Every artist has that one trusty tool—something they reach for again and again in the studio. It might be unconventional, unexpected, or deeply personal, but it always earns its place on the table. In this series, our gallery artists share the tools they can’t live without and the unique ways they use them in their creative process
Amanda Milliner
Amanda swears by her palette knife, especially when a painting hits a standstill.
“Whenever I am stuck in a painting, I grab the pallet knife to help me Simplify large shapes. The Pallet knife can help take away excess paint and do mild excavating and scrapping on a painting to get down to a deeper layer. Simultaneously it can also be used to add thick impasto paint, giving the painting more texture."
Nishita Jain
Nishita's studio sidekick is a humble rubber pipette.
"It’s typically used in labs, but in my studio, it becomes a playful tool for creating loose, impressionistic backgrounds. I use it to drop, drag, or spatter watery paint onto the paper—it helps me let go of precision and embrace spontaneity."
Rana Geralis
Rana’s tool of choice is also the palette knife.
"I use palette knife to build up impasto layers of paint. Inspired by nature, the bold marks of the knife are used to create impromptu works of art."
Stay tuned for Part 2 next month, where we’ll share more behind-the-scenes favorites from the studios of Artists' Gallery members. You won’t want to miss it!