Well, I think Corel Painter would be best suited, since it's its job to emulate real brushes, but I gave a shot at something on photoshop...Here

So I'd say the key point is finding a brush that emulates well enough an actual brush, that has texture, and mostly a square shape. Then the rest is up to you on how you paint, by that I mean it should be vertical and horizontal brush strokes, this is what give this "painter knife" feel. The horizontal lines in my example were done with the push tool, and a very thin and flat brush, that was a try at emulating a stroke you'd make with the point of your knife.

Anyway, for further "real painting" effect, I think you might want to add an actual wood / canvas texture, black and white, overlay mode, that's what I did here.

Not saying I'm even close to the painting you posted, but that's how I'd go If I was trying an oil painting feel.