![]() Be aware that there are differences so that if a new tub of texture medium doesn't act exactly as you expected, don't panic that you're doing something wrong. If it doesn't, see if there's an information sheet available from the manufacturer, or test it before you use it on a canvas. How do you know what it'll be like? Read the label on the container, which should give you this information. The medium may also act as a drying retarder to give you more time to work with it. They all do the same job of adding texture, but some will be glossy when dry and others matte some will dry completely transparent, others will be slightly opaque or stay white. (You can usually judge what is meant by the context in which the word is used.)ĭifferent brands of acrylic texture medium are formulated differently and variously labeled as pastes, gels, and mediums. Texture mediums come in white and clear, so if you have a preference, pay attention to the label.īy the way, the word medium can also mean the type of paint, for instance, acrylic or watercolor. You can create peaks and grooves with a palette knife, brush marks with a coarse-haired brush, press patterns into it, use it as glue to add collage items. You can mix it with a color, or put a layer of the gel down and paint over it.Ī tub of texture gel has the consistency of cooking lard: When you scoop out a lump with a palette knife, the medium holds its shape. ![]() It's also cheaper than paint, so adding a texture medium is an economical way to build up thick layers of impasto. It's stiffer than paint straight from the tube, so will hold a form or shape more readily. It’s also a good idea to apply a layer of protective glaze once it’s dry.Texture medium (or gel or paste) is, as the name suggests, is a material that you mix with paint to change its consistency, in particular, to add surface texture to a painting. Make sure to store your finished canvases carefully so that nothing can smudge the paint. This style of painting can often mean your work will take months to dry completely. To clean your knife, simply wipe it onto a cloth. Scratch into the paint using a pointed blade to reveal the layers underneath.Use just the tip of the blade to produce small dots.Press the thin edge of the knife down to create fine lines.Press the blade into the thickly-painted surface to create texture.Use the long side of the blade to sweep pigment across your canvas, just as you would spread butter onto a slice of bread.There are many effects you can achieve depending on your movements. Hold the handle firmly with your thumb on top and use your wrist to change angles on the canvas. When using a pointed knife for daubs of paint, simply dip the tip into the paint. To load the paint onto your knife, just sweep it up from your palette with the long edge of the knife. Thick pigments such as oil paint and acrylic are best suited to the painting knife technique, but watercolor can also be used. The size of the blade directly correlates to the painting effect you can achieve-a short blade produces sharp, angular strokes a long blade allows you to put down sweeps of color a rounded blade is ideal for dabbing spots of pigment and building up layers and a sharply-pointed blade allows you to scratch into the painted surface to create a sgraffito effect.īlick Multi-Colored Painting Knife Set | $48.90 How to Use a Painting Knife ![]() Painting knives come in a range of sizes and styles and are usually made from metal, but they’re often available in wood and plastic too. ![]() Their shape helps keep your fingers out of the wet paint you've just applied. A painting knife has a pointed tip, is slightly bent like a trowel, and is perfectly suited for painting on canvas. A palette knife is usually straight, has a rounded tip, and is designed for mixing paints on the palette. The terms “palette knife” and “painting knife” are often used interchangeably, but they’re quite different. The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Public Domain Choosing a Knife ![]()
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