What is used to apply paint directly to the canvas?

Using knives to apply paint directly to the canvas is a technique known as palette knife painting. This method involves using a flat blade or knife to spread, smear, or layer paint on the canvas, creating unique textures and effects that can be very different from those achieved with brushes. While palette knives are often considered tools for mixing paint, they can also serve as effective applicators, allowing for bold strokes and the manipulation of thick paint, or impasto techniques.

Brushes, on the other hand, are more traditionally associated with painting, given their variety of shapes and sizes, which cater to different painting techniques and styles. Sponges can be used for specific effects, particularly in creating textures or softening edges, while pads are more commonly associated with gathering or presenting materials rather than directly applying paint.

Thus, the mention of knives accurately reflects a specific method for applying paint to a canvas, highlighting the versatility of tools in art creation, particularly in achieving texture and dimensionality in the artwork.