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Brushes
Paint Brushes
Brushes are an Investment
Brushes are an investment that you will want to take care
of. The plastic in the paints is hard on bristles. You will
replace them maybe twice a year depending on the amount of
painting that you do, but good habits will increase their life
span.
- Wash the sizing from the brush with a mild soap, Ivory or
any gentle dish detergent, and warm water.
- Always wet your brush before you put any paint on it. The
bristles act as a wick and will pull the paint up into the
ferrule unless there is already
water there. It will be nearly impossible to remove and
will ruin the brush edge or point.
- Acrylics are fast drying and will dry just as fast on your
brush as you work. It means you must clean your brush frequently
as you work to prevent build-up.
- Whenever you are not using your brush, rinse it out in
your basin. Never lay your brushes down with paint on them.
Cleaning your brushes
When your painting session is complete wash the brushes with
warm water and a liquid detergent in the palm of your hand.
Simply stroke back and forth until all of the paint is out.
Realize that some paint colors are likely to stain the bristles.
That's okay. Just wash until the soap bubbles are white and
the water runs clear and you should be safe.
Holding a paintbrush is different than holding a pen.
It's not at a 90 ° angle but almost. Don't drop it into
the crook of your hand like yo would a pencil. Grab close to
or on the ferrule and use your little finger as a tripod leg.
Awkward - yes! Effective - you bet! Familiarize yourself with
it every time you paint.
Don't buy the long-handled brushes; they get in the way.
Brush Types
Learning the different brush names and what they are generally
used for will help you to follow and adapt instructions for
your projects.
Round Brush
The round brush is broad at the base and gradually comes to
a point. When you run it across your fingers it should spring
back. You'll know exactly what I mean when you try this yourself.
They come in various sizes and rare numbered with the higher
number being a bigger brush.
Use this brush for:
Wet your brush and blot it on a soft cloth. Load by
stroking the edge of the paint pool, turn a quarter turn and
pull paint
from the edge of the pool again. Repeat twice more. Then take
your brush point and pick up a ball of paint on the end. That's
what gives the first part of the stroke it's substance.
Flat Brush, Wash or Shader
The flat, wash or shader has bristles that are longer than
they are wide. The edge forms a straight line when dampened
and has flexibility when you brush it across your fingers.
It springs back and is not soft and fluffy.
Use this brush for:
- Stroke work
- Basecoating entire pieces or large pattern areas (larger
brushes)
- Floatshading (all size brushes)
Wet your brush and blot it on a soft cloth. Load by pulling
paint out from the side of the pool. Stroke brush several times
as the edge of the pool, turn over and repeat using some pressure.
That action should get the paint moving up the bristles. Repeat
until there is a nice even coat of paint on your brush. No
clumps on the edges.
Liner Brush
The liner brush is a thin brush. When you purchase this kind
of brush make sure there are enough bristles to hold the paint.
Check to be sure there are no short bristles that will create
a shadow when you "draw" with the thinned paint. This brush,
too, should be flexible when you run it across your fingers.
Use this brush for:
- Stroke work
- Details
- Lettering
Wet and blot on soft cloth. Load by pulling brush
through inky paint, turn, dip, and pull out until evenly
loaded.
When doing these strokes don't cramp your style. Paint from
the elbow, not your wrist and let the paint flow from the end
of your brush.
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