When you think of a palette knife, you think of a palette, right? Palette knives have always been the traditional oil paint mixing tool. Its true, they are ideal for creating smooth, consistent mixtures of paint and medium. However, there is a vast population of oil painters who go beyond the palette with their knives, straight to the painting surface.
They come in all shapes and sizes for a reason. You can even get them in plastic. For mixing purposes, only one traditional shape or size might be sufficient, but for applying paint choosing a selection of palette knives is similar to choosing a set of brushes. There's no right or wrong shape/size to use. If you are working with palette knives, experiment to see what give the best effects. Generally speaking, smaller and thinner knives are best for lining, and great big knives are perfect for loading on the paint.
Stencils
I love integrating stencils into my paintings. Especially when the concept calls for a repetitive effect or stylized shape, stencils are very helpful. You can buy pre-made stencils, or make your own with a stencil kit. Be sure to use the right materials, or you will be unhappy with the results.
Stenciling is not a traditional oil painting method, so you won't see many tutorials, but you should still keep the fundamentals of the medium in mind (i.e., fat over lean). I've noticed that very thin paint will bleed around the edges, so it might be helpful to wait until one of the thicker layers of your painting. However, stenciling in one of the under layers gives a great effect too. Again, experiment to find a solution that will fit your needs.
Rags, Sponges, Fingers
Beyond scumbling, rags, sponges and even your fingers can all be a great tool in oil painting. Although I've never really experimented with it too much myself, I suspect one could create an entire oil painting using rags and/or sponges. And, the background color of the painting illustrated here was painted entirely with my fingers (a palette knife was used for the foreground). Again, the fat over lean rule always applies, so keep that in mind when experimenting in any new technique. If painting with any part of your body, like your fingers, make sure you realize that oil colour and solvents will absorb into your skin and then into your bloodstream if not protected.
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