Keeping brushes as good as new

[Pogo]

Whatever paint you use , when you come to clean your brush once the inital paint has been wiped off( Kitchen roll tissue , whatever) clean the brush with either thinners, water etc.Once it has been cleaned get a bar of soap and gently rub some soap into the bristles. When there is enough on gently wash the brush under warm water. Dry with a lint free cloth or tissue and then get a drinking straw and cut about 2 inches off it. Put the brush into the straw.This protects it from being damaged and keeps it clean. A lot of brushes come with a protective sleeve but they tend to get lost .Straws are very cheap .

 

[wonwinglo]

Pogo,this is a good tip that artists use a lot,a lot of people cannot inderstand why their precious brushes suddenly become clogged with paint even after a very short time,what actually happens is the build up of paint in the metal ferrule accumulates making the bristles stick together,by doing what Pogo says dissloves the paint before it has a chance to dry.A further tip is to use the mild babies shampoo,swish the brush about and rinse under the tap,just watch the colour come out of the brush that you thought had been removed with the thinners !

If you are using say red then go straight to white,forget using the same brush as tiny traces of red will turn the paint quickly pink,artists use one set of brushes for light colours and another for the darker ones.

 

[Nigel.D]

Another good tip is to put the brush in your mouth and wet the bristles into a point !!!!! this will help keep the tips pointed and also help with the paint flo in future

 

[Pogo]

Dont like the taste of thinners if you dont clean them properly.