Definition & Meaning of "painting knife"

What is a "painting knife"?

A painting knife is a flat, flexible tool used by artists to apply, spread, scrape, or mix paint on a canvas. It typically features a handle and a metal blade that comes in various shapes and sizes and can be bent or shaped to different angles. Artists use painting knives to create different textures, clean up areas, or layer, remove, or blend colors on the canvas. Unlike brushes, painting knives can produce bold, distinct strokes and are often used for their ability to create thick, expressive layers of paint.