, it’s a game-changer. A palette knife allows you to break free from controlled brushstrokes and bring a fresh, spontaneous element to your work—perfect for anyone embracing a loose and bold style!

Here’s how to use a palette knife for bold, dynamic strokes that add energy and depth to your paintings.

1. Why Use a Palette Knife?

While brushes are great for detail and control, a palette knife offers something completely different—it brings bold, thick, textured strokes that can’t be achieved with a brush alone. With a palette knife, you can apply paint in thick layers, scrape it across the surface, and create unexpected textures that add character and movement to your work.

Why I Love It for Bold Painting:
The knife keeps my movements loose, and it forces me to step out of my comfort zone. When I feel my brushwork getting too tight, I reach for the palette knife to bring back that sense of spontaneity and freedom.

2. Experiment with Different Knife Shapes

Palette knives come in different shapes and sizes, and each offers a unique effect. Flat, wide blades allow for broad, sweeping strokes, while pointed knives give you the precision to create sharp lines and edges. Experiment with different knives to see what kind of marks they leave on the canvas.

Penny’s Tip:
I like to use a wider blade for laying down large areas of texture and a smaller, pointier knife to scrape in details or create sharp accents. The variety of marks keeps the painting lively and interesting.

3. Start by Scraping on the First Layer

One of my favourite techniques with a palette knife is to scrape on the first layer of paint, especially for backgrounds or large areas. Instead of painting a smooth base layer with a brush, use the knife to spread the paint across the canvas. This adds texture right from the start and creates a bold foundation to build on.

How I Do It:
I mix my colours directly on the palette knife and then drag it across the canvas. This method keeps the colours from blending too much and leaves behind beautiful streaks of paint that give the piece instant energy.

4. Build Layers of Texture

One of the greatest strengths of a palette knife is its ability to build up thick, textured layers. By applying paint in thick, bold strokes, you can create layers that give the painting a three-dimensional quality. This is especially effective when you want certain areas to stand out and catch the light.

Penny’s Layering Tip:
For dramatic effects, I lay down a base layer of colour with a brush and then use the knife to apply thick strokes of a contrasting colour on top. This adds both texture and depth, allowing different layers of paint to interact in unexpected ways.

5. Create Rough, Textured Edges

Palette knives are perfect for creating rough, imperfect edges that bring a sense of movement and life to your painting. Unlike the smooth, controlled lines of a brush, the knife creates jagged, textured edges that give your work a raw, expressive quality.

Penny’s Technique:
When painting landscapes or abstract elements, I often use the knife to create rough edges around clouds, mountains, or even animals. This keeps the painting from feeling too “perfect” and adds to the overall looseness and boldness of the composition.

6. Play with Scraping Off Paint

Another great feature of the palette knife is its ability to remove paint as well as apply it. By scraping off sections of wet paint, you can reveal the layers underneath, creating interesting textures and highlights.

How I Do It:
When I want to reveal the underpainting or introduce an element of surprise, I scrape away sections of the top layer using the edge of the knife. This technique adds depth and contrast, especially when I’m working with multiple layers of bold colour.

7. Control the Pressure for Varied Effects

The beauty of a palette knife is that the pressure you apply completely changes the effect. Pressing hard into the canvas spreads the paint thickly, while a light touch leaves a more subtle, streaky effect. Don’t be afraid to play around with pressure to see what kinds of marks you can create.

Pro Tip:
I love using both heavy pressure and light strokes within the same painting. This creates a contrast between thick, heavy textures and delicate, whisper-thin streaks, adding dynamic energy to the work.

8. Let the Knife Guide You

The best part of using a palette knife is embracing the unpredictability of the tool. Instead of trying to control every stroke, let the knife guide your movements. The spontaneity that comes from this freedom often leads to some of the most exciting and unexpected results.

Penny’s Approach:
I often let go of the outcome when I’m using a palette knife. It’s all about the journey—playing with texture, layers, and movement. If the paint doesn’t go exactly where I planned, that’s okay! Sometimes the most striking parts of the painting are the ones I didn’t anticipate.

Final Thoughts

A palette knife is a powerful tool for adding bold, expressive strokes and texture to your acrylic paintings. Whether you’re scraping on thick layers, creating rough edges, or revealing hidden layers underneath, the knife helps you break free from tight brushwork and adds energy to your work. If you’re looking to inject more movement and spontaneity into your paintings, the palette knife is a must-try tool.

Until next time, Keep splashing colours!
Penny 😊🎨✨