Description

The Extensa spatula is a newly developed tool in Tintoretto’s 2026 catalogue, listed under their Pittura con Spatola (Palette Knife Painting) category. The concept addresses a specific challenge faced by artists working on large canvases or expansive surfaces: proximity.

When working at close range on a large format, it is difficult to read the composition as a whole. The Extensa’s extended handle moves the artist’s hand further from the blade and the surface, allowing a broader view of the work while each stroke is being placed. This is a significant advantage when working with impasto or dense paint layers, where the physical movement of the blade across the surface defines the texture and energy of the painting.

The handle is flattened and ergonomically shaped at the tip, which enables the artist to exert controlled downward pressure with the palm or thumb when loading the blade with thick paint. This replaces the need to grip a short-handled spatula tightly, which can limit movement and fatigue the hand during long sessions. The blade itself is made from chromed steel. The range includes 16 blade shapes, from small pointed forms for detail work to broader, flatter blades suited to wide sweeping strokes and large surface coverage.

Palette knife and spatula painting became closely associated with Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in the 19th century. Artists such as Gustave Courbet used the knife extensively to build thick, tactile surfaces that could not be achieved with a brush. In the 20th century, abstract expressionist and impasto painters further expanded knife technique as a primary means of applying paint. The Extensa is designed for artists working in these traditions on a contemporary scale, where large canvases and gestural application demand tools equal to the format.

Perfect For:

• Large-format oil and acrylic painting.
• Impasto and palette knife technique.
• Artists working at a distance from the canvas.
• Textural and gestural painting approaches