What is that weird shaped thing painters hold?

You're likely thinking of a palette knife.

Here's why it's called "weird shaped":

* Not a brush: It's a flat, thin blade with a handle, often made of metal.

* Used for mixing: It's not for applying paint directly, but for mixing colors on a palette, scraping excess paint, and creating texture.

* Variety of shapes: Palette knives come in various sizes and shapes, each designed for different tasks.

Let me know if you're thinking of something else!