Palette knife

It tends to appear as a tool with a narrow handle and flat flexible blade.

Visual traits

• narrow handle
• flat blade
• paint-loaded blade

Expected changes

• A painting tool with a flat blade is more likely to appear
• A painting-making context becomes more likely

Definition

A palette knife is a tool with a flexible blade for mixing, lifting, and applying paint to a support. It does not determine knife marks, impasto, the act of application, or a general cutting knife.

In more detail

A narrow handle and flat flexible blade characterize the tool. Blade shape, length, and paint load vary by use; traces left on a finished surface are specified separately.

Includes

• A palette knife used to mix or apply paint

Excludes

• Knife marks
• impasto
• paint application
• or a cutting knife

What this does not imply

• Impasto
• knife marks
• a particular paint
• or cutting

Variability

Blade shape and paint load vary by use. Adjust surface buildup and traces separately.

Usage

• Specify as a making tool; specify surface traces separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Distinguish from a cutting knife and impasto

Typical uses

• A tool held by a person while painting
• A prop on a paint-mixing worktable

Possible failure modes

• It becomes a kitchen or cutting knife
• It becomes a bare stick without a blade