How to Use a Painting KnifeThick pigments such as oil paint and acrylic are best suited to the painting knife technique, but watercolor can also be used. To load the paint onto your knife, just sweep it up from your palette with the long edge of the knife. When using a pointed knife for daubs of paint, simply dip the tip into the paint.Hold the handle firmly with your thumb on top and use your wrist to change angles on the canvas. There are many effects you can achieve depending on your movements. Heres some to try:1. Use the long side of the blade to sweep pigment across your canvas, just as you would spread butter onto a slice of bread.2. Press the blade into the thickly-painted surface to create texture.3. Press the thin edge of the knife down to create fine lines.4. Use just the tip of the blade to produce small dots.5.