Sculpting the Paint

Using a palette knife allows oil painter Maria Iva to create clean colors and rich textures

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I have always been fascinated by the of and I always want to achieve clean and bright colors in my work. While I was trying to master the art of painting wet-on-wet using a brush, I would tend to mix layers of wet paint and create what felt like "dirt." It was only when I switched to a palette knife that I was able to create the clean colors that I'd always desired to achieve. At the same time, the palette knife allowed me to become more expressive and much looser.

I started using a palette knife for the entire painting after I attended a workshop with Susan Sarback many years ago. It was a bit awkward at the beginning, but with practice, I became more and more comfortable and proficient with this tool. Today, I use a palette knife when I work on small plein air paintings as well as on large pieces in my studio. I use four different sizes depending on the size of the painting and whether I work on underpainting or fine details. I have not touched brushes for years.