Technique | Palette & Co

Technique of the Month

Prepare your palette with heavy-body oil colors and a sturdy palette knife.
Apply thick layers of paint directly to the canvas without thinning with medium.
Use the flat edge of the knife to create broad swathes of color and the tip for sharp ridges.
Allow the layers to dry slowly to maintain the sculptural, three-dimensional texture.

Select a heavy-body oil or acrylic paint to ensure the texture holds its shape once applied.
Use a palette knife rather than a brush to scoop and layer the paint thickly onto the canvas.
Build depth by working in stages, allowing the peaks and ridges to catch the light for a sculptural effect.
Experiment with directional strokes to guide the viewer’s eye through the composition.