Impasto Painting

1. Impasto Painting Definition: Impasto is a way of applying paint, specifically a thick, textured application of paint where the marks made by the brush or painting knife stay visible. Impasto is evident in the work of artists such as Vincent van Gogh.

2. Palette Knife • In 1899 Charles Hawthorne, a New England artist and art teacher, established the outdoor painting school The Cape Cod School of Art, where he invented the palette knife. While teaching his students to use broader strokes in their painting he would use a putty knife to apply the paint. That putty knife blossomed into palette knifes of all shapes and sizes.

3. Palette Knife continued • Today, the palette knife is used by artists everywhere, for many different reasons. No matter if you paint with oil or acrylic, loose or detailed, thick or thin, you can use a palette knife in you painting. Here are several techniques to add to your bag of tricks.

4. Making Texture • The most common use of a palette knife is to add texture to a painting. • This is usually done with a larger, wider palette knife heaped high with paint. Then, the paint is smoothed onto the canvas like icing on a cake. • Lifting the knife slightly off of the canvas while you swipe can produce beautiful, fluid ridges to build your painting upon. The more flexible the knife, the more control you have of the paint, though some artists prefer stiff knifes.

5. Technique Video • http://www.howcast.com/videos/21678-How-To-Paint-With-a-Palette-Knife