AMANDA BRETT WATERCOLOUR ARTIST
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PaintBox Tips​

PaintBox Tip #17 BRUSH CARE

8/10/2022

1 Comment

 
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A new term starting and lots of new students, beginners and not-so beginners, so this is a good time to talk about how to care for your watercolour brushes.

Why?

Because they're expensive - my first natural bristle brush cost $300 - I'd better look after it!!

that was close to 25 years ago and it's still a great brush - because I look after it!!
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  1. Rinse sizing out of new brushes. Some new brushes come with gum-arabic sizing holding the bristles together. The bristles will feel hard and crusty and may be stuck together completely. To remove the glue before first use, simply swill the brush around in clean warm water and use your fingers to gently massage the sizing out of the bristles.
  2. Prepare your brushes before you start painting by wetting them and letting them absorb a little water. Blot off the excess water and leave them lying flat on a towel (or tip down if you have a brush holder). You want them ready to go so they'll absorb paint and water when you want to load your brush - it's impossible to paint with a dry brush!!​​
  3. Always squeeze out fresh, good quality paint at least weekly. I know this doesn't seem like brush care, however, brush bristles will wear and break if continually used to scrub at dry, nasty bird poo.
  4. Don’t leave watercolour brushes standing/soaking in water. 
  5. When you are finished painting for the day, rinse thoroughly with clear water, blot them gently with a clean towel and leave them to dry flat on a towel. 
  6. Don't store your brushes in an airtight container, even if you think they are dry inside the ferrule. Remove your damp brushes from rolls or open brush carriers as soon as you get home.
  7. Don’t panic if a natural bristle brush gets schmooshed and dries in a wonky shape, just reshape the brush using warm water. If that’s not enough to do the trick, after a few more paintings and reshaping it will probably behave again
  8. Don’t trim your brushes "to get a better point". Occasionally, you will find a brush hair or two sticking straight out to the side, and the warm-water trick doesn’t fix it. In this case, the brush hair may be partially broken, and the best solution is to trim that one hair (or two) off at the ferrule.
  9. Never use your good brushes for applying masking fluid! Masking fluid dries fast and is impossible to remove! 
  10. Before using ANY brush for masking, wet it with soap solution: dip masking brush in water and scrub it around on a bar of soap. Get some soap worked into the area near the ferrule, to keep masking fluid OUT! 

Love them and USE them lots! 

Yes, you might wear them out or even better, your brush miles will make you want a better brush - fantastic!!

ciao cari pittori!!

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    Author

    PaintBox Tips, secrets, random thoughts,
    scribblings & doodlings on art, my life as an artist who teaches, writes, travels, muses and paints!

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    Poetry in watercolour is made in the freedom of the here and now. Amanda Brett

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    There are no mistakes in watercolour, just some extra surprises!!
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    Your emails are so informative! I must confess I've watched a couple of your demos from beginning to end, and it makes me want to watercolor!!! I've only ever painted with oil or acrylics and haven't know how to begin with WC. Your content is excellent! 
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    Hi Amanda
    Thank you for your tips. They inspired me to practise and I realised I haven’t been loading the brush properly. I learnt about adding more paint, and not water, to washes. In today’s tips I like the idea of painting with purpose. Your tips are very helpful. I very much appreciate receiving them. Elizabeth
    Hi Amanda I enjoyed your post and generous tips. Looked up Dan Burt I begin to see that you can colour any subject to give it pizazz so long as the tone and form is correct Certainly adding value now to my attempts Thanks heaps Annie
    Yes very wise words. Agree with not fussing and agree with comments about good quality paint. Well written and inspirational as always. Cheers Janet xxxx

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    Copyright © 2022 All images and text on Amanda's blog and website are the the legal property of Amanda Brett and may not be reproduced without express permission from Amanda Brett or her authorised agent. Thank you for respecting her art and the livelihood of all artists.

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Copyright © 2022 All images and text on Amanda's blog and website are the legal property of Amanda Brett and may not be reproduced without express permission from Amanda Brett or her authorised agent. Thank you for respecting her art and the livelihood of all artists.
Quality Guarantee: All my watercolours are painted with only modern professional grade watercolour paints on Museum exhibition grade watercolour papers, they are extremely lightfast and will become a family heirloom and passed down to subsequent generations. ALL art of ANY medium should be hung away from direct sunlight. If​properly cared for, watercolour paintings will last as long, if not longer, than oil paintings. I only paint on 100% cotton rag paper, mostly Arches and Fabriano, and frame to conservation standard with acid free materials.
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  • Painting Holiday Italy 2024
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  • Home
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