TAKING CARE OF YOUR PAINT BRUSHES

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out on your creative adventure of acrylic painting, everyone needs to be aware of the care of their paint brush arsenal.  Naturally, you will develop an affinity for a “favorite brush” that you want to use for about everything you paint. Mine has become a ¾” flat brush.  Because I want that brush to last FOREVER, I take extra care of it, however, all brushes should be treated equal. Brushes will naturally wear out after a while, but we all want them to last as long as possible.

The best way to care for you brushes is to know more about them. Naturally, there is the handle and the bristle end, known as the “head” but in between is an important part called the “ferrule.” The ferrule is that little metal part that holds the bristles to the handle. Keeping paint off the ferrule is important. Once paint gets lodged into the ferrule, it will adhere to the bristles that are inside it and that’s when the life of your brush begins to get compromised. Even I confess to getting paint on a ferrule from time to time (removing it or wiping it clean as soon as possible is key).

Other no-no’s are leaving your brush soaking in water and allowing paint to dry on your brush. Both situations will also shorten the life of your brushes. With the proper care, we can get a lot more life from the equipment we use to express our creativity.